EVALUATION OF GEOPHYSICAL SYSTEMS FOR REMOTE SENSING OF SUBSURFACE CAVITIES IN KANSAS

The Federal Highway Administration and its contractors, in cooperation with the State Highway Commission of Kansas (now the Kansas Department of Transportation), completed a field program in Kansas during 1971 to evaluate field geophysical systems for detecting subsurface cavities. The geophysical systems included passive microwave radiometers, an impulse radar profiling instrument, and direct-current electrical resistivity. Verification borings were completed in 1972 after analysis of the field data. Field data and test borings are presented for 1 traverse line in Galena, Kansas, to characterize the research findings. Passive microwave radiometers are sensitive to soil moisture and often record the effects of surface drainage, groundwater seepage, and subtle topography. The penetration of microwaves into soils, however, is limited, and the microwave radiometers are not well suited for detecting subsurface cavities. The impulse radar profiling system produced a graphical output that closely approximated the subsurface soil, rock, water, and void interfaces. The depth of radar penetration was limited to 8 ft (2.4 m) because of the presence of moist, clay-rich soils. Electrical resistivity proved to be the most useful technique for delineating subsurface materials. Geoelectrical soundings are well suited for locating conductive and insulative layers, but, because of the principle of equivalence, they may be unable to distinguish a water-filled cavity from another conductive subsurface zone.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/581/581-004.pdf
• Summary URL:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Exploration and Classification of Earth Materials. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Spencer Jr, James W
  • Koca, James F
  • Rib, Harold T
  • Falls, Craig P
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 31-41
• Monograph Title: Innovations in Subsurface Exploration of Soils
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 581
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Boring; Geological surveying; Geophysical prospecting; Microwaves; Radar devices; Radiometry; Remote sensing; Resistivity method; Soil water; Void ratios
• Geographic Terms: Kansas
• Old TRIS Terms: Geoelectric measurements; Geophysical explorations; Microwave radiometry; Subsurface explorations; Void
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00141420
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024951
• Report/Paper Numbers: Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 3 1976 12:00AM