Application of 2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging Technique for Engineering Site Investigation
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Abstract
Engineering site investigation is crucial to characterize the subsurface soil of proposed construction sites. Application of 2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging ERI technique pro- vides useful information about the subsurface geology and the condition along profiles. In this paper, numerical and field studies using 2D ERI technique were adopted for engineer- ing site investigation purposes. The Wenner-Schlumberger array was implemented along three parallel profiles at the construction site of Diyala University, northeast of Baghdad city, to detect buried utilities (pipes) left over in the area. A synthetic resistivity model of a buried pipe was designed to discuss and validate the field results. The 2D ERI sections of the model resolve clearly the buried structure, even with 5% noise level. Interpretation of the field data showed that 2D ERI technique was effective in delineating the buried pipes. The vertical and horizontal sensitivity of the Wenner-Schlumberger array for sub- surface resistivity variations made it possible to determine the position and geometry of the buried structures. The current work demonstrates the usefulness of the ERI technique as a complementary tool for engineering site investigation .