Abstract
Nowadays, geo-environmental assessment becomes an immediate concern all over the world. In general, the flow paths of pollutants and radioactive source allocations are related to rock types, subsurface layer distributions and structural settings. Thus, this chapter aims to present a non-conventional integrative approach of remote sensing, structural data and geophysical methods for geo-environmental hazard assessment. Notably, such hazards commonly result from human activities where contaminants are accumulated and spread on or beneath the ground surface. Detection of organic contamination and hydrocarbon flow path is a difficult task for geophysical techniques at hazardous waste areas. Furthermore, radioactive-emission detection is of specific value in the vicinity of mineral resources for human health and environmental preservation. Accordingly, waste management as well as a subsurface contaminant and geological structure mapping are prerequisite for urbanization, mining and civil engineering. In this chapter, we presented cases for waste management to indicate how recent technologies can be used for detection and prediction of geo-environmental hazards in urban areas and desert lands. The following techniques are used to achieve the objective of the chapter: (1) remote sensing, (2) information on structural geology, (3) direct current (DC) resistivity method and (4) airborne geophysics. Regarding four case studies, the results indicate the effectiveness of the suggested approach to map surface and subsurface geological conditions concerning the pollutants and radioactive emissions in 2D/3D. Even when the contaminant itself produces no detectable direct geophysical signature, sometimes it may be found by indirect means through the structural mapping as a guide to predict the contaminant flow paths. Accordingly, the approach will be helpful to the decision-makers to achieve sustainable development in urban and desert areas regarding the waste management aspects. Moreover, the present nondestructive approach can be considered as an initial step in waste assessment projects.
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks to A. T. Basokur, I. Akca (Ankara University, Turkey) and T. GĂĽnther (LIAG Institute, Hannover, Germany) for assistance with inversion programs to interpret the DC resitivtry data.
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Attwa, M., Henaish, A., Zamzam, S. (2020). Detection and Prediction of Geo-environmental Hazards in Urban Areas and Desert Lands Using an Integrated Structural and Geophysical Approach: Cases from Egypt. In: Negm, A., Shareef, N. (eds) Waste Management in MENA Regions. Springer Water. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18350-9_4
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