Application of integrated geophysical methods to investigate the cause of ground subsidence of the highly civilized area

Ground subsidence has occurred in the downtown of Muan-eup in Korea. Integrated geophysical survey, including two-dimensional resistivity, CSMT(Controlled source magnetotelluric), magnetic, borehole logging, GPR and resistivity tomography, has been conducted to investigate the cause of subsidence and ground conditions. Since the target area is in the city downtown, there were no spaces for surface geophysical methods. To get regional geology and to facilitate the detailed geophysical interpretation in the survey area, two-dimensional resistivity, CSMT and magnetic surveys have been applied in the outer region of the downtown. From these results, we could accurately define the Gwangju fault system and estimate the geologic conditions in the downtown. For the detailed survey of the downtown area, resistivity tomography and borehole logging data have been acquired using a few tens of densely located boreholes. Among these survey results, borehole logging data provided the guide to classification of the rock type and we could define the geologic boundary of granite and limestone formations. From the resistivity tomograms of 42 sections, which are densely located enough to be interpreted in a three-dimensional manner, we could delineate the possible weak zones or cavities in the limestone formations. In particular, resistivity tomograms in the subsided area showed the real image of ground subsidence. The map of hazardous zone has been derived from the joint interpretation of these survey results and we could provide the possible reinforcement strategy in this area.