Recent advances in our knowledge of the geotechnical behaviour of natural s
oils and weak rocks suggest that the shear stiffness controlling wave propa
gation in nearsurface materials will be similar to those which geotechnical
engineers wish to measure, and use to calculate movements of the ground ar
ound engineering structures. Field seismic techniques which have been found
suitable for stiffness determination are reviewed. The benefits of using g
eophysical methods, as compared with the use of routine geotechnical techni
ques, are discussed.