In 2014, the village of Rătești, nestled in Buzău County, Romania, was struck by a catastrophic land movement that left ~30 houses and their annexes completely destroyed or severely damaged, unsafe to be inhabited. The scale of the destruction was so intense that residents of the affected houses were forced to relocate. The immediate aftermath sparked public interest and media coverage, but as time passed, the urgency surrounding the event faded. Even after years have passed, there are no clear answers regarding the cause of the land movement, nor any guidance on how to mitigate the ongoing risk.
While the physical damage was undeniable, and destroyed houses are still living testimonies of the hazard effect, the event remains poorly understood, and old and new construction continues to be at risk.
There is a pressing need for collecting more geophysical and geotechnical data and integrated analysis in order to unravel the mechanism and triggering factors behind the 2014 disaster, identify the real risks, and inform about the findings to support safe development practices for the future.
Through the proposed field activities and analyses of the PSInSAR data, the SEG Field Camp project will be an important pillar in advancing the knowledge of the 2014 phenomena, support informed decision-making, and promote safer, more sustainable development in Rătești and beyond.
Project activities are devised in several phases that will take place prior to, during, and after the Field Campaign as follows:
I) Pre-Field Camp activities:
To familiarize students with the Rătești case study, relevant datasets from the field camp area will be provided during the pre-field camp activities to guide participants through the process of analyzing local hazards and understanding the local geological setting. This includes:
a) PSInSAR Data Analysis and Interpretation: training on the use of ESA-certified Terrasigna’s PSTool for ground displacement monitoring. PSInSAR is a newer technique, certified to measure displacements in the radar line of sight (SAR LOS) with accuracies similar to GNSS.
When: 9 July 2025, 17:30-20:00
Where: Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, room IB
b) Geophysical & Geotechnical Methodology: Practical Approaches
Introducing students to geophysical techniques and small-depth drilling techniques. Execution of measurements to extract information that will support the autumn Field Campaign
When: 15 July 2025, full day
Where: Ratesti, Buzau County
c) Drone-based surveys: LiDAR measurements
When: 15 August 2025, full day
Where: Ratesti, Buzau County
d) Revisiting Old Datasets: Reviewing Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) from 2014 and ERT profiles (2025) to extract information that will support the autumn campaign field strategy. The Romanian Academy’s Institute of Geodynamics (project partner) will provide access to their archive VES data.
d) HSSE (Health, Safety, Security, and Environment) Training
Comprehensive HSSE training will be provided, including safety procedures for geophysical equipment handling, UAV piloting essentials for drone-based surveys in geology and geophysics, and fieldwork safety procedures.
When: 15 September 2025
Where: Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, room IB
e) Dissemination & Community Engagement
Public outreach activities to share project goals, raise public awareness, acknowledge SEG & SEG Foundation and promote collaboration with local communities and stakeholders.
Where: Faculty of Geology and Geophysics , room IB
II) Field Camp activities 15-19.09.2025:
The Field Camp will involve intensive on-site activities designed to give participants hands-on experience and engage with the local community:
• Data Acquisition
a) Drone-based surveys: Airborne GPR, thermal scanning, photogrammetry (applying USGS’s Structure from Motion).
b) Multi-parameter terrestrial geophysical measurements: including Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), electromagnetic, and seismic methods using IGU-16 and IGU-16HR 3C Node Intelligent Seismic Data Loggers.
c) Geological mapping and soil sampling: Collecting samples for laboratory analysis to complement geophysical data.
d) Community Engagement: Interviews with residents to document their firsthand experiences of the 2014 events.
Link for Short presentation of the Field Camp
C) Post Field Campaign
• Data Processing and Interpretation sessions
Small group sessions will provide participants with hands-on experience in processing and interpreting geophysical data collected during the Field Camp.
• Risk assessment using the GIS-ESRI platform
• Personalized Mentoring
Students will receive individualized guidance to prepare presentations and reports based on the project findings.
Project implementation & partners
„Geophysical Field Studies in High-Risk Areas: Unlocking the Past – Securing the Future” (RO-GEO4SDG is a project awarded by the prestigious Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Tulsa, OK, USA and the SEG FOUNDATION
The project is coordinated by the consortium of the Romanian Society of Applied Geophysics and the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of the University of Bucharest
Project Partners through whose support the technology and technical know-how will be ensured by: GeoEcoMar, Institute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy, AR-GEO-EDU, GeoKit Green Solutions, Geo Log Data, DIRAC, Vibrometric & Terrasigna
Project trainers are from Romania, Greece, and Canada
We look forward to welcoming you to an enriching experience!
