Quasi-Newton inversion of seismic first arrivals using source finite bandwidth assumption: Application to subsurface characterization of landslides

International audienceCharacterizing the internal structure of landslides is of first importance to assess the hazard. Many geophysical techniques have been used in the recent years to image these structures, and among them is seismic tomography. The objective of this work is to present a high resolution seismic inversion algorithm of first arrival times that minimizes the use of subjective regularization operators. A Quasi-Newton P-wave tomography inversion algorithm has been developed. It is based on a finite frequency assumption for highly heterogeneous media which considers an objective inversion regularization (based on the wave propagation principle) and uses the entire source frequency spectrum to improve the tomography resolution. The Fresnel wavepaths calculated for different source frequencies are used to retropropagate the traveltime residuals, assuming that in highly heterogeneous media, the first arrivals are only affected by velocity anomalies present in the first Fresnel zone. The performance of the algorithm is first evaluated on a synthetic dataset, and further applied on a real dataset acquired at the Super-Sauze landslide which is characterized by a complex bedrock geometry, a layering of different materials and important changes in soil porosity (e.g. surface fissures). The seismic P-wave velocity and the wave attenuation are calculated, and the two tomographies are compared to previous studies on the site

Quasi-Newton algorithm using Fresnel wavepaths and frequency increase for P-wave tomography inversion: application to a landslide in the South French Alps

EGU2012-4323During last decases, geophysical methods have become of a great interest in geomorphological studies. Because they are well adapted to retrieve geological structures as variations in the spatial and temporal dimensions of rocks properties, they were widely developed for improving landslides understanding. Landslide studies generally involve the use of several geophysical methods, but among them, seismic surveys are well adapted to identify the slope's main structures. The wave propagation being mainly controlled by elastic properties of the medium, this method makes the interpretation easier since results are often well correlated with geotechnical observations. More generally, it provides information on the mechanical state of the soils with an acceptable spatial resolution. This structure is of first importance when studying clayey landslides as the Super-Sauze one. It occurred in the 1960s with the falls of large blocks and has developed continually covering an intact paleotopography. This succession of crests and gullies has been studied by geotechnical measurement and geophysics. It plays a large role in the behavior of the flow by delimiting preferential water and material pathways and compartments with different kinematics, mechanical and hydro dynamical characteristics. For the first time, a 3D geological model has been created from the fusion of multi-source data by Travelletti and Malet (2011), but it appears that geophysical methods can't capture the sharp geometry of the paleotopography. To improve such models and the numerical modeling resulting we propose a Quasi-Newton algorithm based on the Fresnel-wavepath and the frequency increase to the invert P-wave velocity fiel

Design, Construction and In Situ Testing of a Muon Camera for Earth Science and Civil Engineering Applications

The MUST2 (MUon Survey Tomography based on Micromegas detectors for Unreachable Sites Technology) camera is based on a thin Time Projection Chamber read by a resistive Micromegas. This innovative combination presents interesting distinctive features compared to existing muon detection technologies. It allows a wide angular acceptance of the detector with a low weight and compact volume, well adapted for confined spaces or underground operation. The current work presents the results obtained during the calibration measurements at the reference site, the Low Background Noise Laboratory (LBNL). Preliminary results from field measurement campaign carried out at the dam overlooking the village of Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt (South-East of France) are presented and discussed

Methodological developments in high-resolution geophysics for the hydro-mechanical characterization of clayey landslides

Ce projet de recherche répond à l'objectif d'améliorer notre connaissance des processus élémentaires contrôlant le comportement hydrologique post-rupture des glissements de terrain argileux, afin de pouvoir comprendre, reproduire et éventuellement prévoir leur comportement par des modèles hydromécaniques adaptés. Ce travail consiste à améliorer et développer des méthodes de traitement et d'interprétation de paramètres géophysiques en milieu argileux et hétérogène. Les objectifs principaux de ce travail sont : 1. D'améliorer des méthodes géophysiques et géodésiques de mesure de la déformation et de la géométrie interne des glissements. 2. De caractériser les relations possibles entre géométrie et structure interne du glissement. 3. De développer et améliorer des méthodes de détection et d'imagerie des circulations préférentielles de fluide dans un milieu fissuré et déformable. 4. De caractériser temporellement et spatialement les réponses hydrologiques du versant. Un algorithme d'inversion haute-résolution des temps de premières arrivées est développé. Il utilise les volumes de Fresnel pour rétropropager les résidus ainsi que l'hypothèse d'un signal source de bande-passante finie et permet de retrouver une image haute-résolution de la structure du glissement. L'atténuation sismique des ondes-P est également inversée pour retrouver la distribution des zones fissurées en surface. Des méthodes photogrammétriques sont utilisées pour caractériser et quantifier les déformations de surface. Une méthode alternative à la corrélation d'image est développée, fondée sur la détection et le suivi de cibles. Le lien entre les variations de régime de déformation le long du profil, et l'existence de fissures en surface est finalement discuté. Les informations précédentes sont ensuite intégrées dans un modèle géométrique par une méthode de fusion de données. Par la modélisation numérique, nous vérifions si l'état de contrainte calculé peut être en rapport avec la distribution de la fissuration en surface. Une méthode de correction de l'effet géométrique des fissures sur les résistivités apparentes est développée. Différents types d'artefacts d'inversion liés à la présence de fissure sont identifiés et la capacité de la méthode proposée à réduire ces artefacts est testée. Une méthodologie de sélection et de traitement des données ERT time-lapse acquises sur une période d'un an est développée. La réponse électrique courte (de quelques heures à quelques jours) aux évènements pluvieux naturels est ensuite analysée pour proposer des modèles conceptuels de réponse hydrologique à ces évènements pluvieux.The objective of this research project is the improvement of our knowledge of the elementary processes controlling the post-rupture hydrological behavior of clayey landslides. It should allow understanding, reproducing and possibly forecasting their behaviors by the use of adapted hydro-mechanical models. This work consists in the improvement and the development of geophysical parameters processing and interpretation methodologies in clayey and heterogeneous medium. The main objectives of this work are : 1. The improvement of geophysical and geodesic methods to measure the internal geometry and structure of the landslide. 2. The characterization of possible relationships between landslide internal geometry and structure, presence of discontinuities, slope hydrology and deformations. 3. The development and improvement of methodology for the detection and imaging of preferential flows in a fissured and deformable medium. 4. The spatial and temporal characterization of the hydrological response of the slope. A high resolution inversion algorithm of the first seismic arrivals is developed. It uses the Fresnel volumes for the retropropagation of the residuals and the assumptions of a finite-bandwidth source signal. It permits to recover a high resolution image of the internal structure of the landslide. The seismic P-wave attenuation is also inverted to characterize surface fissured zones. Photogrammetric methods are used to characterize and quantify the surface deformations. A method alternative to image correlation is developed, based on the target detection and tracking. The link between changes in deformation regime along the profile and the existence of surface fissures is finally discussed. The previous data are integrated inside a geometric model trough data fusion. Using numerical modeling, we verify if the state of stress computed is related to the surface fissure density distribution. A methodology of correction of the geometrical effect of fissures on apparent resistivity is developed. Different types of inversion artefacts, linked to the presence of surface fissures, are identified. The ability of the proposed method to limit this artifact is tested. A methodology of selection and processing of the time-lapse ERT data is developed. The short electrical response (from several hours to several days) to natural rainfall events is analyzed and conceptual hydrological responses to these rainfall events are proposed

Methodological developments in high-resolution geophysics for the hydro-mechanical characterization of clayey landslides

Ce projet de recherche répond à l'objectif d'améliorer notre connaissance des processus élémentaires contrôlant le comportement hydrologique post-rupture des glissements de terrain argileux, afin de pouvoir comprendre, reproduire et éventuellement prévoir leur comportement par des modèles hydromécaniques adaptés. Ce travail consiste à améliorer et développer des méthodes de traitement et d'interprétation de paramètres géophysiques en milieu argileux et hétérogène. Les objectifs principaux de ce travail sont : 1. D'améliorer des méthodes géophysiques et géodésiques de mesure de la déformation et de la géométrie interne des glissements. 2. De caractériser les relations possibles entre géométrie et structure interne du glissement. 3. De développer et améliorer des méthodes de détection et d'imagerie des circulations préférentielles de fluide dans un milieu fissuré et déformable. 4. De caractériser temporellement et spatialement les réponses hydrologiques du versant. Un algorithme d'inversion haute-résolution des temps de premières arrivées est développé. Il utilise les volumes de Fresnel pour rétropropager les résidus ainsi que l'hypothèse d'un signal source de bande-passante finie et permet de retrouver une image haute-résolution de la structure du glissement. L'atténuation sismique des ondes-P est également inversée pour retrouver la distribution des zones fissurées en surface. Des méthodes photogrammétriques sont utilisées pour caractériser et quantifier les déformations de surface. Une méthode alternative à la corrélation d'image est développée, fondée sur la détection et le suivi de cibles. Le lien entre les variations de régime de déformation le long du profil, et l'existence de fissures en surface est finalement discuté. Les informations précédentes sont ensuite intégrées dans un modèle géométrique par une méthode de fusion de données. Par la modélisation numérique, nous vérifions si l'état de contrainte calculé peut être en rapport avec la distribution de la fissuration en surface. Une méthode de correction de l'effet géométrique des fissures sur les résistivités apparentes est développée. Différents types d'artefacts d'inversion liés à la présence de fissure sont identifiés et la capacité de la méthode proposée à réduire ces artefacts est testée. Une méthodologie de sélection et de traitement des données ERT time-lapse acquises sur une période d'un an est développée. La réponse électrique courte (de quelques heures à quelques jours) aux évènements pluvieux naturels est ensuite analysée pour proposer des modèles conceptuels de réponse hydrologique à ces évènements pluvieux.The objective of this research project is the improvement of our knowledge of the elementary processes controlling the post-rupture hydrological behavior of clayey landslides. It should allow understanding, reproducing and possibly forecasting their behaviors by the use of adapted hydro-mechanical models. This work consists in the improvement and the development of geophysical parameters processing and interpretation methodologies in clayey and heterogeneous medium. The main objectives of this work are : 1. The improvement of geophysical and geodesic methods to measure the internal geometry and structure of the landslide. 2. The characterization of possible relationships between landslide internal geometry and structure, presence of discontinuities, slope hydrology and deformations. 3. The development and improvement of methodology for the detection and imaging of preferential flows in a fissured and deformable medium. 4. The spatial and temporal characterization of the hydrological response of the slope. A high resolution inversion algorithm of the first seismic arrivals is developed. It uses the Fresnel volumes for the retropropagation of the residuals and the assumptions of a finite-bandwidth source signal. It permits to recover a high resolution image of the internal structure of the landslide. The seismic P-wave attenuation is also inverted to characterize surface fissured zones. Photogrammetric methods are used to characterize and quantify the surface deformations. A method alternative to image correlation is developed, based on the target detection and tracking. The link between changes in deformation regime along the profile and the existence of surface fissures is finally discussed. The previous data are integrated inside a geometric model trough data fusion. Using numerical modeling, we verify if the state of stress computed is related to the surface fissure density distribution. A methodology of correction of the geometrical effect of fissures on apparent resistivity is developed. Different types of inversion artefacts, linked to the presence of surface fissures, are identified. The ability of the proposed method to limit this artifact is tested. A methodology of selection and processing of the time-lapse ERT data is developed. The short electrical response (from several hours to several days) to natural rainfall events is analyzed and conceptual hydrological responses to these rainfall events are proposed

Target Detection and Tracking of moving objects for characterizing landslide displacements from time-lapse terrestrial optical images

International audienceTerrestrial Optical Photogrammetry (TOP) is a low-cost monitoring technique that is commonly used in change detection studies. For landslide monitoring, image correlation techniques are frequently used to generate Digital Surface Models (DSMs) from stereo-pairs or to measure the 2D surface displacement field from single-view time-lapse sequences. Image correlation allows for detecting spatially continuous displacement fields at a sub-pixel precision. The technique, however, has several limitations for assessing displacement because 1) of its sensitiveness to changes in texture, shape and radiometry in the image pile, 2) of the need of spatially regular sampling grids, and 3) of possible high computation time that can impede the processing of large image datasets.To address these limitations, an alternative and complementary approach based on a Target Detection and Tracking (TOT) algorithm is proposed for a rapid calculation of the displacement of targets in image time series. The TDT code, developed as a MATLAB-based tool, is able to track natural or man-made targets. The precision of the TDT code is assessed using several image time series acquired at the Super-Sauze landslide (Southern French Alps) and compared to ground based measurements. The computed relative accuracy is between 10(-3) and 10(-4) (5 cm at a distance of 115 m). Although the TOT approach does not provide spatially continuous information, it provides 1) a quantification of the object displacements at the same order of precision as image correlation (sub-pixel accuracy) and 2) information in regions where image correlation fails because of too large ground displacements. A sensitivity analysis reveals that the major sources of uncertainty are camera movement and/or lens distortion and not the TOT method itself

Corrections of surface fissure effect on apparent resistivity measurements

International audienceElectrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a useful tool to detect and track water flow paths in the subsoil. However, measurements are strongly affected by subsurface heterogeneities such as fissures of different sizes and genesis (shrinking-swelling, macropores and deformation). In this work, we focus on surface fissures characterized by dimensions lower than the interelectrode spacing and correct their effect on apparent resistivity pseudo-sections by incorporating fissure geometry in the topography. We show that fissures with depths greater than 0.10 times the interelectrode spacing for a dipole–dipole array and equal to 0.16 for the gradient array and the Wenner–Schlumberger arrays create significant anomalies (greater than 5 per cent) in the pseudo-section. Surface fissure widths and dip angles have little effect with respect to the fissure depths which can increase the apparent resistivity up to 200 per cent. The clogging of the fissures with water or soil material decreases the anomaly effect linearly with the percentage of filling. The correction of apparent resistivity values is possible for relatively simple fissure geometries and only requires a manual survey of the surface fissures. It allows to improve the quality of the inverted resistivity section by mitigating the inversion artefacts and therefore a better interpretation

Slope mechanical modelling: contribution of multi-geophysical imagery

International audienceThis work aims at assessing the impact of local heterogeneities consideration in slope mechanical modelling. We choose to use different geophysical techniques to characterize these heterogeneities, and a fuzzy logic data fusion concept to create a geometrical model from these data. The first mechanical simulation, realized with basic elastic constitutive law, gives a surface displacement pattern in agree-ment with the one measured. This highlights the importance of the model's layer geometry on the results and also the suitability of geophysical imagery tools to constructs high resolution geometrical models

Definition of a geometric model for landslide numerical modeling from the integration of multi-source geophysical data

Landslide hazard can be assessed through numerical hydro-mechanical models. These methods require different input data such as a geometric model, rheological constitutive laws and associated hydro-mechanical parameters, and boundary conditions. The objective of this study is to fill the gap existing between geophysical and engineering communities. This gap prevents the engineering community to use the full information available in geophysical imagery. A landslide geometrical model contains information on the geometry and extent of the different geotechnical units of the landslide, and describes the layering and the discontinuities. It is generally drawn from punctual geotechnical tests, using interpolation, or better, from the combined use of a geotechnical test and the iso-value of geophysical tomographies. In this context, we propose to use a multi-source geophysical data fusion strategy as an aid for the construction of landslide geometric models. Based on a fuzzy logic data fusion method, we propose to use different geophysical tomographies and their associated uncertainty and sensitivity tomograms to design a "probable" geometric model. This strategy is tested on a profile of the Super-Sauze landslide using P-wave velocity, P-wave attenuation and electrical resistivity tomography. We construct a probable model and a true model for numerical modeling. Using basic elastic constitutive laws, we show that the model geometry is sufficiently detailed to simulate the complex surface displacements pattern