Our research approach pursues the development of geosystems that sense their environment and adapt to improve performance. To accomplish this, SmartGeo research efforts pursue new knowledge in geoengineering and geoscience at micro, meso and macro scales. The sensing and adapting components of intelligent geosystems stem from the following four technical components:

Sensing research is considered at four levels - sensing elements, sensor nodes, wireless sensor networks, and remote sensing. SmartGeo faculty bring considerable experience with sensing element, sensor/geomaterial interaction and instrumentation for continuous monitoring, acceleration, strain and stress sensing in soil and contact force of construction equipment. SmartGeo faculty are also active in remote sensing technologies such as LiDar and INSar. 

Data processing for Intelligent Geosystems presents special challenges and opportunities for research. Much of data processing is data reduction, fusion and visualization, as concise summaries and displays are essential in communication among scientists, engineers, and policy makers. One of many examples of our research in data processing focuses on exploiting and advancing the emerging powerful technique of seismic interferometry. This technique enables the extraction of a system response (Green’s function) between any two sensors by correlating motions measured by them. When extended to recordings from large numbers of sensors distributed throughout a geosystem, this technique can provide a comprehensive image of a geosystem’s condition. SmartGeo research will also focus on reconciliation and visualization of large and disparate sets of data that will soon become ubiquitous with developing sensor technologies.

Models approximate the behavior of the systems based on equations representing the fundamental physical, chemical and biological processes. Development and use of Intelligent Geosystem models requires a series of steps, including sensitivity analysis, data needs assessment, calibration, uncertainty evaluation, optimization, and decision making. SmartGeo collaborative research teams include researchers in model development who benefit from the problems specific to each area and transfer the developing ideas between teams. These SmartGeo individuals lead interdisciplinary efforts in inversion development across geosystems.

Decision support is the aspect of Intelligent Geosystems that enables adaptation. Conversely, decision support can be human augmented (open loop) in infrastructure monitoring and intelligent remediation applications. SmartGeo research will seek to develop decision support capabilities for geosystems. In this research, new tools will be brought to bear on the challenging problems of geosystem modeling and construction.