Department of Geophysics and Geohazards
Objectives
The department of Geophysics and Geohazards focuses its objectives on the
development of basic and applied studies for the characterization and modelling
of geological materials and processes (mainly seismicity, volcanism,
landslides and natural material analysis) hat represent a societal and environmental risk.
Main research topics
Volcanology and volcanic hazard
- Experimental and numerical modelling oriented to the quantitative assessment of the
parameters controlling the volcanic processes in active areas.
- Determination of the pre-eruptive magma conditions focussed to characterize the explosive
volcanism with experimental petrology methods.
- Development of GIS systems oriented to the evaluation and management of volcanic hazard.
- Physics Volcanology and tectonics of volcanic regions and relationships with
seismicity and seismotectonics
Subsurface geology, geophysics ad
geochemistry applied to geohazards, natural resources and civil engineering
- New approaches to subsurface geology and geotechnical characterization by
developing geophysical borehole logging techniques and interpretation
methodology.
- Development of techniques for automatic identification
of geological materials.
- Testing the viability of geochemical sensors to monitor
and predict geological processes and hazards.
- Geological interpretation and processing of multichannel seismic
reflection profiles and high resolution bathymetry and Earth digital models.
- Present day stress field characterization by break measurements,
earthquake mechanisms, structural geology and neotectonics.
- Design and management of geological and geophysical datasets specifically
addressed to geohazards management.
GIS and Remote Sensing applications
- Development of algorithms to extract continuous variables (vegetation and
lithology) from multichannel remote sensing images to feed GIS and digital models.
- Development of methods of differential interferometry of SAR images to
asses small changes due to tectonic or volcanic deformation and earthquake damage.
- Improvement of techniques of multisatellite fusion to map temporal land cover changes.
For more information and related links
Volcanology group of Barcelona
Remote Sensing and Digital image
analysis
