Detection of Sinkhole Formation by Strain Profile Measurements Using BOTDR: Simulation Study

Abstract

AbstractThe sudden collapse of sinkholes in the Dead Sea area represents a serious threat to infrastructure in the area. The formation of these sinkholes has been shown to be directly correlated with the drop in the Dead Sea water level which is accompanied by a corresponding lowering of the groundwater level and permits the penetration of low-salinity groundwater into coastal areas. This water causes dissolution of the salt layers which results in the formation of subsurface voids that develop into collapse sinkholes. Various tools and measurement methods have been investigated in order to attempt to detect the formation of sinkholes, but to date, there is no method capable of providing early warning of possible collapse. This paper investigates the use of fiber-optic Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR) or Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA) for such detection. Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry or analysis (BOTDR/A) is an optical measurement technique that provides di...