• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.192-198
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• 2009

Side scan sonar and SBP (sub-bottom profiler) play a very important role in the survey for seafloor imaging and sub-bottom profiling. In this study, we have acquired side scan sonar and SBP data from the artificial reef area. We applied digital image processing techniques to side scan sonar data in order to improve an image quality. For the enhancement of data quality and image resolution, we applied the typical seismic data processing sequence including gain recovery, muting, spectrum analysis, predictive deconvolution, migration to SBP data. We could easily estimate if artificial reef structures were settled properly and their distribution on the seafloor from the integrated interpretation of side scan sonar and SBP data. From the sampling analysis of seabed sediments, texture filtering of side scan sonar data and SBP data interpretation, we could evaluate the sediment type, distribution and thickness of seafloor sediments in detail.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.6-19
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• 2021

Subsurface physical properties can be obtained and imaged by seismic exploration, and various algorithms have been developed for this purpose. In this regard, root mean square error (RMSE) has been widely used to quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of the developed algorithms. Although RMSE has the advantage of being numerically simple, it has limitations in assessing structural similarity. To supplement this, full-reference image quality assessment (FR-IQA) techniques, which reflect the human visual system, are being investigated. Therefore, we selected six FR-IQA techniques that could evaluate the obtained physical properties. In this paper, we used the full-waveform inversion, because the algorithm can provide the physical properties. The inversion results were applied to the six selected FR-IQA techniques using three benchmark models. Using salt models, it was confirmed that the inversion results were not satisfactory in some aspects, but the value of RMSE decreased. On the other hand, some FR-IQA techniques could definitely improve the evaluation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.551-561
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• 2022

Geophysical exploration methods are very useful for generating high-resolution images of underground structures, and such methods can be applied to investigation of buried cultural properties and for determining their exact locations. In this study, image feature extraction and image segmentation methods were applied to automatically distinguish the structures of buried relics from the high-resolution ground-penetrating radar (GPR) images obtained at the center of Silla Kingdom, Gyeongju, South Korea. The major purpose for image feature extraction analyses is identifying the circular features from building remains and the linear features from ancient roads and fences. Feature extraction is implemented by applying the Canny edge detection and Hough transform algorithms. We applied the Hough transforms to the edge image resulted from the Canny algorithm in order to determine the locations the target features. However, the Hough transform requires different parameter settings for each survey sector. As for image segmentation, we applied the connected element labeling algorithm and object-based image analysis using Orfeo Toolbox (OTB) in QGIS. The connected components labeled image shows the signals associated with the target buried relics are effectively connected and labeled. However, we often find multiple labels are assigned to a single structure on the given GPR data. Object-based image analysis was conducted by using a Large-Scale Mean-Shift (LSMS) image segmentation. In this analysis, a vector layer containing pixel values for each segmented polygon was estimated first and then used to build a train-validation dataset by assigning the polygons to one class associated with the buried relics and another class for the background field. With the Random Forest Classifier, we find that the polygons on the LSMS image segmentation layer can be successfully classified into the polygons of the buried relics and those of the background. Thus, we propose that these automatic classification methods applied to the GPR images of buried cultural heritage in this study can be useful to obtain consistent analyses results for planning excavation processes.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.280-286
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• 2005

Geological sequestration of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) is one of the most effective strategies far long-term removal of greenhouse gas from atmosphere. This paper reviews three projects for the $CO_2$ sequestration in geological formation. A unique $CO_2$ injection into a marine aquifer has been successfully monitored with repeated surface seismic measurements in the North Sea Sleipner West field. The seismic images reveal the extent and internal shape of the $CO_2$ bubble. Massive miscible $CO_2$ has been injected into a complex fractured carbonate reservoir at the Weyburn oil filed. High-resolution time-lapse P-wave data were successfully obtained to map the features of $CO_2$ movements within the two thin zones of different lithology. From the time-lapse crosswell EM imaging at the Lost Hills oil field in central California, U.S.A., the replacement of brine with $CO_2$ has been confirmed through a decrease of conductivity. The conductivity image was successfully compared with induction logs observed in the two wells.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.5-12
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• 2005

Recently, geophysical prospecting methods have played very important roles in civil and environmental engineering problems. Technical advances in geophysical instruments and computer system made it possible to get underground images with very high resolution far purposes to resolve those problems. It was possible partly due to ever increasing demand for development of technologies needed to precisely detect polluted areas and prevent ground-related accidents. Based on the same demand, integrity tests of cast-in place piles draw more attention and development of accurate test procedures is required. Ultrasonic methods is one of most advanced non-destructive procedures. In the paper, a geotomography method is employed for the cast-in place pile integrity test using ultrasonic waves. The image of pile interior is scanned and scrutinized far better and more accurate decision in the cast-in place pile integrity. In this study, we firstly examined the accuracy fur tomography program with idealized synthetic models built in water tank: their position and size were changed in the tank and each case was studied. In the next stage, real concrete pile models were fabricated and images of anomaly areas inside the pile were scanned to successfully locate those areas.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 1999

In terms of high resolution, seismic reflection survey is by far the most significant geophysical method applied to define subsurface structure. In shallow seismic reflection survey, it is, however, difficult to obtain high resolution image due to both the wave attenuation in the unconsolidated layer and the existence of source-generated surface waves Therefore, when collecting data, it is imperative to select proper equipments and choose optimum field data acquisition parameters for acquiring high S/N data. In this survey, a small size hammer was used as a low energy source and 40-Hz vertical geophones were used as receivers. Trigger signal was obtained from the hammer starter attached in the aluminum plate and thus it was possible to control the source onset time for the vertical stack. During the field work, a modified standard CMP technique was introduced to achieve the many-fold CMP data effectively. Data processing was conducted by the 'Seismic Unix' which is mounted on PC with a Linux operating system. The main distinctions were the emphasis and detail placed on near-surface velocity analysis and the extra care exercised in muting.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2003

Geophysical surveys(electrical resistivity, self-potential, seismic refraction, GPR) were conducted to investigate the physical properties of the subsurface, and to delineate the flow channel of leachate from a AMD(acid mine drainage), buried rock wastes and tailings, and drainage pipes at an abandoned mine(Kwangyang mine). Especially in rainy season the sites appear to be abundant in AMD leachate, characterized by electrical conductivities of 0.98-1.10 ms/S. Electrical resistivity sections indicate that the leachate flows running in two directions at southern part rise up through the narrow fracture zones at the central part and contaminates the surrounding soil and stream. Such schematic features at the anomalous zone are well correlated with negative peaks in self-potential data, the limited penetration depth in GPR data and low velocity zone in seismic refraction data. Shallow high-resistivity zone is associated with the buried rock wastes which cause the diffractions in GPR image. In addition, the events at depth of approximately 1-1.25 m in GPR sections must be the metal pipes through which AMD is drained off to the inner bay.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2002

Bulku temple in the city of Kyungju, Korea, built in 791 and reconstructed in the 20th century, is the home of seven national treasures including two three-story stone pagodas, Dabotap (height 10.4m, width 7.4m, weight 123.2ton) and Seokgatap (height 10.8m, width 4.4m, weight 82.3 ton). An earlier archaeological investigation shows that stone pagodas have experienced severe weathering process which will threaten their stability. At the base part of Dabotap, an offset of the stone alignment is also observed. For the purpose of the structural safety diagnosis of two pagodas, we introduce the nondestructive geophysical methods. Site characteristics around the pagodas are determined by the measurement of multiple properties such as seismic velocity, resistivity, image of GPR(ground-penetrating radar). Near the pagodas, the occurrence of high resistivity (up to 2200 Ωm) is obvious whereas their outskirts have as low as 200 Ωm. For the velocity of the P wave, the site of Dabotap has the range of 500~800 m/s which is higher than counterpart of Seokgatap with the velocity of 300~500m/s, indicating the solider stability of Dabotap site. Consequently, in addition to GPR images, the foundation boundaries beneath each stone pagodas are revealed. The Dabotap site is in the form of an octagon having 6-m-long side with the depth of ~4m, whereas the Seokgatap site the 9m × 10m rectangle with the depth of 3m. These subsurface structures appear to reflect the original foundations constructed against the stone load of ~8 ton/㎡. At the subsurface beneath the northeast of each pagoda, low seismic velocity as well as low resistivity is prominent. It is interpreted to represent the weak underground condition.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.313-324
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• 2017

A lava tube is one of the hot issues of lunar science because it is regarded as a good candidate place for setting a lunar base. Recently much effort has been made to find lunar lava tubes. However, preceding works mainly made use of high-resolution lunar surface image data in conjunction with geomorphological consideration to present some lava tube candidates. Yet, those candidates stay no more than indirect indications. We propose a new data analysis technique of High Frequency (HF) radar observation data to find lunar lava tubes of which location depth is smaller than the range resolution of the radar pulse. Such shallow target echoes cannot be resolved from surface echoes, which presents the different location of the lunar surface compared to that of real lunar surface. The proposed technique instead finds the surface range (distance from LRS to the reflector of the most intense signal) anomaly which occurs as a result of the low range resolution of LRS pulse. We applied this technique to the surface range of Kaguya Lunar Radar Sounder (LRS) data. The surface range was deduced to make LRS surface elevation which was compared with the average surface elevation of Kaguya Digital Terrain Model (DTM). An anomalous discrepancy of the surface elevation was found in the Rima Galilaei area, which suggests the existence of a shallow lava tube.

• Journal of the Geological Society of Korea
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.641-656
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• 2018

Although an amount of hydrocarbon has been discovered in the West Korea Bay Basin (WKBB), located in the North Korean offshore area, geophysical investigations associated with these hydrocarbon reservoirs are not permitted because of the current geopolitical situation. Interpretation of satellite derived potential field data can be alternatively used to image three-dimensional (3D) density distribution in the sedimentary basin associated with hydrocarbon deposits. We interpreted the TRIDENT satellite-derived gravity field data to provide detailed insights into the spatial distribution of sedimentary density structures in the WKBB. We used 3D forward density modeling for the interpretation that incorporated constraints from existing geological and geophysical information. The gravity data interpretation and 3D forward modeling showed that there are two modeled areas in the central subbasin that are characterized by very low density structures, with a maximum density of about $2,000kg/m^3$, indicating some type of hydrocarbon reservoir. One of the anticipated hydrocarbon reservoirs is located in the southern part of the central subbasin with a volume of about $250km^3$ at a depth of about 3,000 m in the Cretaceous/Jurassic layer. The other hydrocarbon reservoir should exist in the northern part of the central subbasin, with an average volume of about $300km^3$ at a depth of about 2,500 m. A comparison between the TRIDENT derived gravity field and the ship-based gravity field measured in 1980s shows us that our results are highly reliable and there is a very high probability to detect another low-density layer existings in the northwestern part of the central subbasin.