Geophysics

The geophysical crew has been providing the effective application of geophysical methods in engineering geology and hydrogeology at the Ostrava branch office since 1971. It specialises in three main fields of activities:

Prompt surveys, including geophysical measurements for the preparation of large projects
Special geophysical measurements, particularly in engineering geology
Coordination of geophysical activities for large contracts and their comprehensive interpretation

The crew is well equipped with instrumentation for standard work at lower depths, i.e. with devices for shallow refraction seismics, resistivity sounding and profiling, and magnetometric measurements. Besides this basic equipment, we can also measure by other methods which are not common in a standard survey, i.e. profiling by electromagnetic waves, ultrasonic testing, and geo-acoustic measurements. The geophysical crew is further equipped with a TV camera for inspecting boreholes (down to 50 mm in dia.) and with a sonar for determining bottom depths in water reservoirs.

At your request, we are able:

to comprehensively re-interpret old geophysical works;
to interpret geophysical measurements (both our own and someone else's);
to carry out field geophysical measurements;
to design geophysical works;
to demonstrate results of the application of geophysical measurements for various purposes; and
to discuss the theoretical basics of geophysical methods.

The pictures show selected achievements of our work. The upper one demonstrates a survey for linear constructions and the lower one the use of magnetic markers for measuring movements of rapid slope deformations.

An overview of examples of our activities:

Seismic tomography
Geo-acoustic method
Ultrasonic measurements
Magnetic markers
Slope deformation
Linear constructions
Dam sites
Foundation engineering
Documentation of holes and galleries
Works in mining
Tunnels
Hydrogeological survey
Groundwater protection
Shallow-depth survey for small scales
Landfills
Thermal contamination
Anticorrosive protection
Tape extensometry
Dynamic penetration tests
Optical documentation of vertical and horizontal holes
Seismic load of buildings

References in the area of geophysics

Over the duration of its existence, the geophysical crew of GEOtest Brno, a.s. has completed about 450 exploration projects. The range of the addressed problems was very wide, from small and simple contracts, e.g., investigations of corrosivity, up to large contracts with a wide complex of survey methods, e.g., pumped storage hydroelectric plants. In the past, most works were performed for engineering geology. Of important works, we can mention surveys for pumped storage hydroelectric plants (Dalesice, Cierny Vah, Hrhov, Mala Vieska, etc.) and investigations of slope deformations (Trinec, Turany, Harvelka, Handlova, Fintice, etc.). In the recent years, the scope of work of the geophysical crew has been changing. It begins to include not only special questions, but also the whole issue of the survey of low depths. Furthermore, great attention is paid to the application of geophysical methods in hydrogeology and in the issue which relates to environmental protection. In the last few years, the crew devotes itself to the monitoring of effects of undermining on slope deformations and to the detection of changes in the rock mass caused by mining activity.

Besides the survey works, the members of the crew have been participating in the solution of 70 research projects and published about 120 articles in professional journals or papers at specialist conferences. The crew has also conducted geophysical works abroad, e.g., geo-acoustic measurements in Uzbekistan, Peru and Germany, has participated in complex geophysical works in Cuba and in Spain. The geophysical crew has recently worked on the solution of geological problems in Albania, Mongolia, Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the Philippines.

GEOtest Brno, a.s., Smahova 112, 659 01 Brno tel.: 548 125 111*, 548 125 308, fax: 545 217 979, e-mail: trade@geotest.cz