20 Undergraduate Research

Session showcases undergraduate research. Topics include geoscience-related fields (e.g., resources, hydrology, oceanography, climate, environmental science, geospatial, informatics, health, policy, & education). Undergraduate student/s must be the lead author/s presenters with faculty mentor/s as co-author/s. This session welcomes both poster and oral presentation submissions.

Tuesday, 10 March 2026
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
RCC, 106

Using Electrical Resistivity Methods to Detect Subterranean Karst Features

Paper number: 20-7
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:05 AM – 10:20 AM

Authors

Abstract

Karst features in carbonate rocks can pose hazards such as caves that later develop into sinkholes. To mitigate damage from karst erosion beneath structures, we can locate underground voids with geophysical methods. We chose to use electrical resistivity (ER) to investigate potential underground karst features at the New River Valley Commerce Park. The area consists of a bedrock of Limestone and Dolomite, and two ponds with apparent sinkholes. Using an AGI SuperSting, we measured ER along 14 transects, using a dipole-dipole array, to investigate karst geometry between these two ponds. To process our data, we used the software ResIPy and were able to create 2D and Pseudo 3D models of our data. Through our interpretations we located subterranean karst features spanning through multiple transects that are on land that will be developed in the future.  

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411871

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