Near-Surface Seismic Exploration of Planetary Bodys with Adaptive Networks

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Heiner Igel; Professor Dr.-Ing. Philipp Reiß; Dr.-Ing. Ban-Sok Shin
• Subject Area: Geophysics
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 517291159

In the coming decades the near-surface physical exploration of rock-icy planetary objects will play an important role in preparing crewed and uncrewed interplanetary missions. Exploration will target resources (e.g., water, minerals) as well as sites for possible protected service stations and/or crewed observatories. To achieve high-quality imaging in the preparatory stage intelligent, autonomous experimental and processing systems need to be devised. In this proposal we aim at the development of such a system for near-surface seismic exploration using a mobile seismic array that is steered by autonomous robots. The project consists of two tightly connected parts: I. The development and optimization of seismic imaging methodologies for strongly scattering, planetary-like material, and search strategies for mobile arrays. II. The development and testing of such autonomous seismic arrays on Earth in appropriate conditions (e.g., volcanic regions with strongly scattering near surface structure).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants