Non-invasive Geophysical Surveys in Search of the Roman Temple of Augustus Under the Cathedral of Tarragona (Catalonia,Spain): A Case Study

An integrated geophysical survey has been conducted at the Tarragona’s Cathedral (Catalonia, NE Spain) with the aim to confirm the potential occurrence of archaeological remains of the Roman Temple dedicated to the Emperor Augustus. Many hypotheses have been proposed about its possible location, the last ones regarding the inner part of the Cathedral, which is one of the most renowned temples of Spain (twelfth century) evolving from Romanesque to Gothic styles. A geophysical project including electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground probing radar (GPR) was planned over 1 year considering the administrative and logistic difficulties of such a project inside a cathedral of religious veneration. Finally, both ERT and GPR have been conducted during a week of intensive overnight surveys that provided detailed information on subsurface existing structures. The ERT method has been applied using different techniques and arrays, ranging from standard Wenner–Schlumberger 2D sections to full 3D electrical imaging with the advanced Maximum Yield Grid array. Electrical resistivity data were recorded extensively, making available many thousands of apparent resistivity data to obtain a complete 3D image after a full inversion. In conclusion, some significant buried structures have been revealed providing conclusive information for archaeologists. GPR results provided additional information about shallowest structures. The geophysical results were clear enough to persuade religious authorities and archaeologists to conduct selected excavations in the most promising areas that confirmed the interpretation of geophysical data. In conclusion, the significant buried structures revealed by geophysical methods under the cathedral were confirmed by archaeological digging as the basement of the impressive Roman Temple that headed the Provincial Forum of Tarraco, seat of the Concilium of Hispania Citerior Province.     

Combining Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Ground Penetrating Radar to study geological structuring of karst Unsaturated Zone

This paper highlights the efficiency and complementarity of a light package of geophysical techniques to study the structure of karst Unsaturated Zone (UZ) in typical Mediterranean environment where soil cover is thin or absent. Both selected techniques, 2D Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), are widely used in environmental studies and their application is accessible for a lot of scientists/engineers. However, GPR or ERT alone is not able to provide an enhanced characterization of geological features in karst media. In the present study, GPR results supply a near surface high resolution imaging and thus can provide relevant geological information such as stratifications and fractures. Despite the quality of the results GPR's investigation depth remains limited to around 12 m. Apparent and inverted resistivity provided by ERT surveys shows strong lateral and vertical variations. These variations can inform about general geological structuring and feature orientation. ERT is able to prospect down to 40 m but it's a low resolution integrative technique. In the study area the investigated limestone is a commonly electrical resistive formation (more than 2000 Ω.m). However deeper than 5–7 m, the ERT profiles reveal several zones of moderate resistivity (around 900 Ω.m). In these zones a stratification change corresponding to slanted bedding is clearly identified by GPR results. The combination of both GPR and ERT results can allow a well-established geological interpretation. These moderate resistivity zones with slanted beddings can explain the presence of a perennial water flow point 35 m below the surface of the studied site within the underground gallery of the Low-Noise Underground Laboratory (LSBB).     

Geophysical study of the Peinan Archaeological Site,Taiwan

The Peinan archaeological site is the most intact Neolithic village with slate coffin burial complexes in Taiwan. However, the area that potentially contains significant ancient remains is covered by dense vegetation. No reliable data show the distribution of the ancient village, and no geophysical investigation has been performed at this site. To evaluate various geophysical methods under the geological setting and surface condition of the site, the physical properties of the remains were measured and four geophysical methods involving magnetic, electromagnetic (EM), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) were tested along three parallel profiles. The results imply that the EM and magnetic methods are much cost-effective and suitable for investigating the entire area. GPR and ERT methods can provide high resolution subsurface image, which are much suitable for subsequently detail investigation.The EM and magnetic surveys were thus conducted over the entire Peinan Cultural Park to understand the distribution of the ancient building remains at the Peinan site. The results of this study were verified by subsequent excavations, which indicate that the EM survey was successful in delineating the majority of the ancient village because the basements of building are highly resistive in comparison to the background sediment. The results of this investigation suggest that the ancient village was broadly distributed over the eastern part of the Peinan Culture Park and extended to the southeast.     

A Bayesian trans-dimensional approach for the fusion of multiple geophysical datasets

We propose a Bayesian fusion approach to integrate multiple geophysical datasets with different coverage and sensitivity. The fusion strategy is based on the capability of various geophysical methods to provide enough resolution to identify either subsurface material parameters or subsurface structure, or both. We focus on electrical resistivity as the target material parameter and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), electromagnetic induction (EMI), and ground penetrating radar (GPR) as the set of geophysical methods. However, extending the approach to different sets of geophysical parameters and methods is straightforward. Different geophysical datasets are entered into a trans-dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo (McMC) search-based joint inversion algorithm. The trans-dimensional property of the McMC algorithm allows dynamic parameterisation of the model space, which in turn helps to avoid bias of the post-inversion results towards a particular model. Given that we are attempting to develop an approach that has practical potential, we discretize the subsurface into an array of one-dimensional earth-models. Accordingly, the ERT data that are collected by using two-dimensional acquisition geometry are re-casted to a set of equivalent vertical electric soundings. Different data are inverted either individually or jointly to estimate one-dimensional subsurface models at discrete locations. We use Shannon's information measure to quantify the information obtained from the inversion of different combinations of geophysical datasets. Information from multiple methods is brought together via introducing joint likelihood function and/or constraining the prior information. A Bayesian maximum entropy approach is used for spatial fusion of spatially dispersed estimated one-dimensional models and mapping of the target parameter. We illustrate the approach with a synthetic dataset and then apply it to a field dataset. We show that the proposed fusion strategy is successful not only in enhancing the subsurface information but also as a survey design tool to identify the appropriate combination of the geophysical tools and show whether application of an individual method for further investigation of a specific site is beneficial.     

Application of electrical and electromagnetic methods to study sedimentary covers in high mountain areas

The results of geophysical studies conducted with selected electrical and electromagnetic methods in the Kondratowa Valley in the Tatra Mountains (the Carpathian Mountains, Poland) are presented in the article. The surveys were performed with the following methods: electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), georadar (GPR) and conductivity meter (CM). The objective of the noninvasive geophysical measurements was to determine the thickness of the Quaternary postglacial sediments that fill the bottom of the valley and to designate the accumulation of boulders deposited on Quaternary sediments. The results of ERT surveys conducted along the axis of the valley allowed to determine the changeability of the thickness of the postglacial sediments and allowed to designate a few areas of occurrence of boulders. The ERT, GPR and CM surveys conducted across the valley allowed to designate with high accuracy the thickness of the accumulation of boulders sliding down the valley bottom from the couloirs surrounding the valley.     

浅地表地球物理技术在岩土工程中的应用与挑战

地球物理勘探方法在岩土工程的应用已有很长一段时间,但其成效与工程师的期待往往有不小的落差,以致于在一般的工程应用上仍不普遍.近年来浅地表地球物理技术有显着的进展,特别是在走时速度层析成像(Traveltime Tomography)、电阻率层析成像法(Electrical Resistivity Tomography)及多道瞬态面波法(Multichannel Analysis of Surface Wave).本文首先介绍这些方法在台湾岩土工程的应用,主要包括地层土壤液化潜能评估、坝体的安全检测、土壤与地下水污染调查及地基改良的质量管控等,应用案例以台湾常使用的地球物理勘探方法逐一介绍.虽然许多成功案例与新的应用方向对于浅地表地球物理技术在岩土工程应用的推广起了鼓舞作用,本文从工程师的角度提出地球物理勘探工程大量应用的挑战与瓶颈,包括如何提升探测数据的客观性、数据反演非唯一性问题、探测深度与分辨率的限制、实际条件违背反演基本假设的情况、以及地物性质与工程性质链接的不确定性问题,并进一步针对这些问题说明相关研究的进展与实务对策.希冀透过上述探讨,降低物探师与工程师认知上的差距,提升地球物理勘探在工程的应用的合理性与普及性.     

Imaging the Mariánské Lázně Fault (Czech Republic) by 3-D ground-penetrating radar and electric resistivity tomography

Geodynamic activity in the area of West Bohemia is typified by the occurrence of earthquake swarms, Quaternary volcanism and high flux of mantle-derived CO₂. The highest swarm activity occurs beneath the eastern edge of the Cheb basin, which is delineated by the NW-SE trending morphologically pronounced Mariánské Lázn?? Fault (MLF) controlling the formation of the basin. The previous trenching survey across the MLF zone has identified several fault strands with possible Quaternary activity. In this paper we present the results of the geophysical survey focused to trace the faults signatures in geophysical sections and to build an image of near surface tectonics. The method of electric resistivity tomography (ERT) along two profiles parallel to the trench identified a strong resistivity contrast between the bodies of sandy gravels in the middle and conductive clayey sands to the west and weathered crystalline basement to the east. The 2-D ground penetration radar (GPR) sections show direct correlation of reflections with lithological boundaries identified in the trench. As expected, the GPR signal amplitudes increase with the resistivities found in the ERT sections. Two of the four faults identified in the trench are indicated in the resistivity and GPR sections. A 3-D GPR measurement has identified a spot of high amplitudes elongated parallel to the MLF trend, which coincides with the high resistivity body. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the time slices we stacked the GPR time slices within vertically homogeneous blocks. This provided a contrast image of the sand-gravel body including its boundaries in three dimensions. The detailed analysis of the 3-D GPR cube revealed additional fault that limits the highly reflective sands and appears to be offset by another younger fault. Our results suggest a complex fault pattern in the studied area, which deserves a further study.     

Geophysical characterisation of Carlo's V Castle (Crotone, Italy)

The Carlo's V Castle, located in Crotone Town, on the Ionian coast of the Calabria Region (Italy), date back to the 13th century d.C. (Fig. 1). During its long life, the building changed several owners and sustained the damages and the consequent reconstructions due to the innumerable naval battles. Moreover, the castle suffered the action of the earthquakes which always afflict the region.With the principal aim of detecting the location, depth and geometry of the rests of destroyed structures, a systematic Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey was carried out in the area inside the boundary walls. The results are sixty-two one-meter-spaced, filtered and migrated radargrams arranged in four 3D data-sets. From each data-set, the most significant time-slice was extracted.To reduce the ambiguity in the GPR data interpretation, additional geophysical techniques, such as Magnetic (M), and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), were carried out with a partial superimposition with the GPR data. A comparison and a joint interpretation amongst different geophysical data pointed out some very remarkable features associated to buried remains and possible buried cannonballs.With the secondary aim to check the presence of an old military walkway linking two bastions a GPR profile was carried out on the sea side boundary wall. The GPR results are in agreement with an ERT survey carried out on the same profile and consistent with the presence of an underground passage.     

An integrated 3D constant offset GPR and resistivity survey on a sealed landfill — Ilhavo,NW Portugal

Owing to their nature landfills are challenging targets for high resolution Near Surface Geophysics.Herein it is described an integrated high resolution geophysical survey over the Ilhavo landfill sealed about a decade ago.The first aim of the survey is to investigate the time evolution of the contamination plume of the landfill since operations stopped and sealing took place.The second, and main objective, is the study of the landfill itself, that is, to carry out a high resolution 3D geophysical survey over it in order to investigate the thickness and effectiveness of the top cover, the thickness and sealing conditions of the landfill bottom and, finally, to investigate its internal structure.To fulfill these objectives an integrated 3D constant offset GPR and resistivity survey was designed. The interpretation of the geophysical data was carried out together with local borehole and hydrogeological information, so that, the ambiguity and uncertainty of the interpretation was reduced considerably and the usefulness of the methods were assessed.     

Improvements in crosshole GPR full-waveform inversion and application on data measured at the Boise Hydrogeophysics Research Site

Crosshole ground penetrating radar (GPR) tomography has been widely used and has the potential to improve the obtained subsurface models due to its high spatial resolution compared to other methods. Recent advances in full-waveform inversion of crosshole GPR data show that higher resolution images can be obtained compared to conventional ray-based GPR inversion because it can exploit all information present in the observed data. Since the first application of full-waveform inversion on synthetic and experimental GPR data, the algorithm has been significantly improved by extending the scalar to a vectorial approach, and changing the stepped permittivity and conductivity update into a simultaneous update. Here, we introduce new normalized gradients that do not depend on the number of sources and receivers which enable a comparison of the gradients and step lengths for different crosshole survey layouts. An experimental data set acquired at the Boise Hydrogeophysics Research Site is inverted using different source–receiver setups and the obtained permittivity and conductivity images, remaining gradients and final misfits are compared for the different versions of the full-waveform inversion. Moreover, different versions of the full-waveform inversion are applied to obtain an overview of all improvements. Most improvements result in a reducing final misfit between the measured and synthetic data and a reducing remaining gradient at the final iteration. Regions with relatively high remaining gradient amplitudes indicate less reliable inversion results. Comparison of the final full-waveform inversion results with Neutron–Neutron porosity log data and capacitive resistivity log data show considerably higher spatial frequencies for the logging data compared to the full-waveform inversion results. To enable a better comparison, we estimated a simple wavenumber filter and the full-waveform inversion results show an improved fit with the logging data. This work shows the potential of full-waveform inversion as an advanced method that can provide high resolution images to improve hydrological models.     

地质雷达在乌拉山山前断裂探测中的应用

地质雷达是利用电磁波对地下不同电性介质进行探测的地球物理仪器，其探测速率快、分辨率高，可弥补探槽和其他地球物理方法存在探测盲区的缺陷，正在越来越多地应用于活动断层探测领域。本文以乌拉山山前断裂为例开展地质雷达探测工作，使用无人机正射影像技术对测线进行地形校正，获得断层浅部地质雷达图像。研究结果表明，本文研究方法能有效反映探槽揭露的地层单元和断层分布。本次探测中，雷达波形图像特征为:浅地表的土壤层反射波总体较弱；粗粒沉积为主的砾石层反射波总体较强，同相轴连续性好；细粒沉积为主的砂层反射波弱于砾石层，波形以中、高频为主，同相轴具有弱连续性；对于洪冲积地区，地质雷达能分辨具有一定特征的地层单元，这为剖面图像的断层识别提供了标志；通过无人机正射影像技术对地质雷达测线进行地形校正，有利于获得更为准确的探测结果。     

Electrical resistivity tomography survey for delineating uncharted mine galleries in West Bengal,India*

The history of subsidence, fires, flooding and other kinds of environmental hazards related to shallow coal workings in India goes back to colonial times some 300 years ago. As coal production accelerated in modern times, so did the environmental and socio-economic drawbacks related to exploitation. In the mid-1980s, a hydropneumatic sand-stowing method was developed to fill in abandoned galleries but their exact location had to be known. Unfortunately, most of these old workings are uncharted and consequently large tracts of land cannot be stabilized. A research programme making use of integrated surface, borehole and cross-hole geophysical methods was undertaken over a five-year span to try to solve this problem. Surface geophysical methods, being cheaper and faster than their cross- and downhole counterparts, were used to cover larger areas on an exploratory basis, while cross-hole methods were employed to locate more accurately one or a network of galleries to be perforated by drillhole(s) and used as a conduit for sand stowing. We report the results of one of the cross-hole geophysical methods: electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). A pole–dipole configuration is used and both cross-hole and surface-borehole methodologies are tested. Forward modelling and inversion of synthetic data making use of downhole and surface physical and geometrical parameters are presented first. This phase is followed by the inversion of real data. It is concluded that ERT is not applicable for the detection of dry voids, but is effective in a waterlogged environment which is estimated to represent 85–90% of the cases. In waterlogged galleries, ERT is applicable in both cross-hole and surface-downhole modes, the latter allowing a larger surface coverage at low cost. ERT is thus a reliable geophysical tool to image water-filled voids and an adequate technique to address environmental and geotechnical problems.     

采空区地震与电法探测数据的联合反演研究及应用

综合地球物理技术在采空区的探测中发挥了重要作用.目前通常采用单方法反演、仅对不同方法反演结果进行对比解释的综合勘探方式,单方法反演的多解性严重降低了其探测精度.如何提高采空区的探测精度,对采空区进行有效探测一直被认为是地球物理技术面临的首要难题.为了提高地震与电法技术的探测精度,基于交叉梯度联合反演理论,设计了地震初至折射走时数据和高密度电法数据的联合反演算法流程,对采空区理论模型和野外实际数据进行了联合反演处理.结果发现通过两者的联合反演,不仅可以提高采空区电阻率反演模型的成像效果,而且能够获得地震单方法反演难以成像的采空区低速异常体,从而提高了地震与电法技术对采空区的探测精度.表明地震与电法探测数据联合反演是一种提高采空区探测精度的有效方法.     

Study of Shallow Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Resources Using Integrated Geophysical Methods

The paper is focused on low enthalpy geothermal exploration performed in south Italy and provides an integrated presentation of geological, hydrogeological, and geophysical surveys carried out in the area of municipality of Lecce. Geological and hydrogeological models were performed using the stratigraphical data from 51 wells. A ground-water flow (direction and velocity) model was obtained. Using the same wells data, the ground-water annual temperature was modeled. Furthermore, the ground surface temperature records from ten meteorological stations were studied. This allowed us to obtain a model related to the variations of the temperature at different depths in the subsoil. Integrated geophysical surveys were carried out in order to explore the low-enthalpy geothermal fluids and to evaluate the results of the model. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) methods were used. The results obtained upon integrating the geophysical data with the models show a low-enthalpy geothermal resource constituted by a shallow ground-water system.     

Evaluation of trenching,ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) for sinkhole characterization

This paper explores the suitability and advantages of combining the trenching technique with geophysical surveys [ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT)] for sinkhole characterization in a mantled karst area. The approach is applied to two active sinkholes concealed by anthropogenic deposits and formed by contrasting subsidence mechanisms; collapse and sagging. The ERT section acquired across the collapse sinkhole images the clayey fill of the depression as an obvious low resistivity area, showing the approximate location of the sinkhole edges. Spatially dense GPR surveys provide information on the position of the boundaries of the concealed subsidence structures and their three‐dimensional (3D) internal geometry, revealing the dominant subsidence mechanism. We illustrate the impact of several factors on the quality of the GPR data such as sinkhole size, nominal frequency of the antennas, antenna shielding, and the presence of backfilled excavations and above‐surface objects. Trenches provided detailed information on the subsurface structure of the sinkhole, subsidence magnitude, partitioning of the strain, and the position of the sinkhole edges, especially when they are deep enough and excavated across the central sector and perpendicular to the boundaries. The stratigraphic and structural relationships observed in the trench were then used to infer the spatial evolution of the sinkholes (e.g. enlargement), their kinematic behavior (episodic versus progressive), and to differentiate discrete subsidence events and their associated magnitude. Numerical dates were used to estimate average subsidence rates and the recurrence of subsidence events. Such integrated data sets may be used as an objective basis to forecast the future behavior of potentially damaging sinkholes and to assess the associated hazard and risk. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integration of ground-penetrating radar and microgravimetric methods to map shallow caves

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and microgravimetric surveys have been conducted in the southern Jura mountains of western Switzerland in order to map subsurface karstic features. The study site, La Grande Rolaz cave, is an extensive system in which many portions have been mapped. By using small station spacing and careful processing for the geophysical data, and by modeling these data with topographic information from within the cave, accurate interpretations have been achieved.The constraints on the interpreted geologic models are better when combining the geophysical methods than when using only one of the methods, despite the general limitations of two-dimensional (2D) profiling. For example, microgravimetry can complement GPR methods for accurately delineating a shallow cave section approximately 10×10 m² in size. Conversely, GPR methods can be complementary in determining cavity depths and in verifying the presence of off-line features and numerous areas of small cavities and fractures, which may be difficult to resolve in microgravimetric data.     

Integrated Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Ground Penetrating Radar Measurements Applied to Tomb Detection

The integrated use of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements, and in particular the joint analysis of 2D and 3D data, can represent a valid solution for target identification at complex archaeological sites. A good example, in this respect, is given by the case study of a Phoenician–Punic necropolis in the archaeological site of Nora, in southern Sardinia (Italy), where GPR and ERT measurements were collected before site excavation. In this specific case, the mix of soil and air in the buried chambers, as well as the orientation and the complex spatial distribution of these structures into the sandstone bedrock, generated a number of anomalies difficult to interpret only using 2D results. Only the integration of all GPR and ERT data in a 3D view, and the comparison with archaeological evidence after the excavation, allowed a solid interpretation of geophysical anomalies visible in the 2D sections. Overall, this case study demonstrates the efficiency of the combined use of GPR and ERT acquisitions and shows how, in general, only the joint analysis of 2D data and in a 3D view can help the interpretation of the real distribution of the buried archaeological remains at similar archaeological complex sites.     

Electrical resistivity and seismic refraction tomography to detect buried cavities

Near‐surface cavities can pose serious hazards to human safety, especially in highly urbanized town centres. The location of subsurface voids, the estimation of their size and the evaluation of the overburden thickness are necessary to assess the risk of collapse. In this study, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and seismic refraction tomography data are integrated in a joint interpretation process for cavity location in the city of Rome. ERT is a well established and widely employed method for cavity detection. However, additional information provided by seismic refraction tomography is capable of eliminating some potential pitfalls in resistivity data interpretation. We propose that the structure of the cavities defined by ERT can be used as a base to optimize seismic refraction tomography investigations within the framework of a joint interpretation process. Data integration and the insertion of a priori information are key issues for reducing the uncertainties associated with the inversion process and for optimizing both acquisition procedures and computation time. Herein, the two geophysical methods are tested on both synthetic and real data and the integration of the results is found to be successful in detecting isolated cavities and in assessing their geometrical characteristics. The cavity location inferred by geophysical non‐invasive methods has been subsequently confirmed by direct inspection.