Underground Water Flows Detection and Mapping by Direct-Prospecting Geoelectric Methods

Abstract

Many years of experience in the practical application of non-classical geoelectric methods of forming a short-pulsed field (FSPEF) and vertical electric-resonance sounding (VERS) for various problems of the near-surface geophysics solving demonstrates their high efficiency in searching and delineating subsurface water flows and aquifers. The results of our study indicate that the zone of rocks moistening, underground water streams of natural and man-caused origin and aquifers are detected and mapped operatively by a real survey with FSPEF method. The depth of lying and thicknesses of water-saturated horizons are determined with a high accuracy by VERS sounding. Field works of such character are often executed very operatively and easily. The results of geophysical studies show the effectiveness of FSPEF survey method and VERS and GPR soundings methods in dealing with the detection and mapping of underground water flows. Practical application of this technology during the geotechnical studies conducting for the construction of large engineering projects can bring significant economic benefits by reducing significantly the duration of exploration work and the drilling activity reduction.