An Integrated Geophysical Investigation for Detecting Seepage-prone Zones in the Basement of a Building

Abstract

The underground basement of a building is highly affected by anomalous seepage problems. Detection of seepage-prone regions through and around buildings becomes a need in other to sustain their stability. It is of great importance as well to have targeted remedies. However, traditional methods for examining these areas are often destructive and expensive, compelling the use of non-destructive geophysical techniques. This work aims to utilize and demonstrate the hands-on application of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and self-potential (SP) methods as an innovative combination to study seepage-prone zones in the basement of a building. Simulated responses of various seepage zones have been generated based on several significant factors. For better visualization, all 2D radargrams of a block were combined to produce a 3D model using GPR Slice software to distinguish various features at different depths. Higher positive SP values show the presence of high moisture or seepage-prone regions. Conclusively, the combined geophysical method of GPR and SP is trustworthy for conducting a quick and effective inspection of seepage-prone regions and probable source points for detailed characterization of the basement of a building. Keywords: GPR, SP, Geophysical methods, Seepage, Basement.