Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Groundwater Monitoring and Control by Using Electromagnetic Sensing Techniques

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Threats to the Quality of Groundwater Resources

Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC,volume 40))

Abstract

Groundwater resources, which are exposed to overexploitation and pollution at regional and local levels, may take benefit from fast, nonintrusive, and inexpensive monitoring methods based on electromagnetic techniques. In fact, the available technologies can help to improve management and protection of the aquifers. This chapter deals with the role of electromagnetic sensing techniques in water monitoring with a specific focus to pollution surveys in groundwater bodies. Being sensitive to the presence of water in the subsoil and its electrical conductivity, which in turn depends on the ionic content, the electromagnetic sensing techniques are useful tools for groundwater identification and soil quality assessment. In fact, these sensing techniques offer advantages such as quickness, nonintrusivity, and the possibility of investigating large areas at reasonable costs. However, the appropriate use of these techniques implies an adequate knowledge of their working principles as well as of their on field application procedures, which mainly depend on the survey aim and the geological and logistic conditions of the site. This chapter also discusses the uncertainty in the interpretation of results, which is due to the fact that the electromagnetic sensing techniques are based on indirect inspections. Several strategies can be exploited to reduce ambiguity of results, such as the integration of different electromagnetic techniques and the comparison between field data and those provided by laboratory experiments. These issues are herein addressed through practical examples concerning two study cases, one referred to a site located in Serbia-Herzegovina and one located in Italy. In particular, we illustrate the physical concepts, the operative aspects, the data processing, and the integration of results concerning the following measurement techniques: electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), ground-penetrating radar (GPR), time-domain-induced polarization (time domain IP), and self-potential method (SP). The two study cases concerns an industrial site and a large waste dump structure. These sites represent specific examples of soil monitoring and have been selected in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed techniques. For each site, we provide a description of the survey results accounting for geological evidences, logistic constraints, and physical limitation of the used techniques. Finally, we highlight the advantages offered by a cooperative use of different techniques and suggest strategies to overcome intrinsic limitations of each one of the considered survey methods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

ABK:

Asphalt and backfill stratum

BRK:

Bedrock

ERT:

Electrical resistivity tomography

GPR:

Ground-penetrating radar

IP:

Induced polarization

MSW:

Municipal solid waste

MWT:

Microwave tomography

SAD:

Saturated alluvial deposits

SP:

Self-potential method

References

  1. European Environment Agency (2010) The European environment. State and outlook 2010, Water resources: quantity and flows. Publications Office of the European Union, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  2. Agency EE (1999) Groundwater quality and quantity in Europe. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  3. Meju M (2002) Environmental geophysics: conceptual models, challenges, and the way forward. Leading Edge 21(5):460–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Naudet V, Revil A, Rizzo E, Bottero JY, Begassat P (2004) Groundwater redox conditions and conductivity in a contaminant plume from geoelectrical investigations. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 8(1):8–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Atekwana EA, Sauck WA, Werkema DD Jr (2000) Investigations of geoelectrical signatures at a hydrocarbon contaminated site. J Appl Geophy 44:167–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Reynolds JM (1995) An introduction to applied and environmental geophysics. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  7. Edwards LS (1977) A modified pseudosection for resistivity and IP. Geophysics 42(5):1020–1036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Loke MH (2002) Tutorial: 2-D and 3-D electrical imaging surveys, Copyright 1996–2002, http://personales.upv.es/jpadin/coursenotes.pdf

  9. Dey A, Morrison HF (1979) Resistivity modelling for arbitrary shaped two-dimensional structures. Geophys Prospect 27:1020–1036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Dey A, Morrison HF (1979) Resistivity modeling for arbitrarily shaped three-dimensional shaped structures. Geophysics 44:753–780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Silvester PP, Ferrari RL (1990) Finite elements for electrical engineers, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  12. Archie GE (1942) The electrical resistivity log as an aid in determining some reservoir characteristics. Petroleum Tran AIME 146:54–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Benson AK (1995) Applications of ground penetrating radar in assessing some geological hazards: examples of groundwater contamination, faults, cavities. J Appl Geophy 33:177–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Aristodemou E, Thomas-Betts A (2000) DC resistivity and induced polarization investigation at waste disposal and its environments. J Appl Geophy 44:275–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Daniels DJ (2002) Ground penetrating radar. IET, Stevenage Herts

    Google Scholar 

  16. Conyers LB, Goodman D (1997) Ground-penetrating radar: an introduction for archaeologists. AltaMira, Walnut Creek

    Google Scholar 

  17. Doolittle JA, Collins ME (1995) Use of soil information to determine application of groundpenetrating radar. J Appl Geophy 33:101–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Noon DA, Stickley GF, Longstaff D (1998) A frequency-independent characterisation of GPR penetration and resolution performance. J Appl Geophy 40:127–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Heritage E (2008) Geophysical surveys in archaeological field evaluation. English Heritage Publishing, Swindon

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bavusi M, Giocoli A, Rizzo E, Lapenna V (2009) Geophysical characterisation of Carlo’s V Castle (Crotone, Italy). J Appl Geophy 67:386–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Loperte A, Satriani A, Bavusi M, Lapenna V, Del Lungo S, Sabelli R, Gizzi FT (2011) Geophysical prospecting in archaeology: investigations in Santa Venera, south suburb of Poseidonia-Paestum, Campania, southern Italy. J Geophys Eng 8:S23. doi:10.1088/1742-2132/8/3/S03

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Chianese D, D’Emilio M, Bavusi M, Lapenna V, Macchiato M (2006) Magnetic and ground probing radar measurements for soil pollution mapping in the industrial area of Val Basento (Basilicata Region, Southern Italy): a case study. Environ Geol 49:389–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Loperte A, Bavusi M, Cerverizzo G, Lapenna V, Soldovieri F (2011). Ground penetrating radar in dam monitoring: the test case of Acerenza (Southern Italy). Intern J Geophys 2011:9 Article ID 654194

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bavusi M, Soldovieri F, Di Napoli R, Loperte A, Di Cesare A, Ponzo FC, Lapenna C (2011) Ground penetrating radar and microwave tomography 3D applications for the deck evaluation of the Musmeci bridge in Potenza, Italy. J Geophys Eng 8:S33–S46, Special issue: “Non-invasive sensing techniques and geophysical methods for cultural heritage and Civil Infrastructures Monitoring”

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Soldovieri F, Solimene R, Lo Monte L, Bavusi M, Loperte A (2010) Sparse reconstruction from GPR data with applications to rebar detection. IEEE Trans Inst Meas 60(3):1070–1079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Bavusi M, Bernini R, Lapenna V, Loperte A, Soldovieri F, Ponzo FC, Di Cesare A, Ditommaso R (2012) Electromagnetic sensing techniques for non-destructive diagnosis of civil engineering structures, earthquake-resistant structures – design, assessment and rehabilitation. In: Moustafa A (ed) InTech. ISBN: 978-953-51-0123-9, http://www.intechopen.com/books/earthquake-resistant-structures-design-assessment-and-rehabilitation/electromagnetic-sensing-techniques-for-civil-engineering-structures-non-destructive-diagnostics

  27. Bavusi M, Soldovieri F, Piscitelli S, Loperte A, Vallianatos F, Soupios P (2010) Ground-penetrating radar and microwave tomography to evaluate the crack and joint geometry in historical buildings: some examples from Chania, Crete, Greece. Near Surface Geophys 8:377–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Bavusi M, Di Napoli R, Soldovieri F (2010) Microwave tomographic approach for masonry investigation: some real results. Adv Geosci 24:83–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Leone G, Soldovieri F (2003) Analysis of the distorted Born approximation for subsurface reconstruction: truncation and uncertainties effect. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 41(1):66–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Soldovieri F, Orlando L (2009) Novel tomographic based approach and processing strategies for multi-frequency antennas GPR measurements using multi-frequency antennas. J Cultural Heritage 10:e83–e92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Sammis CG, Henyey TL (1987) Geophysics field measurements, part B, vol 24. Academic, Orlando

    Google Scholar 

  32. Reynolds JM (1997) An introduction to applied and environmental geophysics. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  33. Leroux V, Dahlin T (2003) Site conditions requiring extra precaution for induced polarization measurements. In: Proceedings of the 9th meeting environmental and engineering geophysics, Prague, 31 August–4 September 2003, O-052

    Google Scholar 

  34. Leroux V, Dahlin T (2001) IP imaging field tests in southern Sweden. In: Proceedings of the EEGS’01, Birmingham, 2–6 September 2001, ENVM08

    Google Scholar 

  35. Leroux V, Dahlin T (2002) Induced polarisation at waste site in southern Sweden. In: Proceedings of the 8th meeting environmental and engineering geophysics, Aveiro, 8–12 September 2002

    Google Scholar 

  36. Dahlin T, Leroux V, Nissen J (2002) Measuring techniques in induced polarisation imaging. J Appl Geophy 50:279–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Buselli G, Lu K (2001) Groundwater contamination monitoring with multichannel electrical and electromagnetic methods. J Appl Geophy 48:11–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Yuval, Oldenburg DW (1996) DC resistivity and IP methods in acid mine drainage problems: results from the Copper Cliff mine tailings impoundments. J Appl Geophy 34(n.3):187–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Slater LD, Lesmes D (2002) IP interpretation in environmental investigations. Geophysics 67:77–88. doi:10.1190/1.1451353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Abu-Zeid N, Bianchini G, Santarato G, Vaccaro C (2004) Geochemical characterisation and geophysical mapping of Landfill leachates: the Marozzo canal case study (NE Italy). Environ Geol 45:439–447. doi:10.1007/s00254-003-0895-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Bavusi M, Rizzo E, Lapenna V (2006) Electromagnetic methods to characterize the Savoia di Lucania waste dump (Southern Italy. Environ Geol 51:301–308. doi:10.1007/s00254-006-0327-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Sato M, Mooney HM (1960) The electrochemical mechanism of sulfide self-potentials. Geophysics 25:226–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Bernt Lile O (1996) Self potential anomaly over a sulfide conductor tested for use as a current source. J Appl Geophy 36:97–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Nyquist JE, Corry CE (2002) Self-potential: the ugly duckling of environmental geophysics. Leading Edge 21(5):446–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Vichabian Y, Morgan FD (2002) Self potentials in cave detection. Leading Edge 21:871–886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Schiavone D, Quarto R (1984) Self potential prospecting in the study of water movements. Geoexploration 22:47–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Revil A, Naudet V, Nouazaret J, Pessel M (2003) Principles of electrography applied to self potential electrokinetic sources and hydrogeological application. Water Resour Res 39:1114. doi:10/109/2001 WR000916

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Naudet V, Revil A, Rizzo E, Bottero JY, Bégassat P (2004) Groundwater redox conditions and conductivity in a contaminant plume from geoelectrical investigations. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 8(1):8–22. doi:10.5194/hess-8-8-2004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Perrone A, Iannuzzi A, Lapenna V, Lorenzo P, Piscitelli S, Rizzo E, Sdao F (2004) High-resolution electrical imaging of the Varco d’Izzo earthflow (southern Italy). J Appl Geophy 56:17–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Bogoslovsky VA, Ogilvy AA (1970) Natural potential anomalies as a quantitative index of seepage from water reservoir. Geophys Prospect 18(2):261–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Butler DK, Llopis JL (1990) assessment of anomalous seepage conditions. In: Geotechnical an environmental geophysics, pp 153–174, eISBN: 978-1-56080-278-5; Print ISBN: 978-0-931830-99-0

    Google Scholar 

  52. Hashimoto T, Mogi T, Yasunori N, Ogawa Y, Ujihara N, Oikawa M, Saito M, Nurhasan MS, Wakabayashi T, Yoshimura R, Hurst AW, Utsugi M, Tanaka Y (2004) Self-potential studies in volcanic areas -Rishiri, Kusatsu-Shirane, and White Island. Geophysics 12(2):97–113

    Google Scholar 

  53. Nishino T, Kainuma N, Matsuyama K, Muraoka A (2000) Self-potential survey in Hachijojima. In: Proceedings of the world geothermal congress, Kyushu–Tohoku, 28 May–10 June 2000

    Google Scholar 

  54. Christensen TH, Bjerg PL, Banwart SA, Jakobsen R, Heron G, Albrechtsen HJ (2000) Characterization of redox conditions in groundwater contaminant plumes. J Contam Hydrol 45:165–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Kjeldsen P, Barlaz MA, Rooker PA, Baun A, Ledin A, Christensen TH (2002) Present and long-term composition of MSW Landfill Leachate: a review. Critical Rev Environ Sci Tech 32(4):297–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Selli R (1962) Il Paleogene nel quadro della geologia dell’Italia meridionale. Mem Soc Geol Ital 3:737–790

    Google Scholar 

  57. Lapenna V, Lorenzo P, Perrone A, Piscitelli S, Sdao F, Rizzo E (2003) High-resolution geoelectrical tomographies in the study of the Giarrossa landslide (Potenza, Basilicata). Bull Eng Geol Environ 62(3):259–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Schön JH (1996) Physical properties of rocks—fundamentals and principles of petrophysics. Pergamon, Oxford, 583 pp

    Google Scholar 

  59. Angoran YE, Fitterman DV, Marshall DJ (1974) Induced polarization: a geophysical method for locating cultural metallic refuse. Science 184:1287–1288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Iliceto V, Santarato G, Merola R, Ardizzoni F, Finotti F (1994) La polarizzazione indotta nella localizzazione di discariche di rifiuti solidi urbani. Ingegneria sanitaria ambientale. Genn.Apr.j:63–72

    Google Scholar 

  61. Aristodemu E, Thomas-Betts A (2000) DC resistivity and induced polarization investigations at a waste disposal site and its environments. J Appl Geophys 44:275–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Fournier C (1989) Spontaneous potentials and resistivity surveys applied to hydrogeology in a volcanic area: case history of the Chaine des Puys (Puy-de-Dome, France). Geophys Prosp 1:647–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Birch FS (1998) Imaging the water table by filtering self-potential profiles. Ground Water 36:779–782

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Revil A, Hermitte D, Voltz M, Moussa R, Lacas JG, Bourrié G, Trolard F (2002) Self-potential signals associated with variations of the hydraulic head during an infiltration experiment. Geophys Res Lett 29. doi:10.1029/2001 GL014294

    Google Scholar 

  65. Hrabar S (1998) Environmental geophysics: what is needed to be successful. Leading Edge 17(6):813–839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Splajt T, LE Ferrier F (2003) Application of ground penetrating radar in mapping and monitoring landfill sites. Environ Geol 44:963–967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. Dahlin T, Jeppsson H (1995) Geophysical investigations of a waste deposit in southern Sweden. In: Bell RS (ed) Proceedings of the 8th EEGS symposium on the application of geophysics to engineering and environmental problems, April 23–26, 1995, Orlando. pp 97–105

    Google Scholar 

  68. Karlik G, Ali Kaya M (2001) Investigation of groundwater contamination using electric and electromagnetic methods at an open waste-disposal site: a case study from Isparta, Turkey. Environ Geol 40(6):725–731

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Surveys and results at Kablova site (Serbia-Herzegovina) has been carried out and founded in the Framework Program Agreement Balkans, Line 2.3 P.R.I.M.A— “Integrated Project: environmental monitoring in areas of high criticality, technical assistance for the formulation of plans and programs for the protection, preservation and improvement of natural resources in polluted sites—subproject CAB Jagodina”.

Moreover, the authors would like to thank the ACTA S.p.A operator of the Montegrosso-Pallareta landfill complex for its support in the implementation of geophysical surveys.

This work is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and colleague Ivana Adurno whose smile continues to shine in our hearts.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, C.da S. Loja, 85050, Tito Scalo, (Pz), Italy

    M. Bavusi, V. Lapenna, A. Loperte, E. Gueguen, G. De Martino & I. Adurno

  2. Istituto per il Rilevamento Elettromagnetico dell’Ambiente, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Diocleziano 328,, 80124, Napoli, Italy

    I. Catapano & F. Soldovieri

Authors
  1. M. Bavusi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Lapenna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Loperte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. Gueguen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. De Martino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. I. Adurno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. I. Catapano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. F. Soldovieri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Soldovieri .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Technologies (CNR-ISTI), CNR Institute of Information Science and, Pisa, Italy

    Andrea Scozzari

  2. Institute of Material Science, NCRS “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece

    Elissavet Dotsika

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bavusi, M. et al. (2013). Groundwater Monitoring and Control by Using Electromagnetic Sensing Techniques. In: Scozzari, A., Dotsika, E. (eds) Threats to the Quality of Groundwater Resources. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 40. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2013_243

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation