Michael Raines

Using integrated near-surface geophysical surveys to aid mapping and interpretation of geology in an alluvial landscape within a 3D soil-geology framework

An integrated geological, geophysical and remote sensing survey was undertaken as part of the construction of a high-resolution 3D model of the shallow subsurface geology of part of the Trent Valley in Nottinghamshire, UK. The 3D model was created using the GSI3D software package and the geophysical techniques used included ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and automated resistivity profiling. In addition, the remote sensing techniques of light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and airborne thematic mapping (ATM) were used. The objective of the study was to assess the contribution of these techniques to improve the geological mapping and interpretation of terrace deposits and other geological features. The study site had an area of ~2 km2 and consisted of a Triassic mudstone escarpment, overlain first by a sand and gravel river terrace that extended to the modern floodplain of the River Trent. Automated resistivity profiling mapping proved to be the central tool in identifying and positioning geological features at a greater resolution than would be obtained through traditional geological mapping and borehole observation. These features included i) a buried cliff delineating the south-eastern limits of the incised Trent valley, ii) siltstone beds within the Gunthorpe Member of the Mercia Mudstone Group and iii) the variability of the sediments within the river terrace. A long ERT transect across the site successfully imaged the buried cliff and outcropping siltstone beds on the escarpment. Combined ERT and GPR transects revealed the depth of the sand and gravel deposits (Holme Pierrepont sands and gravels), whilst the GPR provided information about the depositional environment. Remote sensing using light detection and ranging proved essential in the original geological survey because it confirmed the absence of a second river terrace that had been previously thought to exist. This case study demonstrates the importance of combining geophysical techniques with traditional geological survey and borehole analysis, in order to create high-resolution 3D geological models, which are increasingly being used as a platform to understand and solve environmental problems.

Refraction microtremor (ReMi) to determine the shear-wave velocity structure of the near surface and its application to aid detection of a backfilled mineshaft

Abstract Passive refraction microtremor (ReMi) surveys utilize standard field seismic-refraction recording equipment and linear geophone arrays to record ambient background noise owing to microtremors caused by natural and anthropogenic activities. The technique relies upon the detection of coherent phases of Rayleigh waves that have propagated along the axis of the geophone array, which is the same mode of propagation that causes ground roll on standard refraction surveys. Rayleigh-wave propagation is confined within one wavelength of the surface, causing dispersion because waves with longer wavelengths (lower frequencies) are controlled by ground stiffness and density properties at greater depths. Field records that include coherent modes of dispersive Rayleigh-wave propagation along the field array are processed using slowness (reciprocal of the phase velocity)–frequency transformations to extract the phase velocity–frequency dispersion curves. A series of dispersion curves are extracted by processing the field records of sub-groups including 6–8 geophones, from which 1D shear-wave velocity–depth profiles are constructed and attributed to the centre of each array sub-group. In this survey, nine overlapping sub-groups of eight geophones were selected along the whole field array of 24 geophones equi-spaced over 69 m. A 2D shear-wave velocity section was created by infilling a grid between each of the velocity–depth profiles using an anisotropic inverse distance weighting algorithm. Interpretation of the 2D section included the identification of: (1) reworked ground comprising colliery spoil and clay to around 5 m below ground level associated with shear-wave velocities from 100 to 700 m s−1; (2) deeper strata within the host formation associated with higher velocities that increased with depth to above 1000 m s−1 at depths below 10 m; (3) a backfilled mineshaft and a backfilled sandstone quarry at depths below 7 m associated with low-velocity perturbations within the background host velocity structure. Key recommendations from this case study include the use of low-frequency geophones to increase the depth of investigation and recording of high frequencies at reduced geophone spacings to increase near-surface resolution.

A GIS for the planning of electrical earthing

When creating an electrical earth for a transformer with vertically driven earthing rods, problems can arise either because the ground is too hard or because the ground is too resistive to achieve the required earthing resistance. To assist in the planning of earthing installations a geographic information system (GIS) layer has been created. In its simplest form it consists of a colour coded map that indicates the most likely earthing installation: a single vertically driven rod (indicated by dark green); multiple vertically driven rods (indicated by light green); a horizontal trench, where a rod installation is unlikely (indicated by yellow); for difficult ground, a specialist installation (i.e. drilling; indicated by red). However, the GIS can be interrogated to provide site-specific information such as site conditions, likely depth of installation and quantity of earthing materials required. The GIS was created from a spatial model constructed from soil, superficial and bedrock geology that has been attributed with engineering strength and resistivity values. Calculations of expected earthing rod resistance, rod or trench length, and all possible combinations of ground conditions have been compared with the ‘likely’ conditions required for each of the four proposed installation scenarios to generate the GIS layer. The analysis has been applied to the electrical network distribution regions of Western Power Distribution, in the English Midlands, and UK Power Networks, which covers East Anglia, London and the SE of England. Because the spatial model that underlies the GIS has been constructed from national databases the analyses can be extended to other regions of the UK.

Comparison of surface wave techniques to estimate shear wave velocity in a sand and gravel sequence: Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, UK

This study evaluated the application of surface wave methods to aggregate variability and thickness determinations. We compared the results of field assessments of sand and gravel sequences using three surface wave survey approaches. The first was a seismic refraction approach, the second, a continuous surface wave (CSW) survey approach, and the third adopted a multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) technique to the original refraction field set-up and records. The sand and gravel sequences were highly heterogeneous and the shear wave profiles were not normally dispersive (i.e. did not exhibit a monotonic increase in velocity with depth), which had a significant effect upon the performance of the three field approaches. Both CSW and MASW approaches provided information over a broad spectrum from which velocity–depth profiles were produced, but the upper frequency of operation was limited in both methods because of poorer signal quality at higher frequencies. Shear wave velocity profiles obtained using vertically vibrating sources during CSW surveys were different from profiles obtained using a horizontally polarized source in the refraction survey. This was attributed to different propagation paths and modes of propagation, which were illustrated via additional tomographic inversion of the refraction travel times but could also be attributed to data inversion methods. Probing using an ultra-lightweight cone penetrometer, continuous reflection profiling using ground-penetrating radar, and also an active extraction programme at the field site provided the opportunity to directly observe the subsurface geology and verify field results. Within the sand and gravel sequence, high-velocity layers were associated with matrix-supported coarse gravel lenses, some of which were weakly cemented. Localized high- and low-velocity zones within the underlying bedrock were interpreted as being related to lithostratigraphic heterogeneity and the development of an upper, weathered zone.