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
Karst groundwater requires a 3D assessment of the geology. KARSYS is a deductive approach based on the geology of the site and the hydraulic principles governing karstification. On a defined site, the approach is deployed in 4 stages: (i) identification of the karstic properties of the aquifers, (ii) establishment of a 3D geological model of the aquifer units, (iii) establishment of a 3D hydrogeological model of the aquifers by integration of the hydrological data and (iv) identification and delimitation of the flow systems.
She ended up :
- the delimitation of spring basins;
- assessing the volume of the groundwater reserve;
- to a sketch of how water travels underground.
The functionalities of VisualKARSYSthe online service for building and viewing KARSYS models, are constantly being improved.
Recent developments also aim to integrate the results of KARSYS into the data model defined by the Confederation.
The 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 in particular.
Water protection
At the request of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the SISKA has finished updating the EPIK method for assessing the vulnerability of water catchments to pollution. The process includes the development of routines for mapping soil thickness and water infiltration in karst (karst map).
Instabilities
KarstALEA provides geologists with a practical method for assessing karstification. Developed for tunnel driving, it has been extended to predict instabilities and collapses. The method continues to evolve with each new application.
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