ERT i GPR – geofizyczne metody badań podłoża wykorzystywane w budownictwie liniowym

Correct determination of subgrade layers and properties is fundamental for later design and construction stages. Results obtained using traditional geotechnical tests are always of an overly specific nature - information is only provided in certain points in the field. Number of test points and the accuracy of results’ interpretation among them influence the design of an engineering structure foundation, which greatly impacts the cost of a project. Also, the lack of soil testing or insufficient investigation of soil conditions can be the reason for all kinds of legal claims from contractors which often exceed the whole investment budget by several or even several dozen percent. In order to prevent that situation new directives for geotechnical testing include additional geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground penetrating radar (GPR). These non-invasive methods can give a spatial image and thus improve the accuracy of soil strata identification. However, these methods have also disadvantages and inaccuracies related to the measurement principles and interpretation of the results. This paper presents limitations and possible errors of geophysical methods ERT and GPR based on example tests carried out for road and railway engineering structures.