Monitoring subterraneous water regime at the new Ain Shams university campus in Al-Obour city (northeast of Cairo–Egypt) using both azimuthal very low frequency–electromagnetic and DC–resistivity sounding techniques

Abstract

A joint azimuthal very low frequency–electromagnetic (VLF–EM) and DC–resistivity sounding survey was conducted at the new Ain Shams university campus in Al-Obour city, northwest of Cairo, Egypt. The main objective of the survey was to highlight the applicability and reliability of such non-invasive surface techniques in mapping and monitoring both the vertical and lateral electrical conductivity structures of waterlogged areas, by subterraneous water accumulations, at the campus site. Consequently, a total of 743 azimuthal VLF–EM and 4 DC–resistivity soundings were carried out in June, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The data were interpreted extensively and consistently in terms of two-dimensional (2D) transformed EM equivalent current-density and stitched inverted electrical resistivity models, without using any geological a-priori information. They could be used effectively to image the local anomalous lower electrical resistivity (higher EM equivalent current-density) structures and their near-surface spreading with time, due to the excessive accumulations of subterraneous water at the campus site. The study demonstrated that a regional azimuthal VLF–EM and DC–resistivity sounding survey could help design an optimal dewatering program for the whole city, at greatly reduced execution time.