Integration of Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Seismic Refraction Tomography to Investigate Subsiding Sinkholes in Karst Areas

Operational and safety issues associated with subsiding sinkholes in karst areas start the definition of fractures joints, causing ground weakness. Conventional geotechnical boreholes geological mapping must be complemented indirect subsurface exploration techniques to detail those structures. This work aims use electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) seismic refraction (SRT) near-surface geophysical infer 2D 3D geometry sediment-infilled formed by conjunction joints areas. Geophysical surveys were performed a sinkhole area two sectors different infilling degrees fault systems an experimental research Sierra de Gádor Mountains southeastern Spain. The ERT survey delimited area, including main fault-boun4ded limits, other minor faults, buried epikarst forms, distribution coarse clay-rich infilling. SRT corroborated structure disambiguated high-moisture-content structures giving similar velocity fields. integration provides visualizations interest predicting weakness-triggering mechanisms regional structure. trial uninhabited possibility exploring is special for designing operational measures urban areas, where may go undetected monitoring capability often more limited. technological development used enables periodical structures, thus making identification structural changes modifying land hydrological feasible over time.