Seismic surveys can be performed to:

• Determine overburden or landfill thickness
• Map bedrock configurations
• Locate faults, fractures, weathered zones
• Determine depth to groundwater
• Test elastic properties of sediments and bedrock
• Map pathways of groundwater flow
• Locate voids and sinkholes
• Determine bedrock rippability
• Implement vibration monitoring

Seismic methods are the most commonly conducted geophysical surveys for engineering investigations.  These methods are based upon the transmission of seismic waves into the subsurface and recording the resulting waveforms.  The processing and interpretation of the recorded data usually is more labor intensive than most methods, but detailed information can be provided on the depths, thickness, and velocity of the target layers.  Various filtering techniques and post-collection processing techniques can be implemented to enhance the quality of the data sets. Seismic data can be obtained within a range of five feet to several thousand feet.  The two conventional types of seismic surveys are Seismic Refraction and Seismic Reflection besides the newly developed method Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves.