The Mesopotamian Geophysics researches..

DETECTION OF CAVITIES AND SOIL SETTLEMENTS IN AN INDUSTRIAL SITE USING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD
SOUTHERN IRAQ
 

Emad H. AL-Khersan

Department of Geology, College of Science, Basrah University
Email: emgeoph@yahoo.com
 

ABSTRACT
 

Six horizontal electrical profiles (Wenner array) and two vertical sounding measuring points (Schlumberger array) were chosen to completely cover the study area in an industrial site located in the southern Iraq. Geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations were also used in the detection of cavities and loose zones as well as the resulting channels underlying the considered site.

Contour maps, histograms and curves of apparent resistivity values were used to delineate the location, volume and shape of the detected cavities. Several pronounced anomalies of high resistivity zones, which indicate existence and extension of cavities were also presented and analyzed.