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Sensing Technologies for Geophysical Monitoring

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Remote Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 603

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: geophysical survey; archaeological prospection; electrical resistivity tomography; inversion; seismic refraction tomography; seismic risk
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 22, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Interests: near-surface geophysics; ERT; SRT; GPR; geodetic monitoring and modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geophysical monitoring plays a crucial role in understanding subsurface structures and dynamic processes across various disciplines. The continuous evolution of sensing technologies, data acquisition methods, and advanced processing techniques has significantly enhanced the ability to detect, analyse, and interpret geophysical phenomena with unprecedented precision.

This Special Issue aims to bring together innovative research on the development and application of sensing technologies for geophysical monitoring. We welcome contributions covering both theoretical advancements and practical applications in environmental sciences, archaeology, geohazards, infrastructure assessment, and natural resource exploration.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Development of novel geophysical sensors and instrumentation;
  • Integration of remote sensing and in situ geophysical techniques;
  • Advances in electrical resistivity tomography and seismic methods;
  • AI and machine learning applications in geophysical data processing;
  • Geophysical monitoring for environmental and climate studies;
  • Non-invasive geophysical methods for archaeological and cultural heritage studies;
  • Early warning systems for natural hazards (earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity);
  • Exploration and sustainable management of natural resources;
  • Multi-sensor data fusion and inversion techniques;
  • Applications of mixed reality (AR/VR) for geophysical data visualisation and interpretation.

We invite researchers and professionals in the field to contribute original research articles, case studies, and review papers that advance the state of the art in geophysical sensing technologies.

Dr. Raffaele Martorana
Dr. Alessandra Carollo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • geophysical monitoring
  • geophysical sensors
  • electrical resistivity tomography
  • seismic imaging
  • ground-penetrating radar (GPR)
  • remote sensing
  • machine learning in geophysics
  • geophysics for archaeological prospection
  • monitoring of natural hazards
  • mixed reality for geophysical interpretation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 2823 KB  
Article
Using the EMFIT Sensor in Geophysical Monitoring
by Victorin-Emilian Toader, Constantin Ionescu, Iren-Adelina Moldovan and Alexandru Marmureanu
Sensors 2025, 25(21), 6746; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25216746 - 4 Nov 2025
Abstract
EMFIT, also referred to as EMFi, is a ferroelectret film related to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensors. It is an electroactive polymer (EAP) based on a polyolefin structure and consists of three layers of polyester film. Its application in geophysical monitoring has not been [...] Read more.
EMFIT, also referred to as EMFi, is a ferroelectret film related to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensors. It is an electroactive polymer (EAP) based on a polyolefin structure and consists of three layers of polyester film. Its application in geophysical monitoring has not been reported in the literature. At present, EMFIT is mainly employed in ballistocardiography and medical sleep monitoring, as developed by the manufacturer Emfit Ltd. (Vaajakoski, Finland). Within the multidisciplinary monitoring network of the National Institute for Earth Physics (NIEP), EMFIT is used as a pressure sensor in combination with infrasound transducers and microphones deployed in seismic areas. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate its suitability for detecting seismic noise that precedes earthquakes, generated by rock fracturing associated with crustal deformation. Although similar studies have been reported, they have not involved the use of EMFIT sensors. The novelty of this approach lies in the large surface area and mechanical flexibility of the material. Beyond seismic forecasting, the research also examines whether this type of sensor can contribute to seismic monitoring as a complement to conventional instruments such as accelerometers, seismometers, and microbarometers. Data analysis relies primarily on spectral time-series methods and incorporates measurements from other acoustic sensors (microphones and microbarometers) as well as a weather station. The working hypothesis is the potential correlation between the recorded data and the presence of enhanced noise prior to the detection of seismic waves by standard seismic sensors. The target area for this investigation is Vrancea, specifically the Vrâncioaia seismic station, where multidisciplinary monitoring includes infrasound, radon, thoron, soil temperature, and atmospheric electrical discharges. Preliminary tests suggest that the EMFIT sensor may function as a highly sensitive device, effectively serving as an “ear” for detecting ground noise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensing Technologies for Geophysical Monitoring)
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