Identification of Different Shallow Foundations Using 3D Electrical Resistivity Modeling

Abstract

The electrical resistivity method has been successfully used to detect shallow buried foundations, almost, by using 2D electrode arrays. Basic geometry foundations (e.g., buried walls) have been investigated, although, more complicated foundation designs (e.g., stepped footing, pile group with a pile cap) are widely used in the construction industry. Investigation of these complicated foundation types, and engaging 3D surveys, therefore, are required. Multiple 3D electrical resistivity forward modeling was used to simulate different foundations (isolated simple footing, isolated stepped footing, combined simple footings, and pile group with a pile cap). The generated data sets then inverted using a robust inversion algorithm where RES3DINVx64 was used to perform the inversion process for the 3D models. The results from the 3D inverse modeling, suggest the pole-dipole and dipole-dipole arrays for all the investigated foundations.