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Sensing Technologies for Geophysical Monitoring
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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 1899

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Raffaele Martorana

E-Mail Website
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
Dr. Alessandra Carollo

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

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 17047 KB  
Article
Temporary Seismic Array Installation in the Contursi Terme Hydrothermal System: A Step Toward Geothermal Assessment
by Vincenzo Serlenga, Ferdinando Napolitano, Serena Panebianco, Giovannina Mungiello, Tony Alfredo Stabile, Valeria Giampaolo, Massimo Blasone, Marianna Balasco, Angela Perrone, Gregory De Martino, Salvatore Lucente, Luigi Martino, Paolo Capuano and Ortensia Amoroso
Sensors 2026, 26(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26010016 - 19 Dec 2025
Abstract
How can the interaction between the seismological community and society contribute to the exploitation and usage of renewable energy resources? We try to provide an answer by describing the seismic experiment realized in March–April 2025 in the hydrothermal area close to Contursi Terme [...] Read more.
How can the interaction between the seismological community and society contribute to the exploitation and usage of renewable energy resources? We try to provide an answer by describing the seismic experiment realized in March–April 2025 in the hydrothermal area close to Contursi Terme municipality (Southern Italy). We deployed a 29-station seismic array thanks to the availability of local citizens, civic administrations, schools, and accommodation facilities, which provided hosting and power for six-component seismological instruments over a one-month period. By computing the Probabilistic Power Spectral Densities (PPSD) and spectrograms, we assessed the noise level and the quality of the dataset. The seismic recordings were also used for studying the local seismic response of the area by the HVSR method and detecting small magnitude (1.4–4.2) local and regional earthquakes. We thus described some solutions to tackle the challenges of a possible geothermal exploitation project in the area: (a) to map the energy resource through a tomography on good-quality ambient-noise data; (b) to manage the seismic risk related to the resource exploitation by installing a proper local seismic network; (c) to increase the acceptance by the population through a citizen-science action for instituting a fruitful alliance between different actors of civil society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensing Technologies for Geophysical Monitoring)
22 pages, 9086 KB  
Article
DEMETRA—A Seismic Noise Survey at the Maccalube di Aragona Mud Volcanoes (Southern Italy): Results and Perspectives
by Simona Petrosino, Paolo Madonia, Daniele Gucciardo and Paola Cusano
Sensors 2025, 25(22), 6975; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25226975 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 525
Abstract
On 22–23 April 2025, a seismic noise survey was conducted at the Maccalube di Aragona, a mud volcano field located in Sicily (southern Italy), with the aim of characterizing the background signal associated with vent activity and the shallow subsurface structure. The experiment, [...] Read more.
On 22–23 April 2025, a seismic noise survey was conducted at the Maccalube di Aragona, a mud volcano field located in Sicily (southern Italy), with the aim of characterizing the background signal associated with vent activity and the shallow subsurface structure. The experiment, named DEMETRA (DEnse MaccalubE TRomino Acquisition), was carried out within the framework of the multidisciplinary INGV-PROMUD research project, which aims to identify key indicators of mud volcano activity and potential precursors of paroxysmal events. Ambient seismic noise was recorded at 21 sites using a three-component, 24-bit digital tromograph. Measurements were conducted with a dense spatial sampling scheme covering both vent areas and peripheral zones. Preliminary data analyses included spectral estimates, computation of horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) curves and evaluation of the polarization patterns. The HVSR curves do not display clear amplification peaks but rather show deamplification at specific sites. The polarization patterns exhibit spatial consistency across the vent areas. In addition, transient signals were identified in the background noise at some sites; based on their spectral and polarization characteristics, these signals are possibly associated with degassing, mud emissions, or bubbling phenomena. The dense spatial coverage of the DEMETRA experiment provides a valuable dataset for investigating subsurface properties and dynamic processes in an active mud volcano environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensing Technologies for Geophysical Monitoring)
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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
Viewed by 641
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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