RESISTIVITY SURVEY FOR SLOPE STABILITY

IN THE AREA NEAR FACULTY OF SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA
Project Research
(SGES3183)

Geology Department
University of Malaya

Gabriel Monica Gonzales

SES100417

Supervisor : Dr Nur Islami Rahman

 CONTENTS
Introduction
Objectives
Study Area
Methodology
Geoelectrical Resistivity
Hydrogeochemical
Survey Strategy
Results
Stable Slope
Unstable Slope
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
 SGES3183 Project Research

INTRODUCTION
 Geophysical resistivity surveys
 to measure variations of the ground’s electrical
resistivity
 by applying small electric currents across arrays
of electrodes stick in the grounds.
 Conducted at the hillside near the Faculty of
Science, University of Malaya.
 The slopes there are found to be quite steep and
there might be possibilities of slope failure.
 Resistivity surveys is conducted to analyse the
stability of the slope.
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OBJECTIVES
1. To produce 2D electrical resistivity
profile of the study area.
2. To identify and examine soil, rock
boundary or any materials within the
study area.
3. To analyse the slope stability.
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STUDY AREA
 Hillside near the Faculty of Science in
University of Malaya
 Located within the centre of Kuala
Lumpur city
 Latitude/longitude:
3o07’31.91’’/101o39’15.94’’
 Elevation : 30-40m
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STUDY LOCATION
E101O34’ E101O38’ E101O40’ E101O44’ E101O48’

5 km
Detailed Study Area
Location: Faculty of Science, University of Malaya
Lat/Long: 3o07’31.91’’ / 101o39’15.94’’

Geology
Dept

280m
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L1 L2

L3
L6
L4
L5

L1 to L6 indicate the Resistivity lines distribution on

the study area overlain on Google Earth map.
L1 to L6 indicate the Resistivity lines distribution
on the study area overlain on topographic map.
METHODOLOGY
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METHODOLOGY

Geoelectrical Hydrometer
Resistivity Method of Particle-
Survey Size Analysis

Electrode spacing = 1.5 m,

Wenner configuration

Direct Surface
Geoelectrical Resistivity
Measurement

Methodology
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Geoelectrical Resistivity Survey

 Abdul Kahar Embi (2000)

 Earth materials factors influences the differences in
electrical resistivity values within the subsurface.

 Rosli et. al. (2008)

 2D electrical resistivity method in mapping subsurface
structure can be used to examine slope failure.
 It can predict water content and estimate the depth of
bedrock covered by superficial clay deposits or to
estimate the thickness of the latter.

Methodology
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Geoelectrical Resistivity Survey

Clippers
Battery
Electrode
Selector

Electrodes
Abem Terrameter
SAS4000

Cables
Methodology
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Geoelectrical Resistivity Survey

 Electric current is directed into the earth via two
current electrodes which are C1 and C2 while two
potential electrodes, P1 and P2 are used to measure
the potential difference.
 Electrical resistivity value can be measure with the
concept of resistivity, ρ;
ρ = RA / L where
ρ = electrical resistivity
R = electrical resistance
A = surface area of the
materia L = length of the material
Methodology
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Geoelectrical Resistivity Survey

Effect on increasing electrodes spacing Electrode arrangement for Wenner array

over two layers with different
resistance.

Methodology
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Geoelectrical Resistivity Survey

 Data Processing
 Res2DINV Inversion software (Loke, 1995;
1996, 2002, 2007)
 Generate resistivity profile

Methodology
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Direct Surface Measurement

C1 P1 P2 C2

The apparent resistivity turn out to be the true resistivity of the

material assuming that the material is homogeneous for small
electrode spacing (Telford, 1990).
Methodology
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Particle-Size Analysis
 Particle-size distribution is one of the most
stable properties of a soil (Day, 1965)
 To identify the particle size distribution in
study area
 To help correlating with the slope stability
analysis
 Soil with clayey texture
 Sampling – Hand auger

Methodology
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Particle-Size Analysis

1L Measuring Beaker
cylinder
Dispersing
Distilled water solution
Samples Hydrometer
Stirrer

Petri dish

Hand Auger
Methodology
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SURVEY STRATEGY
1. Previous studies
2. Finding suitable study area (map)
3. Fieldwork
 Geoelectrical Resistivity Survey
 Direct Surface Geoelectrical Resistivity
Measurement

4. Lab work
 RES2DINV Software
 Hydrometer Method of Particle-Size Analysis
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5. Limitations
 No borehole data located within the study
area
 Developed area, nearby conductors such as
buried pipe and metal fences may give noise
 Accessibilities – Thick secondary forest
RESULTS
 SGES3183 Project Research

PARTICLE-SIZE ANALYSIS

Average particle size distribution

80 76

69
70

60
%
Particle size 50
Stable slope Unstable slope
40 % Stable slope
clay 16 13 % Unstable slope
30
silt 15 11
20 16 15
sand 69 76 13
11
10

0
clay silt sand
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DIRECT SURFACE RESISTIVITY

MEASUREMENT
MATERIALS Stable Slope Unstable Slope
AVERAGE RES. (ohm.m) (ohm.m)

MOISTURED SOIL 511.9 489.0

DRY SOIL 1547.5 1127.1

WEATHERED PHYLLITE 3690.7 3899.2

FRESH PHYLLITE 5097.4 5301.3

CONCRETE STRUCTURE 4298.9

Weathered Fresh Phyllite/

Moistured Soil Dry Soil Phyllite Man made
structure
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L2

L1 L2

L3 L3
L6 L6
L4
L1 L5

L4
L5

L1 to L6 indicate the Resistivity lines distribution on

the study area overlain on Google Earth map.
STABLE SLOPE
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Resistivity Line 1 (L1)

L1’

L1
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Resistivity Line 1 (L1)

Concrete

 Gently elevate from the ground

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Resistivity Line 4 (L4) L4’

L4
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Resistivity Line 4 (L4)

Concrete structure

Rock boulder

 Safety measures applied (concrete)

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Resistivity Line 5 (L5) L5’

L5
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Resistivity Line 5 (L5)

Moistured Soil
Concrete

Drain

 Safety measures applied (concrete)

 No bedrock
UNSTABLE SLOPE
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Resistivity Line 2 L2’

(L2)

L2
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Resistivity Line 2 (L2)

Dashed line represents the portion with

slope failure possibilities

Bedrock

 Approx. 5m depth of bedrock

 Abundance moistured soil
 Possible for land slide.
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L3’
Resistivity Line 3 (L3)

L3
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Resistivity Line 3 (L3)

Dashed line represents the portion with

slope failure possibilities
Concrete

Weathered rock boulder

 No safety measures applied  Possible for land slide

 No bedrock  Thick soil profile
Resistivity Line 6
(L6)
L6’

L6
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Resistivity Line 6 (L6)

Dashed line represents the

portion with slope failure possibilities

 No safety measures applied

 No bedrock
 Thick soil profile
 Possible for land slide.
LANDSLIDE!!! Dent electric pole

Slope scouring

Landslide plan view

CONCLUSION
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CONCLUSION
 Geoelectrical resistivity method has produced
the detailed subsurface image of the slope
zone
 Water flows easier in unstable slope with
considerable thickness of soil
 Some unstable slope show thick soil profile
 Boundary among materials can be identified
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Acknowledgment
 Special thank to Dr Nur Islami for guidance
 Fatan Khairi for assistance in survey
 Geology Department Staff for lab analysis
 SGES3183 Project Research

REFERENCES
• Rosli et. al., (2008). Monitoring Slope Failure
Using 2d Electrical Resistivity Imaging in Pahang,
Malaysia. International Conference on
Environment 2008 (ICENV 2008).
• Gobbet, D.J. et. al. 1973. Geology of the Malay
Peninsula, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Stauffer, P.H. 1968. The Kuala Lumpur Fault Zone:
A proposed major strike slip fault across Malaya.
Newsl. Geol. Soc. Malaysia 15 p 2-4.
• wikipedia.com = definition of terms
THANK YOU