CHARACTERIZING KARST CAVITIES USING REMOTE SENSOR TECHNOLOGY

Improved characterization of karst cavities would benefit a broad range of applications such as geotechnical evaluations, hydrogeological assessments, and general cave and solutional cavity mapping. Most cavities are inaccessible to safe entry and, therefore the cave extent, morphology, and hydrological environment remain largely unknown. To meet this need, a new class of sensors is being developed to allow for the remote characterization of karst cavities. Both autonomous and tethered sensors have been developed to characterize the size, orientation, and morphology of karst cavities. As demonstrated in this technology, an autonomous buoyant sensor mapped the cave morphology and flow in a known stream cave, and a tethered sensor mapped a partially water-filled crevasse-shaped cavity via a borehole. Preliminary survey results from these surveys suggest that remote sensor technology can provide a valuable, safe, and economical opportunity to characterize karst cavity morphology and groundwater flow characteristics in caves and solutional cavities that cannot be directly accessed.