Geophysical monitoring of the integrity of water-retaining earth structures

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Failure of water-retaining earth structures (e.g. flood embankments and dams) can be devastating, in some cases leading to loss of life and/or huge engineering and environmental restoration. Current monitoring approaches are heavily dependent on either surface observations, which can only address failures that have already begun, or point sensors, which sample a very small volume of ground and are therefore inadequate as a means of detecting localized deterioration. This project aims to provide new approaches for monitoring the integrity of such geotechnical assets, by exploiting the potential of geophysical imaging approaches. Such approaches may enable volumetric tracking of structural changes associated with deterioration, motion of fluids, flow pathways and ground movement, thereby helping to prevent catastrophic failure by identifying problems at a much earlier stage. Although some attempts to use geophysics for this application have been made (see examples in reference list), recent developments in field-based geophysical experimentation and data processing need to be exploited in order to realise the full potential. In this studentship we aim to bring together expertise at Lancaster and the British Geological Survey (BGS) in order to develop new approaches for monitoring the integrity of water-retaining earth structures.