Imaging the ROOT cause of subsidence using Electrical Resistivity Tomography

G. M. Jones*, N. J. Cassidy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Throughout the world, ground movement caused by moisture content variation in expansive clay soils is a major problem. In southern areas of the UK particularly, where major urban areas coincide with outcropping clay, subsidence and the resulting structural damage caused by clay shrinkage is at the forefront of both the public and insurers concerns. The principal cause of such damage however, has not only been attributed to expansive clays but more increasingly to the influence urban trees have in promoting clay subsidence through water uptake, especially during times of drought. At present the diagnosis of tree-induced subsidence (TIS) involves verifying clay desiccation via testing soil index properties (i.e. Atterberg Limits) and comparing soil water and strength profiles at points proximal and distal from the tree. These methods however, are costly, difficult, and sometimes unreliable and ultimately provide a very limited and often incomprehensive understanding of tree induced subsidence, especially in the long term. As part of an interdisciplinary study of this system, a geophysical approach is taken to bridge the knowledge gap by using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) to provide a more comprehensive understanding and visualisation of the interactions between trees, moisture movement and volume change in clays.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNear Surface 2007 - 13th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics
PublisherEuropean Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, EAGE
ISBN (Print)9073781817, 9789073781818
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Event13th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics of the Near Surface Geoscience Division of EAGE, Near Surface 2007 - Istanbul, Turkey
Duration: 3 Sept 20075 Sept 2007

Publication series

NameNear Surface 2007 - 13th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics

Conference

Conference13th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics of the Near Surface Geoscience Division of EAGE, Near Surface 2007
Country/TerritoryTurkey
CityIstanbul
Period3/09/075/09/07

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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