The application of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), induced polarization (IP) and electromagnetic conductivity (EMC) methods for the evaluation of technical condition of flood embankment corpus

Abstract

A series of catastrophic floods that have occurred over the last twenty years in Poland, brought an urgent need for taking preventive steps to monitor river embankments conditions. The main problem seems to be development of efficient, ie. fast and economical measurements for controlling the condition of the river embankments, because the execution of the full range of geotechnical measurements is lengthy and costly. In this situation, thecheap and quick geophysical survey has been proposed to undertake this purpose. In this article the results of geophysical surveys were described which were performed using geoelectric and electromagnetic methods along a section of the Vistula embankment, located near the Maniow area in the Malopolska province. According to the archival data, this region is situated at the high-risk flooding zone. Three geophysical methods were used to recognize geotechnical conditions of the levee: (i) Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), (ii) Induced Polarization (IP) and (iii) Electromagnetic Conductivity Meters (ECM). Geoelectrical measurement results were presented in the form of resistivity and polarization cross-sections. Results of conductivity measurement were presented in the form of plots. These parameters effectively supplement geotechnical research providing information about the changes within the embankment and its substrate. It allows to predict potentially vulnerable area to water filtration during the flood risk.