Conferencias 2014

Ciclo de Conferencias

NON-DESTRUCTIVE MEASUREMENTS

Introductory lectures to the application of geophysics and remote sensing in civil engineering and the environment.

Spring 2014

Dr. Till F. Sonnemann (Leiden University, Netherlands)

Dr. Jesús Pacheco Martínez (Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes)

Dr. Martín Hernández Marín (Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes)

The lecture series intends to provide an overview of applied geophysical and remote sensing techniques to students of the master program in Civil Engineering. The first session covers the theoretical background of geophysical techniques. Part one focuses on seismic, electrical and gravimetric methods. Part two will focus on case studies in civil engineering using instruments such as GPR (ground penetrating radar) to investigate near surface and infrared cameras to analyze structures. The following session is dedicated to the use of photogrammetry as a tool for building analysis. The third talk widens the view from structural to a landscape analysis, introducing the different remote sensing techniques.

Profile

Dr. T.F. (Till) Sonnemann, is a postdoctoral researcher with the ERC-Synergy project NEXUS1492. His main research interests are the combination of GIS, remote sensing and geophysics in landscape archaeology and heritage. Within NEXUS, he focuses on developing a methodological approach to analyse Caribbean Indigenous landscapes, by using a variety of remote and close range sensing techniques at different scales on a number of locations in the Caribbean. The results are to be implemented in a GIS environment, and complemented with other information, to serve as a base for predictive modelling further understanding Amerindian settlements, and how Caribbean Indigenous landscapes changed with arrival of the Europeans.

1st Session: "Theoretical background of geophysical methods"

Wednesday, May 21st, 2014. Isóptica I, Edificio Polivalente, 19:00-21:00 hrs.

Resistivity Tomography (TR) and Seismic Refraction Tomography (TRS) are two active geophysical methods widely used to investigate the soil for environmental reasons and are used by geotechnical companies to investigate stratigraphy and physical properties of the subsoil. Based on examples from commercial work done in Central Mexico, these two geophysical techniques are introduced.

His interest in non-invasive investigation techniques he developed by applying archaeological prospection projects in Germany and at UNAM Querétaro, while completing a degree in geophysics (Dipl. Geophys.) at the Universität Münster. He attended courses in Communication, Art History and Heritage Studies at Muenster, the Universidad de Granada, and Humboldt Universität Berlin. After completing the diploma thesis on lunar seismology at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Berlin in 2005, he worked in research projects at the Universidad de Colima (Volcanology & Seismology), ETH Zürich (Photogrammetry & GIS), and Universidade de Vigo (GPR & GIS).

Working and studying at the University of Sydney, he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in 2012. The thesis, titled Angkor Underground – Applying GPR to analyse the diachronic structure of a great urban complex, focuses on the extent and influence of the successive political and religious centres of the Khmer culture (8th to 15th century) in Cambodia using a combination of ground-penetrating radar, high resolution satellite SAR data and aerial imagery in combination with targeted excavations. The study included extensive field work in Cambodia as part of the Greater Angkor Project.

As honorary research associate, freelancer and collaborator with different research groups, he took the opportunity to conduct non-destructive archaeological and structural investigations at Australian, Cambodian and Uzbek cultural heritage sites, and remains associated with archaeological research in Southeast Asia as a member of the Yasodharâsrama Project. For 2 ½ years he taught tutorials and lectures in Geology, Geophysics and GIS at Sydney’s School of Geosciences, and worked within and after completing the PhD in commercial geophysics.

3rd Session: "Introducing Remote Sensing Techniques"

Tuesday, June 03rd, 2014. Isóptica I, Edificio Polivalente, 09:00-10:00 hrs.

A variety of active and passive remote sensing techniques are used in environmental and landscape analysis which will be discussed in this session. LiDAR and SAR cover different frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum used for DTM generations and high resolution topographic analysis. In the case of SAR data acquisition can be done independently to cloud coverage. The combination of data from multi- and even more hyper-spectral sensors provide results far more powerful than common images, to identify moisture, vegetation and geology.

Gravimetric technique is another geophysical method often used in oil prospecting, nevertheless, the method has been recently used for geotechnical and environmental studies. The session covers the theory behind this geophysical technique and its application in a number of research cases, including several geotechnical studies carried out in the Bajio region.

1 b. Application of geophysical methods in near surface and structural issues.

Based on examples from academic and commercial work, GPR as well as the utilization of infrared camera regarding structural analysis and heritage are introduced. Common applications are e. g. the investigation of walls for voids and steel and near-surface features in civil engineering. Examples from heritage, such as the identification of graves and subsurface structures are also given.

2nd Session: "The role of Photogrammetry in Heritage Studies"

Thursday, May 29th, 2014. Edificio 110, 09:00-10:00 hrs.

Due to the facilitation of free and open source software, a thorough photogrammetry survey using inexpensive digital cameras can be a cheap alternative to laser scanning regarding the measurement of a monument. The session intends to give an introduction to basic theory and the workflow of a photogrammetric survey on the base of a number of sample cases.

4th Session: "The use of Remote Sensing and Geophysics in Cultural Heritage"

Wednesday, June 04th, 2014. Isóptica I, Edificio Polivalente, 09:00-10:00 hrs.

Using the study case of the World Heritage Site of Angkor, Cambodia, the application of different remote sensing and geophysical methods are explained in this lecture. The vast size of medieval Angkor with its numerous enclosures, monuments and a gigantic water management system asks for a particular methodology to study it, from large scale landscape studies to small scale monumental investigations.