faculty.Fred Boadu

Fred K. Boadu, Associate Professor

Fred Boadu received his B.S. (Hons) in geological engineering from the University of Science and Technology, Ghana, a Post-Graduate Diploma in applied geophysics from McGill University, an M.S. in geophysics from the University of Calgary, and his Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1994. He was an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Science and Technology, School of Mines (Tarkwa, Ghana) from 1982 to 1984. Since 1986, he has worked for several oil companies (Chevron, Amoco, and Mobil) during the summer months on a variety of research projects. He is also a consultant for Texaco, Inc. and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.

Dr. Boadu’s research focuses on the areas of exploration, engineering and environmental geophysics. Current research involves characterizing the transport and storage properties of porous media such as fractured rocks, soils and human tissue. The work involves modeling, laboratory and field experiments. Fractal concepts and neural networks are used to interpret results.

Education

• Ph.D. Applied Geophysics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1994
• M.Sc. Geophysics, The University of Calgary, 1998
• Post-Graduate Diploma Applied Geophysics, McGill University, 1985
• B.Sc. (with Honors) Geological Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Ghana, 1982

Professional Experience

• Associate Professor, Duke University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2001- present
• Research and Development Consultant, Exploration and Production Development Technology, Texaco Inc., 1996-Present
• Consultant, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), 1997-1999
• Assistant Professor, Duke University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1994- 2001
• Summer Research Geophysicist, Mobile Exploration and Producing Technology, May 1992-September 1992
• Research and Development Geophysicist, Mobil Exploration and Producing Technology, Texaco, Exploration and Production, Chevron Canada Resources, Amoco Canada, 1990-1995
• Summer Research Geophysicist, Mobile Research and Development Corporation, May 1990-September 1990, May 1991-September 1991
• Summer Research Geophysicist, Chevron Canada Resources, May 1989-September 1989
• Research and Teaching Assistant, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1990-1994
• Research and Teaching Assistant, University of Calgary, 1987-1989
• Assistant Lecturer/Research Officer, University of Science and Technology, School of Mines/Water Resources Research Unit, United Nations Development Programme (UNPD) Project, 1982-1984

Sample Publications [complete publication list]

Fred K. Boadu, Joseph Gyamfi, Emmanuel Owusu. (2005) Determining Subsurface Fracture Characteristics from Azimuthal Resistivity Surveys: A Case Study at Nsawam, Ghana. Geophysics, Vol. 70, B35-B42.

Fred K. Boadu (2003) Use of multifractal seismic waveform parameters to characterize the hydraulic properties of fractured medium: numerical experiments. Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 155, 557-566.

L Pratson, Asttroujkova, Dherrick, F Boadu and P Malin.(2003) Predicting seismic velocity and other rock properties from clay content only, Geophysics, vol. 68, 1847-1857.

Seabrook Brian and Boadu, F.K. (2002). Relating Electrical Response and Petrophysical Properites of Sands Subjected to Stress Changes, Journal of Environmental and Engineering geophysics, 7 88-100

Boadu, F.K. (2001) Closure on discussion, "Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils from Grain Size Distribution: New Models. J. of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Eng. 126, no. 8, 739-746."

Courses Taught

• CE 139L. Introduction to Soil Mechanics
• CE 200. Engineering Data Analysis
• CE 270. Environmental and Engineering Geophysics
• CE 271. Inverse Problems in Geosciences and Engineering
• CE 272. Wave Propagation in Elastic and Poroelastic Media

Honors and Awards

• Oak Ridge Associated Universities Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (1997 Winner in the Applied Science Category)
• Texaco Foundation Fellowship (Georgia Tech, 1993)
• Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysics Fellowship (Univ. of Calgary, 1988)
• UNESCO Fellowship, 1986

Professional and Service Activities

• American Society of Civil Engineers (Member of Geophysical Committee)
• Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society-Member
• Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysics, Member
• Society of Exploration Geophysics, Member
• Association of Geoscientists for International Development, Member
• National Society of Black Engineers, Member
• National Association of Black Geologists and Geophysicists, Member
• American Geophysical Union, Member
• Member of the Academic Council (1999-Present)
• Member of the President's Council on Black affairs (1997-Present)
• Member of the Executive Council of the President's Council on Black Affairs
• Member of Duke Endowment Fellowship Committee (1999-Present)
• Member of Graduate School Advisory Committee (Present)
• Member of Duke University Police/Minority Relations Committee
• Member of the Pratt School of Engineering Task Force
• Member of the Departmental Graduation with Distinction Committee (1995-Present)
• Member of the Selection Committee for J. B. Duke Fellows
• Faculty Advisor, African Students Association (1995-Present)

Current and Ongoing Research

• Wave Propagation in Poroelastic Media: Biot's Theory and Applications
• Assessing the Integrity of Foundations (Shear Strength, Damping Properties) for Structures Using Geophysical Techniques
• Subsurface Shear-wave Velocity and Attenuation Structure from Inversion of Dispersive Properties of Surface Waves
• Mapping Subsurface Natural Geohydrologic Structures Using Geophysical Methods
• Effect of Fractures on Seismic Wave Propagation: Velocity and Attenuation
• Seismic Reflection Amplitude Variation with Offset for Fractured Reservoirs
• Simultaneous Inversion for Subsurface Seismic and Hydrogeologic Parameters
• Use of Neural Networks in Establishing the Relationship Between Seismic Velocity, Attenuation and Permeability
• Estimation of the Strength, Source Location and the Release History of Contaminants via Inversion and Neural Network Modeling
• Effects of Contaminants on Electrical Properties of Soils
• Prediction of Hydraulic Parameters (Porosity and Permeability) from Frequency Dependent Resistivity
• Mapping Subsurface Heteorogeneities Using Geophysical Methods: A Neuro-fractal Approach