Investigações geofísicas em áreas submersas rasas: qual o melhor método?

The objective of this article is to discuss and assess the applicability of geophysical methods by focusing on seismic methods in studies conducted in shallow waters. Criteria to help to select the most appropriate geophysical method to solve geological or eotechnical issues must be established to minimize problems, particularly environmental ones. The focus on shallow waters was driven by the lack of systematic data and the demand for geological and geotechnical knowledge in these areas, due to the concentration, in these sectors, of the main economic activities of our current society like projects of ports, moles, ducts, marinas, bridges, tunnels, fishing activities, beach regeneration, mineral prospecting, waterways, dredging and reservoirs. In any of these<br>topics, basic geological knowledge of the bottom and sub bottom of water-covered areas is essential to ensure the success of the project. Considering this, geophysical methods, particularly seismic ones, are investigation tools that effectively contribute to generate new information, and are the only set of tools available to quickly and objectively provide enough data to improve the geological understanding of the area under investigation.