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ABSTRACT
Electrical resistivity tomography is a geophysical method that was used to characterize the subsurface soil in Owanoba community along Benin Sapele road, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A multi-electrode resistivity meter (ABEM Terrameter SAS 4000) was used for data acquisition on the field using a Wenner alpha array, and the data were subjected to an inversion using RES2DINV computer software for analysis and interpretation. The study aimed to characterize the subsurface geoelectric structures for engineering and groundwater development purposes. Four traverses, each 200 meters in length, were investigated, covering a total depth of 39.6 meters. The resistivity distributions revealed three distinct geoelectric layers across the profiles. The topsoil layer, ranging from 0 to 5 meters in depth, exhibited resistivity values indicative of loose sand prone to erosion. Beneath this, a layer suspected to be dry sand was identified, ranging from 5 to 24.9 meters in depth, with relatively higher resistivity values. Below 24.9 meters, partially saturated sand was observed, indicating a zone not suitable for groundwater development. Despite the unsuitability for groundwater, the sandy materials comprising the geoelectric layers were deemed competent for engineering structures. This study provides valuable insights into the subsurface conditions of Owanoba community, essential for infrastructure planning and development in the region.
