Geophysical data acquisition system and method of acquisition of geophysical data

A method of acquiring geophysical data, the method comprising:

• operating a set of ground engaging members to move a frame assembly and a carrier assembly attached to the frame assembly, along a ground surface;
• operating the drive mechanism of the carrier assembly to move a seismic source baseplate through a plurality of positions between a lowered position and a raised position, and a forwards position and a rearwards position with respect to the frame assembly;
• and
• coordinating the movement of the set of ground engaging members and the carrier assembly such that the seismic source baseplate moves to the lowered position when the frame assembly approaches one or more data acquisition points on the ground surface whereby with respect to the data acquisition point on the ground surface, the movement of the frame assembly is maintained while the seismic source baseplate remains stationary.

A system for acquiring seismic data, the system comprising:

• a frame assembly;
• a set of ground engaging members connected to the frame assembly for supporting the frame assembly on a ground surface, the set of ground engaging members being adapted to rotate to enable movement of the frame assembly along a horizontal direction on the ground surface;
• and
• a carrier assembly attached to the frame assembly, the carrier assembly having one or more seismic source subsystems and a drive mechanism adapted to move each of the one or more seismic source subsystems through a plurality of positions between a lowered position and a raised position, and a forwards position and a rearwards position with respect to the frame assembly and direction of motion of the frame assembly, each of the one or more seismic source subsystems include a seismic source baseplate,
• wherein, the movement of each of the one or more seismic source subsystems is in coordination with the movement of the frame assembly, such that each of the one or more seismic source systems move to the lowered position when the frame assembly approaches one or more data acquisition points on the ground surface, whereby with respect to the data acquisition point on the ground surface the movement of the frame assembly is maintained while the seismic source baseplate remain stationary,
• wherein the seismic source is adapted to be operated when the baseplate is in contact with the data acquisition point.