Our colleagues Luigi Benente and Taddeo Maria Fenoglio are among the authors of a geophysical study published in the Journal of Applied Geophysics (Elsevier). The research, conducted in southern Madagascar, applies an integrated approach to locate water resources in arid regions and led to the successful construction of three new water wells serving the local community.
The scientific article, titled "Integration of TDEM and HVSR surveys for water resources investigation in arid regions: The case of Horombe plateau, Madagascar", is the result of a collaboration between GD Test, the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Turin, and the association H4O Help for Optimism.
The village of Jangany, located on the Horombe plateau in southern Madagascar, is facing severe drought and water scarcity problems due to climate change and the prolongation of the dry season. In the absence of prior geological and geophysical data for the area, subsurface exploration was particularly complex.
The team integrated two non-invasive, highly portable geophysical methodologies:
- TDEM (Time Domain Electromagnetic Method): to identify variations in subsurface electrical resistivity and locate aquifers.
- HVSR (Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio): a passive seismic technique to define the geometry and depth of bedrock alterations.
The data integration made it possible to reconstruct the hydrogeological model of the site, identifying the main and most stable water resource in the aquifer hosted within the saprolite layer.
Based on the geophysical model developed, optimal drilling locations were identified. In February 2024, three new 60-meter-deep wells were drilled. The drillings fully confirmed the survey predictions, bringing to light an important source of drinking water for the local population.
This scientific and operational achievement once again demonstrates the effectiveness of the geophysical surveys applied by GD Test, even in complex settings and in support of high-impact social and humanitarian projects.
- ? Read the full study on ScienceDirect: Integration of TDEM and HVSR surveys for water resources investigation in arid regions
