Fusion of Remote Sensing and Applied Geophysics for Sinkholes Identification in Tabular Middle Atlas of Morocco (the Causse of El Hajeb): Impact on the Protection of Water Resource

Anselme Muzirafuti, Mustapha Boualoul, Giovanni Barreca, Abdelhamid Allaoui, Hmad Bouikbane, Stefania Lanza, Antonio Crupi and Giovanni Randazzo
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Anselme Muzirafuti: Laboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Moulay Ismail, BP. 11201 Zitoune, Meknes 50000, Morocco
Mustapha Boualoul: Laboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Moulay Ismail, BP. 11201 Zitoune, Meknes 50000, Morocco
Giovanni Barreca: Interreg Italia–Malta–Progetto: Pocket Beach Management & Remote Surveillance System, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy
Abdelhamid Allaoui: Laboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Moulay Ismail, BP. 11201 Zitoune, Meknes 50000, Morocco
Hmad Bouikbane: Laboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Moulay Ismail, BP. 11201 Zitoune, Meknes 50000, Morocco
Stefania Lanza: Interreg Italia–Malta–Progetto: Pocket Beach Management & Remote Surveillance System, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy
Antonio Crupi: Interreg Italia–Malta–Progetto: Pocket Beach Management & Remote Surveillance System, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy
Giovanni Randazzo: Interreg Italia–Malta–Progetto: Pocket Beach Management & Remote Surveillance System, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy

Resources, 2020, vol. 9, issue 4, 1-32

Abstract: The Causse of El Hajeb belongs to the Tabular Middle Atlas (TMA), in which thousands of karst landforms have been identified. Among them, collapse dolines and dissolution sinkholes have been highlighted as a source of environmental risks and geo-hazards. In particular, such sinkholes have been linked to the degradation of water quality in water springs located in the junction of the TMA and Saïss basin. Furthermore, the developments of collapse dolines in agricultural and inhabited areas enhance the risk of life loss, injury, and property damage. Here, the lack of research on newly formed cavities has exacerbated the situation. The limited studies using remote sensing or geophysical methods to determine the degree of karstification and vulnerability of this environment fail to provide the spatial extent and depth location of individual karst cavities. In order to contribute to the effort of sinkhole risk reduction in TMA, we employed remote sensing and geophysical surveys to integrate electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) for subsurface characterization of four sinkholes identified in the Causse of El Hajeb. The results revealed the existence of sinkholes, both visible and non-accessible at the surface, in carbonate rocks. The sinkholes exhibited distinct morphologies, with depths reaching 35 m. Topography, geographic coordinates and land cover information extracted on remote sensing data demonstrated that these cavities were developed in depressions in which agricultural activities are regularly performed. The fusion of these methods benefits from remote sensing in geophysical surveys, particularly in acquisition, georeferencing, processing and interpretation of geophysical data. Furthermore, our proposed method allows identification of the protection perimeter required to minimize the risks posed by sinkholes.

Keywords: karst; doline; dolomite; Sentinel-2; geo-hazards; electrical resistivity tomography; self-potential; water protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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