Due to the dispersive characteristics of higher frequency waves travelling through the more shallow conditions and lower frequency waves passing through deeper materials, a 1-D subsurface profile can be generated based on the velocity with depth.
The method utilizes equipment typically employed in seismic refraction surveys.
An array consists of 6 to 48+ geophones placed at some interval along the ground surface to measure the propagating waves and are connected to a seismograph that records the data.
Rayleigh waves are generated from seismic sources described to be active, passive, or a combination of both.
Passive sources can be nearby highway traffic, construction equipment working in the distance, etc.