SUBSURFACE CAVITY DETECTION: FIELD EVALUATION OF RADAR, GRAVITY, AND EARTH RESISTIVITY METHODS

Gravity, ground-penetrating radar, and earth resistivity profiling as subsurface cavity detection methods were experimentally evaluated and compared in three geological environments. Verification tests showed that the gravity measurements located large cavernous areas but did not detect mid-filled troughs; the radar detected air-filled cavities at depths up to 4.6 m (15 ft) at one site, but only penetrated 3 m (10 ft) with inconclusive results at a second site, and could not resolve 0.6-m (2-ft) diameter vertical cylindrical cavities at another. Earth resistivity measurements using a pole-dipole electrode arrangement located cavities at all sites, indicating targets at depths up to 25 m (80 ft). Both air-filled cavities, including vertical cylinders, and mud-filled troughs were detected by using the resistivity technique, which gave accurate depth and size resolution. A large mud-filled trough was detected at a 9-m (30-ft) depth that extended below 30.5 m (100 ft). The earth resistivity techniques was capable of delineating the irregularities of the bedrock at the soil-rock interface. /Author/

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/612/612-006.pdf
• Record URL:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Engineering Geology. 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:
  • Fountain, Lewis S
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 38-46
• Monograph Title: Subsidence over mines and caverns, moisture and frost actions, and classification
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 612
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Detection and identification; Detectors; Evaluation; Gravity; Holes; Radar; Resistivity method; Surveying
• Old TRIS Terms: Earth resistivity method (Geophysics); Underground surveying
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158160
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025885
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 28 1977 12:00AM