Author: Dr. Arjun Mehta, Ms. Riya Sharma
Abstract: Groundwater seepage in earthen embankments poses a significant threat to the structural stability and safety of dams, levees, and irrigation canals. Traditional seepage detection techniques often require extensive manual inspection and invasive testing, which can be time-consuming and costly. Thermal Infrared (TIR) remote sensing has emerged as a non-invasive, cost-effective, and efficient technique to identify seepage zones by detecting thermal anomalies caused by temperature contrasts between infiltrating water and surrounding soils. This paper reviews the principles of TIR remote sensing applied to seepage detection, discusses the methods of data acquisition and processing, and analyzes the interpretation of thermal patterns in embankment monitoring. A case study is presented to demonstrate the use of satellite and UAV-based thermal imaging to map seepage in a large earthen dam. A table summarizing key thermal parameters used for seepage identification is included. Limitations, challenges, and future prospects of TIR sensing in geotechnical engineering are also discussed. The paper concludes that TIR remote sensing is a promising tool that supplements conventional techniques, enabling timely identification and mitigation of seepage-related failures.
Keywords: Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing, Groundwater Seepage, Earthen Embankments, Thermal Anomalies, UAV Thermal Imaging, Satellite Thermal Data, Embankment Stability
Full Issue
| View or download the full issue | PDF 58-63 |