A Case History: Application of Frequency-Dependent Traveltime Tomography and Full Waveform Inversion to a Known Near-Surface Target

Traditional ray-theory-based infinite frequency traveltime tomography is likely to be invalid for near-surface studies due to relatively long seismic wavelengths compared with the scale of near-surface velocity heterogeneities (e.g. Gao et al. 2007). As opposed to infinite frequency traveltime tomography (IFTT), we applied a newly developed frequency-dependent traveltime tomography (FDTT) followed by full waveform inversion (FWI) to 2D nearsurface compressional wave seismic data. The target of these data is a shallow concrete tunnel with void space inside. The position and dimension of the tunnel are known. This application demonstrates a combined strategy for near-surface seismic data in that FDTT provides a starting model for FWI.

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