Multiple-gradient array for near-surface electrical resistivity tomography

Abstract

The use of most conventional arrays for near-surface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys is usually cumbersome, time consuming and labour intensive. Thus, data acquisition teams are often tempted to reduce the data density with a view of speeding up field operation and minimizing the survey cost. This tends to significantly degrade the quality and resolution of the resulting resistivity images. In this presentation, multiple-gradient array, a non-conventional electrode configuration, has been used to conduct rapid and cost effective near-surface ERT without compromising the data density.