Professor Ping-Yu Chang is an internationally recognized geophysicist specializing in electromagnetic (EM) methods for Earth and planetary exploration. His primary research interests include Magnetotellurics (MT), Geomagnetic Depth Sounding (GDS), ocean-bottom electromagnetic observations (OBEM), and planetary electromagnetic induction studies. His work spans from near-surface and hydrogeophysical applications to imaging the deep crust, upper mantle, and planetary interiors.

Professor Chang received his Ph.D. in Geological Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Over the past two decades, he has made significant contributions to the theoretical development, instrumentation design, data processing, and inversion of EM methods. His recent research emphasizes integrated onshore–offshore observations, combining EM techniques with seismology, marine geophysics, and numerical modeling to construct robust three-dimensional structural models.

He is deeply engaged in international and interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly with Japan, Southeast Asia, and global planetary science communities. Professor Chang has served as President of the Interdisciplinary Geosciences (IG) Section of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) from 2020 to 2024, and was invited to speak at JpGU 2023 and 2024 on AOGS initiatives supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also holds leadership roles as President of the Taiwan Society of Groundwater Resources and Hydrogeology and as a Council Member of national academic organizations.

The Near-Surface Geophysics Laboratory at National Central University, led by Professor Chang, focuses on the development and application of electromagnetic methods to investigate subsurface structures across a wide range of spatial scales—from meters to hundreds of kilometers.

Core Research Themes

Magnetotelluric and Geomagnetic Induction Studies
Imaging electrical conductivity structures of the crust and mantle, tectonic boundaries, and deep geodynamic processes.

Ocean-Bottom and Shallow-Marine EM Exploration
Design, deployment, and analysis of OBEM systems for tectonic, geothermal, and offshore hazard studies, particularly in shallow-water and continental shelf environments.

Near-Surface and Hydrogeophysics
Applications of EM and GPR methods to groundwater systems, river–aquifer interactions, landslide dams, and environmental monitoring.

Planetary and Lunar Electromagnetic Sounding
Re-analysis of Apollo lunar magnetometer data and forward/inverse modeling of planetary interiors using electromagnetic induction theory.

Technical Strengths

In-house development of EM instrumentation, including sensors, data loggers, timing systems, and pressure-resistant housings.

Advanced signal processing and robust inversion techniques, including remote reference methods, M-estimators, and 1-D to 3-D inversion workflows.

Strong integration with seismology, marine seismic reflection, and numerical modeling, enabling cross-validation across multiple geophysical observables.

Training and Collaboration

The laboratory is committed to training the next generation of geophysicists through hands-on experience in field surveys, instrument development, data analysis, and scientific writing. It actively collaborates with leading institutions worldwide, including the University of Tokyo, JAMSTEC, and partners across Asia-Oceania.

Through its research and educational mission, the Near-Surface Geophysics Laboratory aims to advance fundamental understanding of Earth and planetary interiors, while contributing to societal needs such as natural hazard mitigation, energy exploration, and sustainable resource management.