Integrating GPR and geostatistical techniques to map the spatial extent of a shallow groundwater system

The integration of a non-destructive geophysical technique like ground penetrating radar (GPR) with a kriging geostatistical procedure is a promising and economic approach to mapping shallow groundwater systems. It may be used to establish a network of contouring control points in order to generate a reliable groundwater surface map. This paper attempts to explore the capability of the approach by conducting a case study in eastern Saudi Arabia and to evaluate its results under the condition of borehole deficiency. A detailed block diagram is given which reflects the existence of a shallow groundwater system with a hydraulic gradient of 0.001 towards the ESE. The pilot study described in this paper indicates the potential of the method for exploring shallow groundwater systems, determining aquifer boundaries and mapping the extent and fate of contaminated groundwater without installing many piezometers.