Geotechnical Risk Assessment at South Eastern Suburb of Cairo, Egypt Using Integrated Geophysical Techniques

Abstract

The reason for implementation of this research is the prevalent of incidences of structural damage around the area of investigation causing large number of casualties and loose of souls. The location of the district is very close to the quarry blasting operations that can intensely produce stresses in the ground due to continuous artificial explosions and ultimately result in the instability of the area. Geophysical reconnaissance surveys using seismic refraction, electrical resistivity and ground penetrating radar were carried out to measure near surface structure setting and follow up its activity upon time by delineating the major fault and other minor features such as cracks, fissures and water saturated zone. Integration of the geophysical data shows that the main reason of fractures in the study area is the swelling of marly clay layer due to retention of the drainage water. Also, there is a near surface major fault cuts the southern part of the study area causing variation in thickness of the marly clay layer and consequently affect on the inhabitant buildings. Keywords: structural damage, Geophysical surveys, seismic, GPR, resistivity, fault.