Projects

As part of the planning and design for the Banana Range Wind Farm near Banana, Queensland, a targeted geophysical investigation was undertaken across designated Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) locations. The purpose of the survey was to provide detailed subsurface information, including P-wave and S-wave velocity distributions, Dynamic Modulus, and Vs30 values, to inform foundation design and assess ground conditions.

The investigation employed a combination of Seismic Refraction Testing (SRT) and Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) methods:

• SRT: A total of 10 SRT surveys were conducted at individual WTG locations (some orthogonal), providing high-resolution P-wave velocity profiles to characterise shallow soil and rock interfaces and delineate the top-of-rock surface.
• MASW: At selected WTG requiring orthogonal lines, 1D MASW soundings were collected along the same alignments as the SRT lines, with 1D sounding location exact at designed WTG foundation.

The combined SRT and MASW results provided a comprehensive picture of the subsurface, revealing very shallow, high-strength rock at all testing locations, generally transitioning from highly fractured to massive rock within a few meters of depth. Correlation with available geotechnical borehole and test pit data confirmed the accuracy of the interpreted top-of-rock surfaces and the overall consistency of the site model.