Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Use of electrical Resistivity tomography (ERT) and electromagnetic induction (EMI) methods to Characterize Karst Hazards in north-eastern of Algeria

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sinkholes are natural phenomena caused by the dissolution of limestone rocks due to the infiltration of acidic surface water. Initially, this infiltration creates voids, and then a sudden collapse occurs when the roof structure fails to support the weight load of the overlying deposits. In Algeria, a sinkhole occurred in February 2015 after a severe snowstorm, on an agricultural field near the city of El Ouldja ( South-Eastern Setif). The sinkhole occurred only after the dissolution of a quaternary lacustrine limestone. This dissolution created a karstic cavity, covered by an alluvial deposit. These alluvium deposits progressively pulled down from the base to the top through a sediment removal phenomenon at the deep karstic cavity opening. The sinkhole is circular with 16-m diameter and 16-m deep. This phenomenon represents a risk for local populations living with the fear of a worsening and expansion of the existing cavity or the formation of new sinkholes under the same circumstances. This work aims at identifying high-risk zones in the entire site surrounding the karstic collapse phenomenon through geological analysis of the sinkhole walls as well as two geophysical methods, namely, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and electromagnetic induction (EMI). Results revealed the existence of developing superficial karst cavities, in the NNW and SSE part, beneath the Quaternary alluvium of the study area, bordered by a fracture network. Such structures are a natural risk that needs to be considered not only for agricultural land management, but also for rural construction.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benabbas C (2006) Évolution Mio-Plio-Quaternaire des bassins continentaux de l’Algérie nord orientale: apport de la photogéologie et analyse morpho structurale. Thèse de doctorat, Univ. Mentouri Constantine. Algerie

  • Cardarelli E, Cercato M, De Donno G (2014) Characterization of an earth-filled dam through the combined use of electrical resistivity tomography, P-and SH-wave seismic tomography and surface wave data. J Appl Geophys 106(7):87–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers JE, Penn S, Wilkinson PB, Weller AL, Evans HM, Kuras O, Aumônier J, Ogilvy RD (2007) The development of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) for sand and gravel ResourceVisualisation Survey Design and Data Processing Criteria. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report, CR/07/173. 94 pp

  • Dahlin T (2001) The development of DC resistivity imaging techniques. Comput Geosci 27(9):1019–1029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Degroot-Hedlin C, Constable S (1990) Occam’s inversion to generate smooth, two-dimensional models formmagnetotelluric data. Geophysics 55(12):1613–1624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dey A, Morrison HF (1979) Resistivity modelling for arbitrary shaped three-dimensional structures. Geophysics 44(4):753–780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farooq M, Park S, Song YS, Kim JH, Tariq M, Abraham AA (2012) Subsurface cavity detection in a Karst environment using electrical resistivity: a case study from yongweol-ri, South Korea. Earth Sci Res J 16(1):75–82

  • Friedel S (2003) Resolution, stability and efficiency of resistivity tomography estimated from a generalized inverse approach. Geophys J Int 153(2):305–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths DH, Barker RD (1993) The use of multi-electrodes resistivity imaging in gravel prospecting. J Appl Geophys 49(4):245–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths DH, Turnbull J (1985) A multielectrode array for resistivity surveying. First Break 7(3):16–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermosilla RG (2012) The Guatemala City sinkhole collapses. Carbonates Evaporites 27(2):103–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann G (2014) Geophysical mapping of solution and collapse sinkholes. J Appl Geophys 111:271–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller G (1988) Rock and mineral properties. In: Nabighian MN, Corbett JD (eds) Electromagnetic methods in applied geophysics theory, 1: soc. exploration geophysics, pp 13–51

  • Keller G, Frischknecht F (1966) Electrical methods in geophysical prospecting. Pergamon Press, New York. 517p

    Google Scholar 

  • Khaldaoui F, Djeddi M, Abtout A, Baker HA (2011) Geophysical investigation to characterize geological risks: detection zones of dissolution in karst areas, Algeria. First International Conference on Engineering Geophysics, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

  • Kim JH, Yi MJ, Hwang SH, Song Y, Cho SJ, Synn JH (2007) Integrated geophysical surveys for the safety evaluation of a ground subsidence zone in a small city. J Geophys Eng 4(3):332–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirsten HAD, Heath GJ, Venter IS, Oosthuizen AC (2014) The issue of personal safety on dolomite: a probability-based evaluation with respect to two and three-story residential houses. J South Afr Inst Civil Eng 56(2):54–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Klimchouk A (2005) Subsidence hazards in different types of karst: evolutionary and speleogenetic approach. Environ Geol 48(3):287–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loke MH (1997) Rapid 2D resistivity inversion using the least-squares method. RES2- DINV Program manual, Penang, Malaysia

  • Loke MH, Barker RD (1995) Least-squares deconvolution of apparent resistivity. Geophysics 60(6):1682–1690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loke MH, Barker RD (1996a) Rapid least square inversion of apparent resistivity pseudosections by a quasi- Newton method. Geophys Prospect 44(1):131–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loke MH, Barker RD (1996b) Pratical techniques for 3D resistivity surveys and data inversion. Geophys Prospect 44(3):499–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loke MH, Acworth I, Dahlin T (2003) A comparison of smooth and blocky inversion methods in 2D electricalimaging surveys. Explor Geophys 34(3):182–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maurer H, Boerner DE, Curtis A (2000) Design strategies for electromagnetic geophysical surveys. Inverse Problems 16(5):1097–1117

  • McNeill JD (1980a) Electromagnetic terrain conductivity measurement at low induction numbers. Technical Notes TN6. Geonics Limited (Editor), Ontario

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeill JD (1980b) Electrical conductivity of soils and rocks. Technical Note TN-5. Geonics Ltd., Mississauga, p 22

    Google Scholar 

  • Parasnis DS (1986) Principles of applied geophysics, Fourth edn. Chapman and Hall. 429p

  • Parise M, De Waele J, Gutiérrez F (2009) Current perspectives on the environmental impacts and hazards in karst. Environ Geol 58(2):235–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert T, Dassargues A, Brouyère S, Kaufmann O, Hallet V, Nguyen F (2009) Using electrical resistivity tomography and self-potential methods for wells implementations in fractured limestones. Near Surface. 15thEAGE European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics A32

  • Schoor MV (2002) Detection of sinkholes using 2D electrical resistivity imaging. J Appl Geophys 50(4):393–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silvester PP, Ferrari RI (1990) Finite elements for electrical engineers, second edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 514p

    Google Scholar 

  • Szalai S, Szarka L, Prácser E, Bosch F, Müller I, Turberg P (2002) Geoelectric mapping of near-surface karstic fractures by using null-arrays. Geophysics 67(6):1769–1778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tharp TM (1997) Mechanics of formation of cover-collapse sinkhole. In: Beck J, Stephenson J (eds) The Eng. Geol. & Hydrogeol. of Karst Terranes, pp 29–36

  • Ward SH (1990) Resistivity and induced polarization methods. In: Geotechnical and environmental geophysics. Society of Exploration Geophysicists, vol 1, pp 147–190

  • Won IJ, Huang H (2004) Magnetometers and electro-magnetomenters. Lead Edge 23(5):448–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youssef AM, El-Kaliouby HM, Zabramawi YA (2012) Sinkhole detection using electrical resistivity tomography in Saudi Arabia. J Geophys Eng 9(6):655–663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu J, Currens JC, Dinger JS (2011) Challenges of using electrical resistivity method to locate karst conduits – afield case in the Inner Bluegrass Region, Kentucky. J Appl Geophys 75(3):523–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is part of a research project CNEPRU/G00220130074/ supported by the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The survey of the present work was carried out in April 2015. The authors would like to thank the local authorities of the Municipality of El Ouldja for their support in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Géophysique, FSTGAT, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene, BP32 USTHB, Bab-Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria

    Khaldaoui Fatma, Djediat Yacine, Ydri Ahmed, Djeddi Mohammed, Hamadou Karim & Bouzar Abdelatif

  2. United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE

    Baker Haydar

Authors
  1. Khaldaoui Fatma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Djediat Yacine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Baker Haydar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ydri Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Djeddi Mohammed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hamadou Karim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Bouzar Abdelatif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khaldaoui Fatma.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Narasimman Sundararajan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fatma, K., Yacine, D., Haydar, B. et al. Use of electrical Resistivity tomography (ERT) and electromagnetic induction (EMI) methods to Characterize Karst Hazards in north-eastern of Algeria. Arab J Geosci 13, 1204 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06206-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06206-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation