Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) acquired Weston Geophysical Corporation, a preeminent nuclear test monitoring firm, on Feb. 28.
For the past 20 years, Weston has conducted seismic and geophysical research for government and commercial clients, and has worked with ARA for nearly seven years on a nuclear forensics project managed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Weston, which consists of nine seismologists/geophysicists, has expertise in seismic analysis and has performed work for DTRA, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the U.S. State Department, and other customers.
In addition to theoretical and computational capabilities related to seismic wave propagation, Weston has developed a specialized capability to conduct active explosive field experiments to address specific nuclear test monitoring problems relating to event discrimination, source mechanics, yield estimation, seismic wave propagation and the diffusion of effluents in the near-surface from explosive events into the atmosphere.
“We have worked with Weston for several years and are excited to have them as part of ARA,” said Kyle Millage, who oversees the ARA division Weston has joined. “Weston is a small, but well known, highly-skilled geophysics team that has done some amazing work for important customers. We feel Weston provides a great compliment to our current capabilities, both within Arlington Division and throughout the company as a whole. I am confident that by leveraging our collective strengths, we will be able to grow our current work and, more importantly, grow into new technology areas that will expand ARA’s overall portfolio.”
About Weston
Weston Geophysical Corp. is a consulting firm focused on seismic monitoring research. Weston’s staff has expertise in all aspects of monitoring manmade and natural seismicity, at scales ranging from microseismic to global. Some specific areas of focus include: advanced signal processing algorithms for highly accurate seismic event detection, location and characterization; field deployments to examine source phenomenology and monitor induced/triggered seismicity; coda-based studies of magnitude and other source parameters; regional surface-wave magnitudes and discriminants; and three-dimensional seismic velocity models of the crust and upper mantle.
