GeoSystems Engineering

Geosystems Sensing and Analytics Laboratory (GeoSAL)

About
Equipment

The Geosystems Sensing and Analytics Laboratory (GeoSAL) is housed at the Hearst Mining Building, about 1 min walk from Davis Hall. GeoSAL enables modern techniques for field characterization, in-situ testing, field sensing and monitoring of infrastructure and the geoenvironment.

GeoSAL promotes multi-scale, integrated, innovative sensing at the component (local) and system (regional) level. Key to leveraging the sensing capabilities is the ability to analyze big data collected by our sensors, robots and satellites using customized scripts and Artificial Intelligence algorithms.

Field Equipment

GeoSAL houses a diverse and unique set of Field testing and Monitoring equipment that is used in support of our Research and Education Mission

Virtual & Mixed Reality Hub

GeoSAL has in-house capabilities in support of Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality and Visualization projects. These capabilities are used in both research and teaching activities

Sensor Development

GeoSAL has equipment and staff that support manufacturing (mechanical and electronics), development and placement of sensors

Disasters Response Hub

GeoSAL support the Cal Geosystems team in immediate deployments to disaster affected areas. Our team has deployed to numerous locations globally and nationwide following earthquakes, huricanes, monsoons, floods and wildfires. Team members have a history of leadership with the GEER organization.

Big Data Analytics

GeoSAL has ongoing research projects that focus harness the large amounts of data generated by sensors, robots and autonomous infrastructure. Such approaches are commonly AI-based and include Digital Twins methodologies, machine learning frameworks, digital image analysis algorithms, data fusion frameworks.

GeoSAL houses a diverse and unique set of Field testing and Monitoring equipment that is used in support of our Research and Education Mission.

GPS

Fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Optical, Infrared & Laser Sensors

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing

Wireless Sensor Networks

LiDAR

Electromagnetics

Seismic Geophysics

Equipment capabilities include:

Equipment for subsurface characterization
A Dynamic Cone Penetrometer
A Dynamic Penetration Test
A wide range of survey-grade GPS systems
A fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
A range of optical, infrared and Laser sensors that are mounted on our robots
Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing
Terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
Electromagnetic Sensors
Seismic Geophysics equipment for Surface Waves: Microtremor Array Methods (Spatial Autocorrelation [SPAC] and frequency-wavenumber [ƒ-K]), Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratios (HVSR), Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), and frequency -controlled continuous sine wave Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW)
Seismic Geophysics equipment for Body waves: Seismic reflection and refraction tomography
Wireless Sensors for Wireless Sensor Networks
Computing Facilities for Data Analysis
Virtual and Mixed Reality Hub

If you are interested in collaborating with GeoSAL, please contact Prof. Dimitrios Zekkos or directly any of the Faculty members of the Geosystems Group.

Latest Research News

Zekkos to give State-of-the-Art Talk on Autonomy in Landfills at Geofrontiers conference

Feb 27, 2025 | General

Prof. Dimitrios Zekkos will deliver a State of the Art talk on "Autonomous characterization of full-scale field response of Municipal Solid Waste" at the Geofrontiers conference. The talk will describe the opportunities for better insights into the full-scale response of Municipal Solid Waste in landfills by incorporating autonomy. The talk will include specific examples of applications related to settlement behavior and methane emissions. T ...

The 8th Annual UC Berkeley Geotechnical Engineering Research Symposium

Oct 23, 2024 | General

The 8th annual UC Berkeley Geotechnical Engineering Research Symposium will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024, from 1-5 pm at the Banatao Auditorium in Sutardja Dai Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus. The symposium features the research conducted by current Ph.D. students and Research Associates in the GeoSystems Group at UC Berkeley through inspiring keynotes and poster presentations. Please note this date on your calendar and share it with ...

Athanasopoulos-Zekkos awarded Interdisciplinary Climate and Equity Seed Grant

Sep 18, 2024 | General

Prof. Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos is a coPI on a Interdisciplinary Climate and Equity Seed Grant, that will focus on developing new methods for accurately integrating equity in flood risk management. Dr. Anna Serra-Llobet is the PI and brings expertise in flood risk management policies, environmental planning, floods after fire, residual risk of extreme floods, and nature-based solutions for flood risk management. The Seed Grant award ...

15th Annual Material Point Method Workshop

Jul 08, 2024 | General

Dear Colleagues, We hope you're doing well. This is a friendly reminder to submit your abstract and register for the 15th Annual MPM Workshop hosted at the University of California, Berkeley, on September 5th-6th, 2024. Call for Abstracts: We invite you to submit an abstract for consideration for oral presentation at our event. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase and share your latest research findings and contribute to advancin ...

Laboratory Testing RnD engineer position opening at UC Berkeley Geosystems!

Mar 12, 2024 | General

The Geosystems group at UC Berkeley is excited to circulate this new career opportunity for an R&D Engineer 3 to support our laboratory testing and field testing capabilities of the Geotechnical Engineering Testing Laboratories, the Geosystems Sensing and Analytics Laboratory (GeoSAL) and the large-scale testing of our Center for Smart Infrastructure (CSI). A detailed description of the position is provided here. If you are aware of i ...

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