Three Dimensional Aggregate Resource Visualisation using Geo-Electrical Tomography

3D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is one of the most significant geophysical imaging developments of recent years. Despite its suitability and the potential benefits it has not been applied to sand and gravel resources. The main barrier to take-up is the lack of an appropriate data processing and presentation system, to allow knowledge relevant to commercial operations to be visualised by site personnel. The project aims to link 3D ERT, existing GIS, borehole data and other relevant site-specific contextual information to provide non-invasive visualisation and evaluation of complex sand and gravel deposits. This will provide a decision support and data management tool. This is timely as many UK sand and gravel deposits now being exploited are complex (e.g. glacial and Greensand deposits), displaying a high degree of structural and compositional heterogeneity.