INNOGEO sounded the substratum of the water impoundment of Les Gouilles Rouges at the Samoens ski resort in Savoy. The lake supplies drinking water to the resort. Geological and geotechnical studies were undertaken as part of maintenance and of a project to increase the capacity of the impoundment. INNOGEO was entrusted with a geophysical study by underwater seismic refraction. Lines of seismic sensors were lain at the bottom of the lake. The seismic source (safe for the fauna and flora) consists of a compressed air gun placed at the bottom of the impoundment, at different points of the line. The air gun releases a shock wave that reverberates on subsoil layers. Analysis of propagation times of the seismic wave between the source and the different sensors allows us to reconstruct the geometry of subsoil layers.
Example of a seismic refraction study reading
INNOGEO is equipped for any underwater seismic refraction project. We operate in France and around the world, in seaports and river ports, as well as in lakes and canals. INNOGEO is also trained and equipped to take bathymetric measures associated to these studies.