• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2005

This study, combining geophysical and environmental approaches, was undertaken to investigate the causes of secondary salinity in the Goondoola basin, in southwestern Queensland. Airborne radiometric, electromagnetic and ground electromagnetic datasets were acquired, along with data on soils and subsurface materials and groundwater. Relationships established between radiometric, elevation data, and measured material properties allowed us to generate predictive maps of surface materials and recharge potential. Greatest recharge to the groundwater is predicted to occur on the weathered bedrock rises surrounding the basin. Electromagnetic data (airborne, ground, and downhote), used in conjunction with soil and drillhole measurements, were used to quantify regolith salt store and to define the subsurface architecture. Conductivity measurements reflect soil salt distribution. However, deeper in the regolith, where the salt content is relatively constant, the AEM signal is influenced by changes in porosity or material type. This allowed the lateral distribution of bedrock weathering zones to be mapped. Salinisation in this area occurs because of local-andintermediate-scale processes, controlled strongly by regolith architecture. The present surface outbreak is the result of evaporative concentration above shallow saline groundwater, discharging at break of slope. The integration of surficial and subsurface datasets allowed the identification of similar landscape settings that are most at risk of developing salinity with groundwater rise. This information is now being used by local land managers to refine management choices that prevent excess recharge and further salt mobilisation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2011

The unsaturated soil column tests were carried out for weathered gneiss soil and weathered granite soil in order to obtain the relationship between rainfall intensity and infiltration velocity of rainfall on the basis of different unit weight conditions of soil. In this study, volumetric water content and pore water pressure were measured using TDR sensors and tensiometers at constant time interval. For the column test, three different unit weights were used as in-situ condition, loose condition and dense condition, and rainfall intensities were selected as 20 mm/h and 50 mm/h. In 20 mm/h rainfall intensity condition, average rainfall infiltration velocities for both gneiss and weathered granite soils were obtained as $2.854{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s ~ $1.297{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s for different unit weight values and $2.734{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s ~ $1.707{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s, respectively. In 50 mm/h rainfall intensity condition, rainfall infiltration velocities were obtained as $4.509{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s ~ $2.016{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s and $4.265{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s ~ $3.764{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s respectively. The test results showed that the higher rainfall intensity and the lower unit weight of soil, the faster average infiltration velocity. In addition, the weathered granite soils had faster rainfall infiltration velocities than those of the weathered gneiss soils except for the looser unit weight conditions. This is due to the fact that the weathered granite soil had more homogeneous particle size, smaller unit weight condition and larger porosity.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.1 s.50
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• pp.15-25
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• 2007

In general, the life and asset casualties that occur due to landslide or slope failure in urban areas are larger than that in rural areas. In order to reduce the casualties, a slope management program is necessary to categorize slopes based on properties and to manage them systematically. The slope management system is the establishment of the data base for the geological and geotechnical factor according to slope stability, and the utilization of the data base to manage slopes. The suitable system must develop to slopes in urban area through the survey, analysis and evaluation process. Based on the above necessity, the slope management program which is applicable to slope management in an urban area has been developed at Hwangryung Mt. in Busan as a target area. The developed slope management program has various functions such as slope ID number of each slope or sub-region of a mountain, making a slope data sheet, analysis and grouping of slope stability, and establishment of a data base. The slope management program is constructed by use of GIS, and the survey, test and analysis data according to all slopes can be input and edited into the program. The program can also be utilized practically by end users due to the convenient input, edition printing, management and operation of slope data. Therefore, the slope management system has been established on the application of the developed program in Busan which is located in slope area. As the system is widely applied to other cities, the slope in urban area can be managed systematically and the slope hazards can be minimized.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 2011

Unsaturated soil column tests were performed for weathered gneiss soil and weathered granite soil to assess the relationship between infiltration velocity and rainfall condition for different rainfall durations and for multiple rainfall events separated by dry periods of various lengths (herein, 'rainfall break duration'). The volumetric water content was measured using TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) sensors at regular time intervals. For the column tests, rainfall intensity was 20 mm/h and we varied the rainfall duration and rainfall break duration. The unit weight of weathered gneiss soil was designed 1.21 $g/cm^3$, which is lower than the in situ unit weight without overflow in the column. The in situ unit weight for weathered granite soil was designed 1.35 $g/cm^3$. The initial infiltration velocity of precipitation for the two weathered soils under total amount of rainfall as much as 200 mm conditions was $2.090{\times}10^{-3}$ to $2.854{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s and $1.692{\times}10^{-3}$ to $2.012{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s, respectively. These rates are higher than the repeated-infiltration velocities of precipitation under total amount of rainfall as much as 100 mm conditions ($1.309{\times}10^{-3}$ to $1.871{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s and $1.175{\times}10^{-3}$ to $1.581{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s, respectively), because the amount of precipitation under 200 mm conditions is more than that under 100 mm conditions. The repeated-infiltration velocities of weathered gneiss soil and weathered granite soil were $1.309{\times}10^{-3}$ to $2.854{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s and $1.175{\times}10^{-3}$ to $2.012{\times}10^{-3}$ cm/s, respectively, being higher than the first-infiltration velocities ($1.307{\times}10^{-2}$ to $1.718{\times}10^{-2}$ cm/s and $1.789{\times}10^{-2}$ to $2.070{\times}10^{-2}$ cm/s, respectively). The results reflect the effect of reduced matric suction due to a reduction in the amount of air in the soil.