Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning
Understanding the distribution and extent of solution features such as cavities and pinnacles in limestone bedrock is crucial for anticipating potential challenges and planning appropriate foundation solutions. This study employed microgravity surveying to complement available borehole data and map...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2025
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25807/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25807/1/SME%203.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848816455429128192 |
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| author | Nordiana Mohd Muztaza, Thanath Gopalan, Nur Amanina Mazlan, Jamaludin Othman, Nazrin Rahman, Najmiah Rosli, Rosli Saad, Farid Najmi Rosli, Athirah Rosli, Bashir, Yasir |
| author_facet | Nordiana Mohd Muztaza, Thanath Gopalan, Nur Amanina Mazlan, Jamaludin Othman, Nazrin Rahman, Najmiah Rosli, Rosli Saad, Farid Najmi Rosli, Athirah Rosli, Bashir, Yasir |
| author_sort | Nordiana Mohd Muztaza, |
| building | UKM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Understanding the distribution and extent of solution features such as cavities and pinnacles in limestone bedrock is crucial for anticipating potential challenges and planning appropriate foundation solutions. This study employed microgravity surveying to complement available borehole data and map karst features, particularly cavities, within the limestone bedrock. The survey was conducted on a 5 m × 5 m grid interval, establishing a total of 91 stations. Reduced Bouguer and residual anomalies were contoured and plotted using the GEOSOFT Oasis Montaj Mapping system. Anomalies of interest were further analyzed through 2-D gravity modeling using PotentQ software to determine the dimensions of the causative bodies. The survey results, presented as Bouguer, residual, and Bouguer anomaly horizontal gradient maps, showed a small range of gravity values (-9.24 to -9.10 mGal), indicating minimal variation in limestone bedrock topography. Gravity highs were associated with shallow limestone bedrock, while isolated gravity lows suggested the presence of cavities. Horizontal gradient maps highlighted peaks corresponding to the edges of these cavities and potential channel-like features. Borehole data corroborated the microgravity findings, with bedrock encountered at depths between 9.6 m and 12.3 m indicating deeper bedrock towards the south. The 2-D gravity modeling suggested a sediment-filled cavity approximately 7 m thick and 15 m wide in an east-west orientation, aligning well with borehole data. The combined use of borehole data and microgravity surveying proved effective in characterizing subsurface karst features, providing valuable insights for foundation planning leading to safer and more efficient construction practices. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T01:06:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:generic.eprints.org:25807 |
| institution | Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T01:06:09Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | oai:generic.eprints.org:258072025-09-04T02:12:44Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25807/ Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning Nordiana Mohd Muztaza, Thanath Gopalan, Nur Amanina Mazlan, Jamaludin Othman, Nazrin Rahman, Najmiah Rosli, Rosli Saad, Farid Najmi Rosli, Athirah Rosli, Bashir, Yasir Understanding the distribution and extent of solution features such as cavities and pinnacles in limestone bedrock is crucial for anticipating potential challenges and planning appropriate foundation solutions. This study employed microgravity surveying to complement available borehole data and map karst features, particularly cavities, within the limestone bedrock. The survey was conducted on a 5 m × 5 m grid interval, establishing a total of 91 stations. Reduced Bouguer and residual anomalies were contoured and plotted using the GEOSOFT Oasis Montaj Mapping system. Anomalies of interest were further analyzed through 2-D gravity modeling using PotentQ software to determine the dimensions of the causative bodies. The survey results, presented as Bouguer, residual, and Bouguer anomaly horizontal gradient maps, showed a small range of gravity values (-9.24 to -9.10 mGal), indicating minimal variation in limestone bedrock topography. Gravity highs were associated with shallow limestone bedrock, while isolated gravity lows suggested the presence of cavities. Horizontal gradient maps highlighted peaks corresponding to the edges of these cavities and potential channel-like features. Borehole data corroborated the microgravity findings, with bedrock encountered at depths between 9.6 m and 12.3 m indicating deeper bedrock towards the south. The 2-D gravity modeling suggested a sediment-filled cavity approximately 7 m thick and 15 m wide in an east-west orientation, aligning well with borehole data. The combined use of borehole data and microgravity surveying proved effective in characterizing subsurface karst features, providing valuable insights for foundation planning leading to safer and more efficient construction practices. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25807/1/SME%203.pdf Nordiana Mohd Muztaza, and Thanath Gopalan, and Nur Amanina Mazlan, and Jamaludin Othman, and Nazrin Rahman, and Najmiah Rosli, and Rosli Saad, and Farid Najmi Rosli, and Athirah Rosli, and Bashir, Yasir (2025) Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning. Sains Malaysiana, 54 (6). pp. 1465-1475. ISSN 0126-6039 https://www.ukm.my/jsm/english_journals/vol54num6_2025/contentsVol54num6_2025.html |
| spellingShingle | Nordiana Mohd Muztaza, Thanath Gopalan, Nur Amanina Mazlan, Jamaludin Othman, Nazrin Rahman, Najmiah Rosli, Rosli Saad, Farid Najmi Rosli, Athirah Rosli, Bashir, Yasir Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning |
| title | Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning |
| title_full | Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning |
| title_fullStr | Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning |
| title_short | Utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning |
| title_sort | utilizing gravity surveys for subsurface feature identification in foundation planning |
| url | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25807/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25807/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25807/1/SME%203.pdf |