Dike inspections

Dijkonderzoek met geo-electrische metingen

Weak spots in dikes can be detected quickly and efficiently with geophysical dike research. This can be done from ground level, but also from the air with the help of a drone. Possible applications of geophysical techniques in dike research are:

Deformation measurements
Seepage (water) detection: each dike allows water to pass through under normal circumstances. If a dike is overloaded by extreme conditions, it will let more water through than normal.
Piping: these are sand tracks in or under the dike, through which a lot of water can flow. As a result, there is a chance that soil will be washed away, weakening the dike.
Detecting presence of and damage caused by muskrats.

Geo-electrical measurements

Geo-electrical measurements (resistance measurements) are an electrical research technique that determines the resistance of the subsurface in a non-destructive way. This technique can be used in dike inspections if the subsurface has to be accurately mapped in order to record geological structures with a high resistance or a resistance that deviates from the surroundings. The depth range of the measurements varies from a few meters to a depth of more than 500 meters.

Dike inspections with Drone technology

T&A Survey Drone Services performs dike inspections with a drone equipped with various techniques such as infrared (IR) thermography and photogrammetry. Read more about Dike inspections with drones.

Techniques for dike inspections