Mapping shallow subsurface to identify sinkhole formation in urban areas using ground penetration radar: a case study from Hyderabad, India

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey can be used to image geological hazards such as cavities, faults, fissures and also for identifying buried utilities. Sinkholes formed in the Secunderabad-Patny stretch road, Hyderabad, India were speculated to have been caused due to leaking from the sewer pipe. GPR survey using 200 MHz antenna was used in order to study the sinkholes formed in the collapsed area. GPR profiles were taken both parallel to and perpendicular to the road section to get a complete 3D visualization. Subsurface images acquired the marked position of the manholes, cavities, loose soil, different utilities, and sewer pipeline in the area. The results showed that there was no leaking in the sewer pipeline, instead, a water pipeline was damaged due to poor maintenance. Thus, GPR can be efficiently used to delineate the subsurface infrastructure and has further played an important role in identifying, delineating the zone of sinkhole in a busy street in Secunderabad.