Marco Vasconez Maza is a geoscientist at the British Geological Survey with experience in fieldwork, laboratory experimentation, numerical modelling (using pyGIMLi) and data analytics. His expertise in spectral induced polarisation and electrical resistivity tomography allows him to effectively characterise and monitor subsurface processes. Marco firmly believes that geophysics is a transformative tool, capable of accelerating analysis across multiple disciplines and fostering synergies within geosciences, particularly in remediation, agronomy and land management.
Biography
- 2023 to ongoing: Geophysicist, British Geological Survey
- 2022 to 2023: Postdoctoral researcher, Sorbonne University, France
- 2017 to 2021: PhD, Cartagena Polytechnic University, Spain
- 2015 to 2016: MSc, European University of Madrid, Spain
- 2021 to 2014: BEng, Cartagena Polytechnic University, Spain
Research interests
- Spectral induced polarisation (SIP)
- Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT)
- Environmental geophysics
- Numerical modelling
ORC ID: 0000-0002-6190-1027
Key papers
- Capa-Camacho, X, Martínez-Pagán, P, Acosta, J A, Martínez-Segura, M A, Vásconez-Maza, M D, and Faz, Á. 2024. Environmental monitoring of pig slurry ponds using geochemical and geoelectrical techniques. Water, Vol. 16(7), 1016. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w16071016
- Jabrane, O, Martínez-Pagán, P, Martínez-Segura, M A, Alcalá, F J, El Azzab, D, Vásconez-Maza, M D, and Charroud, M. 2023. Integration of electrical resistivity tomography and seismic refraction tomography to investigate subsiding sinkholes in karst areas. Water, Vol. 15(12), 2192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w15122192
- Martínez-Segura, M A, García-Nieto, M C, Navarro, M, Vásconez-Maza, M D, Oda, Y, García-Jerez, A, and Enomoto, T. 2024. Seismic characterisation of the subsoil under a historic building: Cathedral Church of Saint Mary in Murcia case study. Engineering Geology, Vol. 335, 107529. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107529
- Martínez-Segura, M A, Conesa-García, C, Pérez-Cutillas, P, Martínez-Pagán, P, and Vásconez-Maza, M D. 2021. Identifying changes in sediment texture along an ephemeral gravel-bed stream using electrical resistivity tomography 2D and 3D. Applied Sciences, Vol. 11, 3030. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11073030
- Martínez-Segura, M A, Vásconez-Maza, M D, and García-Nieto, M C. 2020. Volumetric characterisation of waste deposits generated during the production of fertiliser derived from phosphoric rock by using LiDAR and electrical resistivity tomography. Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 716, 137076. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137076
- Martínez-Segura, M A, Vásconez-Maza, M D, Faz, Á, Martínez-Martínez, S, Gabarrón, M, and Acosta, J A. 2019. Assessment of the environmental impact of an agricultural area near a coastal lagoon using geophysical and geochemical techniques. 75–98 in Recent Advances in Geophysics. Brandt, C N (editor). (New York, USA: Nova Science Publishers.) ISBN: 9781536162080; 9781536162073
- Vásconez-Maza, M D, Martínez-Segura, M A, Martínez-Pagán, P, Bueso, M C, Capa-Camacho, X, Jabrane, O, and Faz, Á. 2024. Assessing an abandoned pyrite cinder deposit in south-east Spain with electrical resistivity tomography: a case study. Minerals, Vol. 14(7), 652. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min14070652
- Vásconez-Maza, M D, Bueso, M C, Mulas, J, Faz, Á, and Martínez-Segura, M A. 2022. Characterising an abandoned phosphogypsum deposit by combining radiological, geophysical, geochemical, and statistical techniques. Catena, Vol. 216 (Part B), 106401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2022.106401
- Vásconez-Maza, M D, Bueso, M C, Faz, A, Acosta, J A, and Martínez-Segura, M A. 2021. Assessing the behaviour of heavy metals in abandoned phosphogypsum deposits combining electrical resistivity tomography and multivariate analysis. Journal of Environmental Management, Vol. 278, 301–4797. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111517
- Vásconez-Maza, M D, Martínez-Pagán, P, Aktarakçi, H, García-Nieto, M C, and Martínez-Segura, M A. 2020. Enhancing electrical contact with a commercial polymer for electrical resistivity tomography on archaeological sites: a case study. Materials, Vol. 13(21), 5012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13215012
- Vásconez-Maza, M D, Martínez-Segura, M A, Bueso, M C, Faz, Á, García-Nieto, M C, Gabarrón, M, and Acosta, J A. 2019. Predicting spatial distribution of heavy metals in an abandoned phosphogypsum pond combining geochemistry, electrical resistivity tomography and statistical methods. Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 374, 392–400. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.04.045
- Data analysis (Python; R)
- Numerical modelling (pyGIMLi; COMSOL)
- Public engagement
- Fluent in Spanish, French and English
- 2023: Member of the European Geosciences Union (EGU)
- 2017: Member of the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE)