News
June 2024
Seismic Measurements on Vulcano, Italy
From June 12th to June 20th, members of our NEPOS Team had the exciting opportunity to attend the PETRAS 2024 (Planetology, Exploration Terrestrial analogs, Robotics, Astrobiology, Spectroscopy) summer school on Vulcano, one of the Aeolian Islands in Italy. This summer school promoted a multidisciplinary approach, involving volcanologists, geophysicists, astrobiologists, electronic/mechanical engineers and computer scientists to combine the different skills available in the planetary sciences community.
During the summer school, our team conducted passive seismic experiments utilizing broadband seismometers and a rotational motion sensor. We established two small seismic arrays and a larger network, collecting valuable data for subsequent analysis. Our approach includes seismic interferometry, array-derived rotational ground motion analysis, single-station six-component analysis, traditional array methods (FK, SPAC), and H/V spectral ratios.
The primary objective of this research is to map the shallow velocity structure around the La Fossa fumarole field, located at the volcano's crater, in order to identifying possible velocity variations caused by fumarole-induced alteration. This analog test site provides us with crucial experience in applying various passive seismic methods to detect velocity changes in scattering media - techniques we also plan to utilize in future lunar experiments.
April 2024
Seismic experiment near Munich, Germany
The first seismic experiment as part of the NEPOS project was conducted near Munich, Germany. The goal was to map a tunnel using a combination of passive and active seismic measurements. Geophones, broadband seismometers, and rotational motion sensors were strategically deployed to gather data. As part of the active source, hammer strokes were employed to generate seismic waves, while the nearby highway served as the primary passive source. The data will be analyzed using a variety of methods, including refraction seismics, H/V ratios, interferometry, and 6C inversion. The experiment will help gain valuable experience in mapping underground structures while testing imaging methods for cavity detection on the Moon.
April 2024
Presentation of the NEPOS results at EGU in Vienna
Kai Nierula and Sabrina Keil presented the newest results of the NEPOS project at the EGU General Assembly 2024 in Vienna, Austria. Kai gave a presentation with the title "Probabilistic Approach toward Seismic Exploration with Autonomous Robotic Swarms" and Sabrina presented a poster with the title "The NEPOS Project: Near-Surface Seismic Exploration of Planetary Bodies with Adaptive Networks".
December 2023
Presentation of the NEPOS project at AGU in San Francisco
Sabrina Keil presented the newly funded NEPOS project at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2023 in San Francisco, USA. The poster presentation led to numerous fruitful discussions, which will contribute to advancing the project's results. The poster can be downloaded under "Publications".
