Geophysical and Geotechnical Techniques: Complementary Tools in Studying Subsurface Features

Abstract

Geotechnical data is one important tool among others considered by engineers in their designs. However, it is known that the geotechnical data can in some cases be misleading and/or leads to various damages in the buildings’ structures or in certain cases leads to catastrophes if there are no complementary systems of control. In other cases, geotechnical investigation could encounter complex subsurface conditions which require the use of geophysical technique to enhance the borehole data (Earley and Rudenko, 1988; Baker & Gabr 2011, Khaldaoui et al 2011). Engineers can build on any type of ground even on water without any problem by making special designs of basement and supports which are adapted to the “ground” conditions. Therefore, when a failure occurs in a building’s structure, whose fault is it? Is it because of the design or is it because of the wrong ground truth information given to the engineers? To answer such questions and to avoid such discrepancy the geophysical techniques should be considered by the geotechnical engineers as their primary tools.