Cave, Sinkhole, And Void Identification

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person: Dr. Hector R. Hinojosa, PG
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The identification and mapping of caves, caverns, sinkholes, and voids are possible with shallow remote sensing geophysical methods. Karst terrain is a typical environment that produces such natural geohazards. Karst terrain is distinguished by the solubility in water of its bedrock, mainly limestone and dolomitic or evaporitic rocks (like salt or gypsum), and is defined by its underground network of drainage and dissolution cavities. . Karst terrain and topography create site-specific geohazards. Building in urban or remote karst terrains presents geotechnical challenges due to the variable and unpredictable ground conditions they present to construction engineers. It is vital to survey the surface and scan the subsurface so that caverns, caves, fissures, or sinkholes are not encountered during construction. The surface and subsurface studies are possible with geophysical and geological methods. 3D electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), a well-established geophysical method, can quickly identify such unexpected shallow geohazards, if present, before, during, and after excavation and construction.