PSO: A powerful algorithm to solve geophysical inverse problems: Application to a 1D-DC resistivity case

PSO is an optimization technique inspired by the social behavior of individuals in nature (swarms) that has been successfully used in many different engineering fields. In addition, the PSO algorithm can be physically interpreted as a stochastic damped mass–spring system. This analogy has served to introduce the PSO continuous model and to deduce a whole family of PSO algorithms using different finite-differences schemes. These algorithms are characterized in terms of convergence by their respective first and second order stability regions. The performance of these new algorithms is first checked using synthetic functions showing a degree of ill-posedness similar to that found in many geophysical inverse problems having their global minimum located on a very narrow flat valley or surrounded by multiple local minima. Finally we present the application of these PSO algorithms to the analysis and solution of a VES inverse problem associated with a seawater intrusion in a coastal aquifer in southern Spain. PSO family members are successfully compared to other well known global optimization algorithms (binary genetic algorithms and simulated annealing) in terms of their respective convergence curves and the sea water intrusion depth posterior histograms.