Data Fusion of ERT and Infiltration Tests, Using Bayesian Maximum Entropy to Mapping Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity

Abstract

Summary Soil infiltration is used as an outlet for the discharge of domestic treated wastewater. The sizing of these infiltration areas in a heterogeneous soil context is difficult, due in particular to the spatial measurement of saturated hydraulic conductivity, which is costly and time-consuming to implement. Nowaday, there is no adequate technique for evaluating the variability of satured hydraulic conductivity for a heterogeneous soil. The development of a methodology for the spatial characterization of soil properties is essential. We demonstrate here the benefit of using Bayesian Maximum Entropy data fusion to obtain a 2D representation of the infiltration capacity of heterogeneous soils. This tool opens up prospects for improving the sizing of infiltration areas, in context of heterogeneous soil.