Study of groundwater flow patterns in landslide prone areas using the Self Potential Method

Abstract

Abstract The mapping of water content at a landslide sensitive area is important in order to identify the potency of ground motion. In such an area a minuscule amount of movement may lead to a catastrophic event. Water, which may act as a precursor of ground motion, changes the mechanical properties of the land, hence, changing the ability of the ground to resist gravitational force. In order to identify the water containment, as well as the flow of groundwater, we apply a geophysical method, namely the Self Potential (SP) measurement. Based on the analysis of Darcy’s law the measurement result is related directly to the flow velocity. Although the measurement was performed on top of soil, the measured quantity is a response due to the amount of water infiltration into the soil. The mapped profile of the measurement identifies the flow pattern of groundwater. The result can be used to estimate the soil instability and the potency of landslide events. Our data shows the distribution of the groundwater in the observed area, which can be used as a hint to design the drainage system, in order to divert water from the landslide prone areas. The main goal of this work is to minimize the risk to the community by preventing groundwater flow from targeting inhabited regions, thus ensuring the safety of the residents.