Cavity detection

Karst structures
Solution processes are a common phenomenon in limestones and dolomites which can lead to karstification
causing in many cases cavities. They can be air-filled or filled with fine-grained material, which decrease the
soil stiffness and thus the load capacity.

Exploratory drillings, which are generally used for soil investigations, provide only local information about the
subsoil conditions and are not suitable to detect small-scaled structures in a geologically heterogeneous
environment. Therefore, seismic methods are used for a detailed exploration of geological structures and
cavities, whose elastic properties differ from the environment’s properties. In particular, seismic tomography
which is carried out between two drillings, is well suited to characterize the location and dimensions of
shallow and deep structures.
Example:
In the course of a new railway route seismic tomography was applied to investigate several bridge foundation
sites to detect karstic structures and avoid settlements caused by dynamic loading of bridge piles. The
tomogram shows the seismic velocity distribution representing the elastic material properties. Areas with low
velocities (green) could be identified as karst structures while compact limestone shows significantly higher
seismic velocities (red).
Karst structures in the tomogam

Weak zones
Weak zones in the subsurface are often caused by dissolution and washing out processes,
weathering or geological faults. Weak zones lead to a reduction of the rock strength and have often
an increased hydraulic permeability.Seismic methods are very sensitive to changes of rock strength
and are well suited to explore weakened material or to investigate changed material properties of the
subsurface.
Example 1:
In the course of a new railway route seismic tomography was applied to investigate several bridge foundation
sites to detect karstic structures and avoid settlements caused by dynamic loading of bridge piles. The
tomogram shows the seismic velocity distribution representing the elastic material properties. Areas with low
velocities (green) could be identified as karst structures while compact limestone shows significantly higher
seismic velocities (red).

Seismic velocity distribution of the underground and highlighted weak zone

Accelerated weight drop seismic source

Cavities
Drillings can give only local information about underground conditions. But in a complex heterogeneous
geological environment the exploration might fail structures, such as cavities. To carry out a comprehensive
investigation geophysical methods such as gravimetry are successful to locate two-dimensional underground
structures. Gravimetry measures local changes of gravity. Gravity anomalies occur when the density of the
rock decreases due to voids and cavities and differ from the surrounding density.
Example:
In the area of a closed mining gravimetry measurements were conducted to identify and to localize potential
cavities. The results show negative and positive gravity anomalies due to gravity changes. While the positive
gravity anomalies (green) indicate compact rock, the negative gravity anomalies (red) are an evidence for the
occurrence of cavities.

Detection of undermining area by gravimetry showing distribution of gravity anomalies

Subsidence
Washing out and solution processes or insufficient sediment consolidation can lead to sudden or long-term
subsidence of the subsoil. Georadar is a suitable geophysical method to investigate the shallow surface up to
several meters. The measurement principle is based on reflection of electromagnetic waves caused by
interfaces or anomalies in the subsurface.
Example:
Cavities or settled areas in the subsurface cause increased reflection amplitudes and show typical reflection
pattern in the radargram.
Radargram showing subsidence effects below a concrete slab