MASW for geotechnical site investigation

Multichannel anaylsis of surface waves (MASW) is a seismic surface-wave technique developed specifically for near-surface applications at depths usually shallower than a few tens of meters (Park et al., 1999). Since its introduction in the late 1990s, use of the technique has rapidly increased for two reasons: (1) it provides the shear-wave velocity (V (sub S) ) of ground materials, which is one of the most important geotechnical parameters in civil engineering, and (2) it is easier to use than other common seismic approaches (e.g., refraction, reflection, and surface-wave surveys).