Applied Geophysics

Laboratory Staff

Prof. Antonios Vafidis
Director | (+30) 2821037643 | avafeidis<at>tuc.gr

Dr. Nikolaos Andronikidis
Laboratory Teaching Staff | 2821037681 | nandronikidis<at>tuc.gr
Mineral Resources Engineer, MSc, Dr.

Dr. George Kritikakis
Laboratory Teaching Staff | 2821037670 | gkritikakis<at>tuc.gr
Mineral Resources Engineer, MSc, Dr.

Dr. Nikolaos Economou
Laboratory Teaching Staff | 2821037677 | noikonomou<at>tuc.gr
Mineral Resources Engineer, MSc, Dr.

Laboratory Objective

The Laboratory of Applied Geophysics of the Technical University of Crete (founded in 1988) educates the students of the Department of Mineral Resources Engineering and presents research activity in the modern methods of applied geophysics. These methods contribute to the study of the subsoil, both at great depths (a few tens of kilometers) and also shallow (a few meters). The main fields of application of the geophysical methods in the Applied Geophysics Lab are:

• Geotechnical engineering.
• Groundwater investigations.
• Soil pollution investigations.
• Constructions’ quality control.
• Geophysical Surveys for minerals, raw materials and hydrocarbons exploration.
• Archaeometry and historical buildings foundation imaging.

Infrastructure

• 24-channel digital seismograph (GEOMETRICS ES2401)
• 12 two-channel seismic data loggers (DMT)
• SeisGun seismic source (Winchester Betsy M 3)
• GeoSpace 12 MP 25-250 SW hydrophone array
• Ground Penetrating Radar with five antennas (PulseEkko 1000)
• Electromagnetic instrument CM 031 (GF Instruments)
• VLF instrument (WADI by ABEM)
• Unit of Electrical tomography (Sting R1-Swift)
• Unit of Vertical electrical sounding and mapping (ABEM Terrameter + Booster)
• Nuclear Magnetometer (GEOMETRICS)
• Differential magnetometer (Geoscan)
• Lacoste-Romberg gravimeter, model D -206

See the ifrastructure here.

Research and Development Projects

Selected research projects

1. 2019 - 2022. DE.F.I.C.I.T – DEcision system For Irrigation in Crete based on Innovative Technologies.
2. 2016-2017. Research services for geophysical mapping of the stratigraphy at Agia springs, Chania. Funded by Chania water supply company.
3. 2015-2018. BEWEXMIN - Bucket wheel excavators operating under difficult mining conditions including unmineable inclusions and geological structures with excessive mining resistance.
4. 2014-2015 Exploration ans assessment of shalegas formations in Northern Greece, ( funded by the Ministry of Energy and Environment).
5. 2012-2015. GEOCHARACTERIZATION (THALES) – Geotechnical characterization of selected areas in Crete using geophysical and geotechnical methods.
6. 2012-2015. CLEARWATER - “geophysiCaL basEd hydrogeologicAL modeling to pRevent pollution from sea WATER intrusion at coastal areas”.
7. 2012-2015. SYNERGASIA - Development of an integrated rock fall monitoring and prediction system. (research, GSRT)
8. 2014- 2015 Integrated research for slope stability and final development of south slopes at Mavropigi Mine PPC. funded by PPC
9. 2012- 2014 Geological, Geophysical and Geotechnical Evaluation of limestone/schist slopes at the Mavropigi Mine, PPC”, funded by PPC.
10. 2012-2012.  Complementary research for Omalos dam size and its environmental impact. (funded by Crete Region).
11. 2009-2010. JUNICOAST - Geophysical survey at coastal areas on Crete and nearby small islands”, LIFE+ Nature project “Actions for the conservation of coastal dunes with Juniperus spp. in Crete and the South Aegean (Greece)”, LIFE07NAT/GR/000296.
12. 2006-2008 PEPER - Crete, "Biogas Neogene formations detection and evaluation in Arkalachori area, Heraklion, Crete for energy use " (funded by Crete Region).
13. 2006-2008 PENED 2003 – Methodology for standardized geotechnical investigations combining geological, geophysical, drilling and experimental data (research, GSRT)
14. 2006-2006 PENED-2003, "Contribution of geophysical research in saline/meteoric groundwater front imaging and groundwater management at Stylos, Chania. (research, GSRT)
15. 2005-2006 PYTHAGORAS ΙΙ – “Integrated geophysical research for the mapping of sea water intrusion and the water management in the area of Stylos, Chania, Greece. (funded by the Ministry of Education).
16. 2005-2006. EGELADOS - Passive seismic experiment in the Hellenic Subduction Zone (Greek Ministry of Education).
17. 2004-2006 Estimation and monitoring of soil pollution from oil products using modern geophysical methods.)". (research, GSRT)
18. 2004-2005. Aquifer protection from sea water intrusion using processed industrial waste water and development of tools and technology for sludge management -SMILES". (research, GSRT)
19. CRINNO - Contribution in geophysical survey (funded by Crete Region).
20. 2001-2004. HYGEIA - "Hybrid Geophysical technology for the Evaluation of Insidious contaminated Areas" (a European R&D project) (HYGEIA/EVK4-2001-00046).
21. 1986-1996. Seismic Imaging and Tomography of Oil Sands. Funded by the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority, Alberta, Canada.
22. 1987-1988 LithoProbe. Seismic reflection survey for imaging the Lithosphere in Canada.

Development projects

1. EPEAEK – Undergraduate Program MRED (development, Greek Ministry of Education)
2. Continuing collaboration with construction (AKTOR, Attiko metro, Tsontos), consulting (ISTRIA, GEOTECH, YDROAIOLIKI)and other (TITAN, OAK) companies in development projects.

Research Results / Products

• Seismic reflection data processing.
• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) signal processing.
• Joint inversion of geophysical data.
• Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW).
• Simulation of seismic waves propagation.