By Adopting Geophysical Techniques.. A Seminar at the College of Engineering Discusses the Risks of Rising Groundwater on Soil and Structures

The College of Engineering at the University of Samarra organized a specialized scientific seminar entitled \”Assessment of Groundwater Levels in Some Neighborhoods of Samarra City and Their Geological Impact,\” delivered by Assistant Lecturer Ruqaya Zaham Khalaf.
The seminar discussed the structural and environmental challenges resulting from the rise in groundwater levels and its direct impact on the engineering properties of the soil in the city, which is located within the unstable shelf.
For her part, the researcher presented the results of using the two-dimensional (2D) electrical resistivity imaging technique via the (ABEM Terrameter LS) device, with data analysis conducted using the (RES2DINV) software. The study covered four vital sites, revealing variations in the depths of the main aquifer, which appeared at levels ranging between (16) and (17) meters. Additionally, subsurface water accumulations were detected in some locations, starting from very shallow levels close to the ground surface, particularly in the \”Al-Shurta Neighborhood,\” which showed a clear water depression compared to neighboring districts.
The seminar concluded that fluctuations in water levels and increased moisture lead to a weakening of soil cohesion and the emergence of complex geological problems, including the swelling of clayey soils and the dissolution of minerals in gypsiferous soils. This causes the formation of subsurface cavities and land subsidence that threatens the stability of foundations and structures, necessitating the adoption of precise engineering solutions and geotechnical treatments to mitigate the degradation of soil stability in the affected areas.