Identification of subsurface cavities in urban environment

Abstract Gravimetry is the most suitable geophysical method for identifying subsurface cavities in urban or industrial environments, as it is unaffected by nearby electromagnetic disturbances. In this study, we used gravimetric geophysical method to understand the land subsidence, collapses, and fis...

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Main Authors: Boualem BOUYAHIAOUI, Abdeslam ABTOUT, Yasser BAYOU, Mohamed BENDALI, Hassina BOUKERBOUT
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84979-9
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author Boualem BOUYAHIAOUI
Abdeslam ABTOUT
Yasser BAYOU
Mohamed BENDALI
Hassina BOUKERBOUT
author_facet Boualem BOUYAHIAOUI
Abdeslam ABTOUT
Yasser BAYOU
Mohamed BENDALI
Hassina BOUKERBOUT
author_sort Boualem BOUYAHIAOUI
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gravimetry is the most suitable geophysical method for identifying subsurface cavities in urban or industrial environments, as it is unaffected by nearby electromagnetic disturbances. In this study, we used gravimetric geophysical method to understand the land subsidence, collapses, and fissures observed around the sealed Albian drilling site located in the M’Rara region of Northeast of Algeria. Particularly, we would like study the geological observed phenomena and its potential association with the presence of a cavity within the salt layer. According to the stratigraphic column, a salt layer was located at 936 m depth. To better understand the subsurface conditions, A new gravimetric survey was conducted to image the density distribution and identify anomalous zones associated with subsurface cavities. Various gravity data processing techniques, including polynomial fitting of different orders, vertical and horizontal gradient analysis, and three-dimensional inversion, were applied. These methods aim to evaluate the relationship between detected gravity anomalies and the underlying structures, with a focus on their possible correlation with cavities within the salt layer. The gravimetric evidence suggest that the hydraulic drilling is not the cause of the observed phenomena. These cavities are likely formed by water circulation in the subsoil, originating from the Retem Valley.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-304efaa64e174158848d0de015e8dba82025-01-19T12:24:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111010.1038/s41598-024-84979-9Identification of subsurface cavities in urban environmentBoualem BOUYAHIAOUI0Abdeslam ABTOUT1Yasser BAYOU2Mohamed BENDALI3Hassina BOUKERBOUT4Center of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics ResearchCenter of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics ResearchCenter of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics ResearchCenter of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics ResearchCenter of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics ResearchAbstract Gravimetry is the most suitable geophysical method for identifying subsurface cavities in urban or industrial environments, as it is unaffected by nearby electromagnetic disturbances. In this study, we used gravimetric geophysical method to understand the land subsidence, collapses, and fissures observed around the sealed Albian drilling site located in the M’Rara region of Northeast of Algeria. Particularly, we would like study the geological observed phenomena and its potential association with the presence of a cavity within the salt layer. According to the stratigraphic column, a salt layer was located at 936 m depth. To better understand the subsurface conditions, A new gravimetric survey was conducted to image the density distribution and identify anomalous zones associated with subsurface cavities. Various gravity data processing techniques, including polynomial fitting of different orders, vertical and horizontal gradient analysis, and three-dimensional inversion, were applied. These methods aim to evaluate the relationship between detected gravity anomalies and the underlying structures, with a focus on their possible correlation with cavities within the salt layer. The gravimetric evidence suggest that the hydraulic drilling is not the cause of the observed phenomena. These cavities are likely formed by water circulation in the subsoil, originating from the Retem Valley.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84979-9Underground cavityGravimetric prospectionM’Rara regionAlgeria
spellingShingle Boualem BOUYAHIAOUI
Abdeslam ABTOUT
Yasser BAYOU
Mohamed BENDALI
Hassina BOUKERBOUT
Identification of subsurface cavities in urban environment
Scientific Reports
Underground cavity
Gravimetric prospection
M’Rara region
Algeria
title Identification of subsurface cavities in urban environment
title_full Identification of subsurface cavities in urban environment
title_fullStr Identification of subsurface cavities in urban environment
title_full_unstemmed Identification of subsurface cavities in urban environment
title_short Identification of subsurface cavities in urban environment
title_sort identification of subsurface cavities in urban environment
topic Underground cavity
Gravimetric prospection
M’Rara region
Algeria
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84979-9
work_keys_str_mv AT boualembouyahiaoui identificationofsubsurfacecavitiesinurbanenvironment
AT abdeslamabtout identificationofsubsurfacecavitiesinurbanenvironment
AT yasserbayou identificationofsubsurfacecavitiesinurbanenvironment
AT mohamedbendali identificationofsubsurfacecavitiesinurbanenvironment
AT hassinaboukerbout identificationofsubsurfacecavitiesinurbanenvironment