The Anthropogenic Ambient Noise Field: Tracking Cars, Trains and Planes Seismically

Abstract:

The seismic noise field is rich in information about the environment and its sources. We demonstrate how ambient seismic data can be used to reveal a metro schedule, monitor vehicle density on a highway, and track departing and landing aircraft. The data comes from a geophone array that covered over 70km² of Long Beach (CA), including metro tracks, a section of the I-405 highway, and the Long Beach airport. Anthropogenic features are extracted by computing a space-time representation of seismic power and applying a filter in that domain that enhances signatures of moving sources. We discuss the potential and challenges of using seismic networks as a tool for small scale environmental monitoring as well as traffic monitoring.