Uncovering the Secrets of the Earth: Binghamton Professor Develops Innovative Geophysics Methods

Using advanced sensing technology, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences Sina Saneiyan is able to peer into the Earth's subsurface from the ground, sky, or even space, revolutionizing the field of near-surface geophysics. With a background in mining exploration and environmental sciences, Saneiyan's research focuses on the applications of geophysics in understanding the Earth's behavior and its impact on human life. His work has significant implications for finding habitable planets, mitigating the dangers of earthquakes and landslides, and discovering needed resources.

Key Takeaways:

Saneiyan's research focuses on near-surface geophysics, which uses advanced sensing technology to peer into the Earth's subsurface from the ground, sky, or even space.
He is leading two research projects, one funded by NASA to explore the use of sensors to determine if an alien planet is potentially habitable, and another to tackle the problem of abandoned oil and natural gas wells.
The abandoned oil and natural gas wells project uses a smartphone's internal compass to detect the magnetic signature of the wells, with a proposed patent (US Patent App. 18/444,665, 2024) for the use of cell phone magnetometers in finding abandoned wells.
Saneiyan is working with Assistant Professor of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering Sara Kohtz to distinguish the signature of well casings from other magnetic objects using artificial intelligence.
He is also developing an app to make the data processing simple, allowing individuals to download it and conduct a quick survey to detect orphaned wells.
Saneiyan's research has implications for finding habitable planets, mitigating the dangers of earthquakes and landslides, and discovering needed resources.
He currently has a proposal before the National Science Foundation to use electrical signals from the Earth's subsurface to monitor vulnerable slopes.
Saneiyan is a jack-of-all-trades for Earth Sciences, detecting what's going on in the subsurface and collaborating with other scientists to explain it.

Statistics:

There are over 3 million abandoned oil and natural gas wells across the United States.
Saneiyan's research has found that nearly all smartphones are equipped with an internal compass that can detect the magnetic signature of well casings.
The abandoned oil and natural gas wells project uses a smartphone's internal compass to detect the magnetic signature of the wells.
Saneiyan has a proposal before the National Science Foundation to use electrical signals from the Earth's subsurface to monitor vulnerable slopes.

Sources:

Sina Saneiyan, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences, Binghamton University
Saneiyan's research on the use of cell phone magnetometers in finding abandoned wells (Journal of Applied Geophysics)
NASA funding for the project to explore the use of sensors to determine if an alien planet is potentially habitable
US Patent App. 18/444,665, 2024 (pending patent for the use of cell phone magnetometers in finding abandoned wells)
National Science Foundation proposal to use electrical signals from the Earth's subsurface to monitor vulnerable slopes