Development
Sensors for temperature, pressure, CO2, air velocity and sometimes other parameters (e.g. radon) are needed to understand the underground climate and variations in water levels.
Most instruments on the market perform poorly in this demanding environment (very high humidity, aquatic and/or muddy conditions, lack of electricity, etc.). The SISKA develops and tests its instruments in the field and develops solutions adapted to each case of study.
The SISKA develops and proposes specific methods for characterising and managing the karstic environment.
Water resources
Understanding karst groundwater requires a 3D assessment of the geology. KARSYS is a deductive approach based on the geology of a site and the hydraulic principles governing karstification. Once a site is defined, SISKA deploys a 4 step approach: (i) identifying the karstic properties of the aquifers, (ii) establishing a 3D geological model of aquifer units, (iii) generating a 3D hydrogeological model through integration of hydrological data and (iv) identification and delimitation of flow systems.
This results in:
- the delimitation of spring basins;
- the volumetric assessment of groundwater resources;
- a model of underground water flow paths.
The functionality of VisualKARSYS,the online service for building and viewing KARSYS models, is constantly being improved.
Recent developments also aim to integrate the results of KARSYS into the data model defined by the Confederation.
SISKA develops and applies KarstMOD (hydrological and hydraulic models) to simulate groundwater dynamics and thus assess recharge (effective infiltration), storage, and discharge from one or more outlets.
Water protection
At the request of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), SISKA has finished updating the EPIK method for assessing the vulnerability of water catchments to pollution. The process includes the development of protocols for mapping soil thickness and water infiltration in karst (karst map).
Instabilities
KarstALEA provides geologists with a practical method for assessing karstification. While initially developed for tunneling, it has been extended to predict instabilities and collapses. The method continues to evolve with each new application.
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