r/geophysics

In the O&G world, active seismic is the "gold standard" dataset, you wouldn't dream of drilling without it. Yet, in mining, it still feels like a niche tool (this might be my bias).

I realise the structural complexity of hard rock environments is a different beast compared to the relatively "clean" layering of most oil and gas basins. That said, I’ve seen some phenomenal hard rock structural models lately that were built off active seismic, and the detail is hard to argue with.

I’m curious to hear from those of you in the field:

• If you’ve used it, did the resolution and models justify the spend?
• If you’re not using it or don't see the value, is it purely a cost-to-benefit issue, or is their some other issue?

Why aren't we seeing this adopted more broadly across the industry?

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a PhD position in geoinformatics or remote sensing, based in Europe (EU citizen). My recent research interests include SAR/InSAR for critical infrastructure monitoring (railways, pipelines, energy grids), super-resolution techniques, and real-time drone imagery processing — strong focus on dual use.

What matters most to me in a supervisor is someone who is present, accessible, and genuinely supportive of a student who wants to learn — a decent person and an expert. A friend who works in academia recently told me something that stuck: with a good supervisor, the PhD flows naturally; with someone who is absent or difficult to work with, you’ll struggle and drag it out for years.

About me: I’m 27, a data engineering team lead at a company working with ESA on the Copernicus programme. I hold an MSc in Geodesy & Cartography (GIS specialisation) from Warsaw University of Technology and a postgrad in Big Data / ML. Day to day I work with Sentinel data and have some experience with VHRs. I build processing pipelines around GDAL, maintain STAC catalogues, and create user-facing APIs and QGIS plugins — all in a cloud-native environment I use daily. I code in Python, use k8s and nix, and I’m eager to pick up Rust or Go. I’ve presented at FOSS4G, ESA Living Planet Symposium, EGU and IAC, and I teach EO courses at AGH Kraków.

If you know of any open positions or could recommend a supervisor, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!