ABSTRACT
HYDROGEOPHYSICAL ANALYSIS OF SUBSURFACE ARCHITECTURE AND AQUIFER VULNERABILITY USING 3D ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY IMAGING
Journal: Earth Science Malaysia (ESMY)
Nosayaba Avenbuan, Osazee Japheth Joh
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
Doi: 10.26480/esmy.01.2025.38.42
This study applies three-dimensional (3D) electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), integrated with borehole log data, to investigate subsurface architecture and aquifer vulnerability at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Football Field, Edo State, Nigeria. The site, situated within the hydro-geologically significant Benin Formation, revealed a stratified subsurface comprising six distinct layers. Borehole log correlation confirmed the identification of sandy strata between 10.0 m and 17.4 m as primary aquifer zones with high porosity and permeability, underlain by compacted sandstones and crystalline bedrock that serve as structural markers and natural hydraulic barriers. Vulnerability analysis using the GOD model classified the aquifer as moderately susceptible to contamination due to thin clay protective layers and increasing urbanisation pressures. This research underscores the novel application of 3D ERI alongside borehole data to enhance subsurface characterisation and aquifer delineation in complex urban terrains. The findings provide actionable insights for groundwater resource management and environmental protection, with recommendations for multi-method geophysical surveys and hydrogeological modelling to optimise resource utilisation and safeguard aquifers against contamination.
| Pages | 38-42 |
| Year | 2025 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Volume | 9 |
