Abstract In response to the demand for refinement and efficiency of microtremor survey in shallow urban areas, we design a rapid detection scheme for microtremor line array. Combined with practices, we design the output system of the fast detection scheme based on multiple coverage utilization of geophones and efficient-rolling observation of line array. This system is adopted in microtremor survey experiments from data acquisition to data processing at specific sites in urban areas. The results show that the scheme effectively enhance the efficiency of field observation and provide references for the rapid layout and translation of array.