Method for acquiring a seismic dataset over a region of interest

A method for acquiring a seismic dataset for a seismic survey over a region of interest, said method comprising:

• providing at least one seismic source in a seismic source area of the region of interest, the at least one seismic source comprising at least one of an explosive, a hammer, or a vibrator;
• providing a plurality of seismic receivers in said seismic source area, the plurality of seismic receivers comprising at least three seismic receivers;
• measuring, with the plurality of seismic receivers, a first ground vibration induced in a subsurface of the region of interest by the at least one seismic source, the at least one seismic source being able to generate waves which propagate in the subsurface, the first ground vibration being used to prepare the seismic dataset;
• measuring, with the plurality of seismic receivers, at least one second ground vibration induced by a mechanical source different from the at least one seismic source, the mechanical source being chosen between a human, an animal and a vehicle in contact with a ground of the region of interest, wherein the at least one second ground vibration is not used to prepare the seismic dataset, the first ground vibration and the at least one second ground vibration being differentiated based on the intensity of the ground vibrations, the spectral content of the ground vibrations, the frequency of the ground vibrations, only the first ground vibration being included into the seismic dataset;
• analyzing the at least one second ground vibration to determine at least one information relevant to a location of the mechanical source in the region of interest;
• and
• monitoring the location of the mechanical source in real time in the region of interest, said monitoring of the location of the mechanical source in real time including iteratively performing a method of determining the location of the mechanical source as the mechanical source moves in the region of interest, wherein the method of determining the location of the mechanical source comprises:
• recording at least one same event of the at least one second ground vibration resulting from a movement of the mechanical source on the ground in the region of interest, at the plurality of seismic receivers,
• comparing a time at which each of the plurality of seismic receivers recorded the at least one same event to obtain a time delay, and
• determining the location of the mechanical source based on the time delay, and
• preventing deployment of an additional seismic source, the additional seismic source comprising at least one of an explosive, a hammer, or a vibrator, in the seismic source area of the region of interest when the location of the mechanical source is determined to be within the region of interest.