The Society of Exploration Geophysicists of Japan (SEGJ) hosted the 8th SEGJ International Symposium on Imaging and Interpretation Technologies at Kyoto University Clock Tower Centennial Hall, Kyoto, Japan on November 26-28, 2006, following a tutorial course for young geoscientists and engineers on 24 and 25 at Kyotodaigaku Kaikan. A technical tour was also held on November 29. The symposium was co-sponsored by the Korean Society of Exploration Geophysicists (KSEG), the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG), the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE), and the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society (EEGS), and Vietnam Association of Geophysicists (VAG). Discussions at the symposium focused on Imaging and Interpretation technologies that contribute to Interdisciplinary Integration of Geosciences for better understanding and modeling invisible underground structures and processes. In particular geophysical imaging technologies, such as seismic methods, electrical and electromagnetic methods, ground penetrating radar, gravity and geomagnetics in various applications in human activities, such as natural resource exploration, civil engineering, environmental applications, and natural hazard mitigation were discussed as a major theme of the symposium. Also, our discussions included theoretical developments in geophysical methods, laboratory measurements, various data-processing schemes, and modeling and inverse theories that help to understand geoscientific processes in the invisible underground. Geophysical data management and integrated geophysical technologies were recognized as indispensable tools for deepening our understandings of subsurface structures and focusing into survey objectives.
