关键词: 地球物理探测方法, 大城市, 地震活断层

Abstract: This paper gives a brief account of the significance of urban active fault exploration and presents a general review of active fault exploration around the world. Earthquakes provoked by active faults directly beneath the metropolises can cause serious disasters to the cities. If urban active faults are precisely determined and effective precautions are taken, losses at the time of earthquake occurrence can be greatly reduced. We elaborate on various kinds of possible geophysical methods for seismic active fault exploration and their main features. We also discuss the scope of application of related geophysical methods and the major problems that they can solve in the different periods of active fault exploration, such as regional survey or preliminary investigation, detailed exploration or precise location, and the identification of seismogenic structures.

Key words: geophysical prospecting method, urban areas, seismic active fault