Projects

A Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) survey was completed along the Gippsland coastline, Victoria, as part of geotechnical site investigations of a proposed offshore wind farm.

Approximately 5 km of survey lines were completed using a 48-channel landstreamer fitted with 4.5 Hz geophones at 1 m spacing. Seismic energy was generated using both a sledgehammer and a seismic weight drop system, with the source selected according to site conditions and the required depth of investigation.

Field conditions presented several operational challenges. Strong coastal winds and continuous ocean swell generated elevated ambient noise levels throughout data acquisition. In addition, sections of the survey alignment had restricted access, requiring a battery-powered winch to move the landstreamer safely along the survey lines.

Despite these conditions, field quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) confirmed that the acquired seismic records were suitable for MASW processing, allowing the project objectives to be met.

To streamline project delivery, field data was uploaded directly from site using a Starlink satellite internet connection. This enabled data processing and preliminary review to begin while field operations were still in progress, reducing turnaround time and improving coordination between the field team and project stakeholders.

The survey provided near-surface shear wave velocity information to support the geotechnical assessment and design of infrastructure associated with the proposed offshore wind farm development.