b'CommitteesASEG newsASEG Research Foundation: Update on current projectsThe ASEG Research Foundation makessurveys over existing graves. TheThis plot shows that the available soil an annual call for grant applicationsfunding also allowed me to purchasemoisture is not reaching the lower levels.for projects in geophysics at Australianand install two Sentek Drill & Drop institutions closing in early March eachBluetooth moisture meters. TheseRF21P02. University of Melbourne MSc year. For the details on this processsubsurface instruments measure soilStudent Youssef Hamad (Supervisor Dr see the Foundations pages at https:// moisture at 10 cm intervals, down toGraeme Beardsmore).www.aseg.org.au/foundation/overview.80 cm. These are installed in sites thatUtilisation and comparison of conventional Updates on selected current projectspresent a different soil matrix, one withwireline precision temperature sensing, follow: a loamier matrix, the other with a sodicDTS, and aDTS to detect and quantify clay. The data gathered from thesesubsurface geothermal anomalies in the The ASEG Research Foundationinstruments has been enlightening as acknowledges and thanks our donorson-shore Gippsland Basin.they have shown, firstly, that the Bureau from the ASEG membership, bothof Meteorology is not always accurate,Task 1. Synthesise literature to identify individual and corporate. The ASEG asand secondly, that even in a loamypotential convective and/or refractive a whole makes a significant donationsoil matrix, the moisture that falls in aheat transfer zones in Gippsland. each year to support the Foundation. Forseasonal rainfall event will take monthsLocate available boreholes within these information on donating visit https:// to percolate to moderate depths. Thiszones that are limited in subsurface www.aseg.org.au/foundation/donate.new knowledge shows that waiting for atemperature data.All donations are tax deductible. Furtherrain event before heading to the field to information on the ASEG Researchundertake a geophysical survey may notJoe completed and submitted his Foundation can be found at https://www. actually be an advantage. literature review and delivered his 1st aseg.org.au/foundation/overview. year oral progress report to the School By using rows containing known, andof Geography Earth and Atmospheric RF20E03. Flinders University PhDverified, existing graves, the effects ofSciences. The research questions and Student Andrew Frost (Supervisor Dr Ianthe seasonal rainfall can be trackedknowledge gaps identified in the Project Moffat). using the data from the moisture meter,Details remain relevant. Major WNWAssessing a multi-modal approach in thethe changes in resistivity along the row,ESE trending faults and basin margins location of unmarked graves under variousand the changes in radar velocity. Thisare identified as regions of interest for seasonal conditions. exciting research will provide answersfield data collection. To that end Joe to the questions posed above and willhas identified and collected precision Is there an optimal seasonal time toalso provide a guide for those looking towireline temperature logs from seven undertake geophysical prospecting forlocate unmarked graves as to the optimalboreholes totalling 5100 m depth. unmarked graves? Does the presenceseasonal conditions in which to carry outFurthermore, Joe has identified an of moisture in the soil influence thea survey. additional borehole in the Latrobe Valley effectiveness of radar or resistivityto test the capability of a fibre-optic results? These are the questions that I amIn the areas I have worked in, this is theDistributedexploring in my PhD research, and theseperiod from April to September. The questions are important because, aslower plot in Figure 1 shows the totalTemperature Sensor (DTS) to accurately preliminary work from known grave sitesinterpolated moisture, from 311 mm inlog temperature in an air-filled borehas shown, not all graves show in radarApril to 436 mm in September. The upperconditions under which conventional or resistivity surveys. plot shows the moisture levels at sensorwireline temperature sensors typically fail depth, these are positioned at every 10 cm.to thermally equilibrate.Detecting unmarked graves is a critical challenge facing archaeologists, law enforcement agencies, community groups, cemetery administrators, and those that work in the geophysics industry. Detecting burial sites is difficult due to their subtle response and small size, and these responses diminish over time. Any advancement of knowledge of methods commonly used will increase the surety of detection, and geophysical methods remain to the fore due to the non-invasive and culturally appropriate nature of the geophysical methods favoured in grave detection.The generous funding made available from ASEG has allowed me to visit my study sites regularly, these are in the South-East and on the Eyre Peninsula, and to undertake radar and resistivityFigure 1.Graph from one of the Bordertown moisture meters.7 PREVIEW APRIL 2023'