GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATION

Belgium
Partners

Ghent Univeristy

Contact

Marc Van Meirvenne
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Department of Soil Management Coupure
Link 653
9000 Ghent

E. marc.vanmeirvenne@ugent.be
T. +32 926 460 56

Visit: www.orbit.ugent.be

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This project is a case study on the use of geophysical sensors for the spatial characterization of landfills. The study site is a 5 ha. area of a former sand quarry. Based on historical information, the area supposedly includes two separate pits that have been filled with waste material mainly consisting of construction debris. The main aim of the project is to laterally and vertically delineate the landfill using non-invasive geophysical sensors. The proposed methodology consists in a high-resolution survey with a multi-receiver electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor. This EMI sensor allows the simultaneous measuring of the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and apparent magnetic susceptibility (MSa) of multiple soil volumes (corresponding with different measurement depths). A mobile survey configuration (as illustrated in the photograph) provides achieving a fine measurement resolution (e.g. 1.5 m between lines by 0.2 m within lines) in a time-efficient way. Afterwards, the data is interpolated through geostatistical techniques. Potential advanced processing techniques include the integration of multiple EMI signals with different measurement depths to extract soil layers with the highest variability or to model the interface of contrasting soil layers.

PROJECT GOALS

Using geophysical sensors for the spatial characterization of a landfill in a former sand quarry. 

FUNDING TYPE: Private funding

Contact us

Location

Department of Materials Engineering
Kasteelpark Arenberg 44
3001 Leuven, Belgium