Technology Summary L-21044 Tunnel Sensor Hydrogeology Evaluations

Technical Report · Mon Mar 02 04:00:00 EST 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1605062· OSTI ID:1605062

Raber, Ellen ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Illicit tunneling along the U.S. Mexican border is a persistent national security problem. Several types of sensors could be to used to detect tunnels, but the hydrogeology of the subsurface makes some technologies ineffective. This effort used available borehole and surface geology data to develop 3D hydrogeologic models, which could then provide the input for optimizing subsurface sensor technologies to detect tunnels. Depending on the specific type of sensor, the following physical properties of the subsurface are important: longitudinal speed (velocity-p), shear speed (velocity-s), acoustic attenuation, electrical permittivity, electrical conductivity, density and elastic properties. LLNL developed a procedure which uses hydrogeological datasets to determine 3D hydrogeology cross sections. The physical properties of the rocks are generally not known precisely, thus ranges of properties would need to be considered. This cross-section data can then be utilized to enhance modeling studies to optimize sensor types/systems.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1605062
• Report Number(s): LLNL-TR--806069; 1010933
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES