JournalTOCs

Journal of Environmental & Engineering Geophysics
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.406

Citation Impact (citeScore): 1
Number of Followers: 3

Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
ISSN (Print) 1083-1363 - ISSN (Online) 1943-2658
Published by GeoScienceWorld

[17 journals]

Automated Segmentation Framework for Asphalt Layer Thickness from GPR Data
Using a Cascaded k-Means - DBSCAN Algorithm
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  Abstract: ABSTRACTTimely monitoring of pavement sub-surface layer thickness and condition evaluation is essential to ensure stable pavement performance and safety under heavy traffic loading. In addition, accurate estimation of pavement layer thicknesses is required for condition evaluation, overlay design/ quality control assurance, and structural capacity evaluation of existing pavements to predict its remaining service life. Traditionally this vital information is ascertained through coring/drilling and visual inspections. In contrast to these current techniques, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive technique gaining popularity in pavement asphalt layer thickness estimation and structural condition monitoring. Its high-quality data contains vital pavement condition information, and survey costs are reasonably economic. In this work, GPR data were acquired along a toll road in Queensland, Australia, using the GSSI 4-channel SIR30 GPR unit. Asphalt layer thickness information is considered an important input parameter for condition assessment, pavement performance, and lifetime modelling. This work presents an automated segmentation framework to evaluate pavement conditions for a large pavement network. The developed algorithm uses GPR asphalt thickness data as input and generates segments with decision boundaries utilising a cascaded k-means and DBSCAN approach that works in two steps: 1) centroid initialisation using k-means algorithm, 2) clustering using DBSCAN algorithm. Presented in this paper is the workflow of the cascaded method that is applicable to automated analysis of GPR asphalt thickness data. The performance of the cascaded k-means and DBSCAN algorithm was evaluated in terms of entropy compared with traditional k-means and traditional DBSCAN algorithms. The results show that the proposed method outperforms its constituents. Based on the results of this study, the method presented in this paper is cost-effective, economical and robust for segmenting large pavement network with GPR data.
  PubDate: Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Continuous Automatic Estimation of Volumetric Water Content Profile During
Infiltration Using Sparse Multi-Offset GPR Data
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  Abstract: ABSTRACTGround-penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive and non-invasive geophysical survey method that has been used to characterize soil volumetric water content (VWC) dynamics. An array antenna GPR system was used to collect nearly seamless, time-lapse multi-offset GPR data during an in-situ infiltration test on sand dunes with limited traces. Because the data volume was significant, an approach was utilized to automatically determine electromagnetic wave velocities from sparse common midpoint (CMP) data using standard velocity analysis, such as semblance analysis. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology that allows one to automatically perform velocity analysis by interpolating sparse CMP data obtained with the array GPR system. The proposed method determined the optimal normal moveout velocity values and the removal range of the F-K zone pass filter that minimized errors between the original and interpolated CMP data using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). After interpolating the sparse CMP data with the F-K zone pass filter, semblance analysis was used to determine the time-lapse velocity structure of the soil profile during water infiltration. The velocity data were converted to VWC data based on the Topp equation, which relates the soil VWC to the soil dielectric constant. The proposed method was tested using CMP data obtained via numerical simulation and experiments. The VWC profile from the proposed approach matched well with the independently observed VWC profiles obtained from an invasive probe-type soil moisture sensor.
  PubDate: Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Applications and Analytical Methods of Ground Penetrating Radar for Soil
Characterization in a Silvopastoral System
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  Abstract: ABSTRACTThe use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) for soil characterization has grown rapidly in recent years due to substantial increases in computer processing power and advances in GPR methodologies. However, few studies have focused on applied GPR analysis for soil characterization and decision making in agricultural systems. In this study, we explored applications of some common qualitative and quantitative methods for GPR analysis and characterization of subsurface conditions in a silvopasture system. We analyzed GPR results using traditional visual interpretation methods to delineate depth to bedrock, clay layers, and other important soil features. Estimates of depth to bedrock correlated well with values measured in the field (\(\def\upalpha{\unicode[Times]{x3B1}}\)\(\def\upbeta{\unicode[Times]{x3B2}}\)\(\def\upgamma{\unicode[Times]{x3B3}}\)\(\def\updelta{\unicode[Times]{x3B4}}\)\(\def\upvarepsilon{\unicode[Times]{x3B5}}\)\(\def\upzeta{\unicode[Times]{x3B6}}\)\(\def\upeta{\unicode[Times]{x3B7}}\)\(\def\uptheta{\unicode[Times]{x3B8}}\)\(\def\upiota{\unicode[Times]{x3B9}}\)\(\def\upkappa{\unicode[Times]{x3BA}}\)\(\def\uplambda{\unicode[Times]{x3BB}}\)\(\def\upmu{\unicode[Times]{x3BC}}\)\(\def\upnu{\unicode[Times]{x3BD}}\)\(\def\upxi{\unicode[Times]{x3BE}}\)\(\def\upomicron{\unicode[Times]{x3BF}}\)\(\def\uppi{\unicode[Times]{x3C0}}\)\(\def\uprho{\unicode[Times]{x3C1}}\)\(\def\upsigma{\unicode[Times]{x3C3}}\)\(\def\uptau{\unicode[Times]{x3C4}}\)\(\def\upupsilon{\unicode[Times]{x3C5}}\)\(\def\upphi{\unicode[Times]{x3C6}}\)\(\def\upchi{\unicode[Times]{x3C7}}\)\(\def\uppsy{\unicode[Times]{x3C8}}\)\(\def\upomega{\unicode[Times]{x3C9}}\)\(\def\bialpha{\boldsymbol{\alpha}}\)\(\def\bibeta{\boldsymbol{\beta}}\)\(\def\bigamma{\boldsymbol{\gamma}}\)\(\def\bidelta{\boldsymbol{\delta}}\)\(\def\bivarepsilon{\boldsymbol{\varepsilon}}\)\(\def\bizeta{\boldsymbol{\zeta}}\)\(\def\bieta{\boldsymbol{\eta}}\)\(\def\bitheta{\boldsymbol{\theta}}\)\(\def\biiota{\boldsymbol{\iota}}\)\(\def\bikappa{\boldsymbol{\kappa}}\)\(\def\bilambda{\boldsymbol{\lambda}}\)\(\def\bimu{\boldsymbol{\mu}}\)\(\def\binu{\boldsymbol{\nu}}\)\(\def\bixi{\boldsymbol{\xi}}\)\(\def\biomicron{\boldsymbol{\micron}}\)\(\def\bipi{\boldsymbol{\pi}}\)\(\def\birho{\boldsymbol{\rho}}\)\(\def\bisigma{\boldsymbol{\sigma}}\)\(\def\bitau{\boldsymbol{\tau}}\)\(\def\biupsilon{\boldsymbol{\upsilon}}\)\(\def\biphi{\boldsymbol{\phi}}\)\(\def\bichi{\boldsymbol{\chi}}\)\(\def\bipsy{\boldsymbol{\psy}}\)\(\def\biomega{\boldsymbol{\omega}}\)\(\def\bupalpha{\bf{\alpha}}\)\(\def\bupbeta{\bf{\beta}}\)\(\def\bupgamma{\bf{\gamma}}\)\(\def\bupdelta{\bf{\delta}}\)\(\def\bupvarepsilon{\bf{\varepsilon}}\)\(\def\bupzeta{\bf{\zeta}}\)\(\def\bupeta{\bf{\eta}}\)\(\def\buptheta{\bf{\theta}}\)\(\def\bupiota{\bf{\iota}}\)\(\def\bupkappa{\bf{\kappa}}\)\(\def\buplambda{\bf{\lambda}}\)\(\def\bupmu{\bf{\mu}}\)\(\def\bupnu{\bf{\nu}}\)\(\def\bupxi{\bf{\xi}}\)\(\def\bupomicron{\bf{\micron}}\)\(\def\buppi{\bf{\pi}}\)\(\def\buprho{\bf{\rho}}\)\(\def\bupsigma{\bf{\sigma}}\)\(\def\buptau{\bf{\tau}}\)\(\def\bupupsilon{\bf{\upsilon}}\)\(\def\bupphi{\bf{\phi}}\)\(\def\bupchi{\bf{\chi}}\)\(\def\buppsy{\bf{\psy}}\)\(\def\bupomega{\bf{\omega}}\)\(\def\bGamma{\bf{\Gamma}}\)\(\def\bDelta{\bf{\Delta}}\)\(\def\bTheta{\bf{\Theta}}\)\(\def\bLambda{\bf{\Lambda}}\)\(\def\bXi{\bf{\Xi}}\)\(\def\bPi{\bf{\Pi}}\)\(\def\bSigma{\bf{\Sigma}}\)\(\def\bPhi{\bf{\Phi}}\)\(\def\bPsi{\bf{\Psi}}\)\(\def\bOmega{\bf{\Omega}}\)\({r_s} = 0.61,p \lt 0.01\)), and estimates of depth to clay layers were marginally correlated with observed values (\({r_s} = 047,p = 0.09\)). We also extracted attributes from GPR images to train a random forest regression model to predict coarse fragment percentage and percent clay content. GPR attributes were found to be good predictors of soil coarse fragments, with an R2 value of 0.81 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 18.82 for test data. Our results demonstrate GPR can provide valuable information on subsurface features in silvopastoral systems. These results also suggest a strong potential for machine learning algorithms in GPR data analytics. Data generated using these methods could be integrated with or used to validate existing digital soil mapping methods and contribute to better understanding of subsurface characteristics for optimized soil management in silvopastoral systems.
  PubDate: Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Numerical Study on Urban Infrastructure Diagnosis in Laterally
Heterogenous Soils Using Resistivity and Ground Penetrating Radar
Techniques
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  Abstract: ABSTRACTUrban environment can be considered a complex system consisting of the engineered pavement physical structure over the buried utilities (water, gas, sewer) network embedded in the background soil environment. Assessment of buried pipeline civil infrastructures using proximal geophysical methods in such instances has to consider possible interferences, difficulties, and incorrect inferences. In this study, we have conducted a numerical modelling investigation to understand and evaluate how electrical resistivity profiling (ERP) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be utilised to provide subsurface information that otherwise may not be possible if either one of the techniques is used. A model geometry consisting of a typical pavement structure (asphalt, base/subbase, and background soil) with a single 2 m pipe buried at a depth of 1 m was used. Strong lateral variations in soil type were incorporated over the short pipe section in order to understand the complexities that can arise, especially with ERP measurements. The 3D electrical resistivity measurements were simulated in Comsol using the 4-probe method, while the 2D GPR measurements were simulated in gprMax to obtain the subsurface information. The results from both ERP and GPR were used to develop a practical framework that can be utilised by relevant authorities for proximal condition assessment of their buried assets. It was suggested that ERP can be used as a first level screening tool over the whole pipeline length, followed by discretely selected GPR scans in order to further gain information on the pipe health. This is attractive practically since, following delineations of a large pipe section into shorter subsections, advanced condition assessment approaches that are generally intrusive in nature can then be economically deployed within the subsections suspected of experiencing significant corrosion damage.
  PubDate: Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Mapping Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) Across Sugarcane Fields with
Different Comparisons by Using DUALEM Data
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  Abstract: ABSTRACTThe sugarcane growing soil in far-north Queensland is sandy, and infertile. To ensure productivity, nutrient guidelines recommend lime application rates based on soil cation exchange capacity (CEC). However, laboratory determination of CEC is expensive. Because CEC is often correlated with soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa, mS/m) measured from electromagnetic induction (EM) instruments, ECa can be used to predict CEC. Using ECa may lead to uncertainty in prediction, but estimates of true electrical conductivity (σ, mS/m) generated from inversion of ECa, can be correlated with depth-specific CEC. In this study, we compared linear regression (LR) between ECa from a DUALEM-421S and CEC at specific depths (i.e., topsoil [0–0.3 m], subsurface [0.3–0.6 m], subsoil [0.6–0.9 m] and deep subsoil [0.9–1.2 m]), with a LR of σ using a quasi-2d (q-2d) or quasi-3d (q-3d) inversion of DUALEM-421S ECa and CEC at all depths. The use of a multiple linear regression (MLR) to predict CEC, using σ with depth and location ( i.e., Easting and Northing) is also explored along with σ from the other EM products (i.e., DUALEM-1S and DUALEM-21S). The minimum number of calibration sample locations (i.e., n = 165, 150,…, 15) is also investigated. The LR between ECa (e.g., 1mPcon) and CEC were very weak (R2 = 0.27) and weak (0.36) in the topsoil and subsurface, respectively, but moderate in the subsoil (0.57) and deep subsoil (0.67). The LR between σ, estimated from q-2d (R2 = 0.66) and q-3d (0.64) inversion of DUALEM-421S ECa, and CEC at all depths was moderate. In terms of prediction agreement, the Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC) was moderate for q-2d (0.79) and q-3d (0.75). Using a MLR with depth, coordinates and σ, led to an improvement in calibration using q-2d (R2 = 0.71) or q-3d (0.67), with prediction agreement substantial for q-2d (LCCC = 0.83) and moderate for q-3d (0.78), with comparable agreement from DUALEM-1S and DUALEM-2S (0.77) estimates of σ. The minimum number of calibration samples for a strong MLR R2 (>0.7) and substantial and good agreement was 15 for q-2d and 30 for q-3d, respectively. The final digital soil mapping of topsoil CEC developed using MLR and σ estimated from q-3d of DUALEM-421S ECa could be used to apply the Australian sugarcane industry lime application guidelines with areas with intermediate (3–6 cmol[+]/kg) and small (<3 cmol[+]/kg) topsoil CEC requiring 4 and 2.25 t/ha, respectively.
  PubDate: Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Author Biographies
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  PubDate: Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Integrated Agrogeophysical Approach for Investigating Soil Pipes in
Agricultural Fields
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  Abstract: ABSTRACTSoil erosion is one of the most significant challenges for soil management and agri-food production threatening human habitat and livelihood. Although soil erosion due to surficial processes is well-studied, erosion due to subsurface processes such as internal soil pipes has often been overlooked. Internal soil pipes directly contribute to the total soil loss in agricultural fields and impede agricultural sustainability. Locating, measuring, and mapping internal soil pipes and their networks are vital to assessing the total soil loss in agricultural fields. Their hidden and uncorrelated nature of subsurface occurrences constricts the applicability of manual and remote sensing-based detection techniques. Non-invasive agrogeophysical methods can overcome these limitations with detailed subsurface pictures and high spatial resolution. In this study, the applicability of three agrogeophysical methods including seismic refraction tomography (SRT), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was tested at Goodwin Creek, an experimental field site with established internal soil pipes. SRT showed low P and S wave velocities anomalies in soil pipe-affected zones. ERT results indicated the location of soil pipes with high resistivity anomalies. However, both SRT and ERT lack resolution to identify individual soil pipes. GPR diffraction hyperbolas and their apexes however effectively identified individual soil pipes. The agrogeophysical anomalies for soil pipes were compared with the low penetration resistance of the cone penetrologger (CPL) results. Correspondence between low PR in CPL and agrogeophysical anomalies verify the locations of internal soil pipe-affected zones. Moreover, the fragipan layer is identified below the soil pipe-affected zone by all three methods.
  PubDate: Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Introduction to the Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics
Special Issue on the Application of Proximal and Remote Sensing
Technologies to Soil Investigations
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  PubDate: Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT