| Abstrakt: |
Surface–subsurface soil-rock modeling is crucial for infrastructure design and borehole groundwater yield optimization, especially in terrains like Penang Island, Malaysia, prone to soil and slope instabilities exacerbated by heavy rainfall. With the increasing demand for potable water due to population growth and tourism, this study provides vital insights into sustainable groundwater management and infrastructure development. Optimized geophysical–geotechnical methods, including regression modeling, were employed to integrate seismic P-wave velocity (Vp) and resistivity models with borehole lithologic logs, revealing distinct soil-rock characteristics and deep-weathered/fractured zones. The study area’s eastern to northern sections exhibit thick, saturated, and loose silty to sandy bodies, contrasting with sandy compositions and penetrative fractures in the southern part. Good correlations between rock quality designation (RQD) and standard penetration tests (SPT N-values) were observed, with intra-bedrock weathered/fractured unit depths varying between 12 and > 35 m. Suitable foundation sites were identified at sections with high RQD values (> 90% at Site 1) and N-values (> 50 at Sites 1 and 3). However, pile foundations were recommended due to varied weak and water-filled zones. It is important to investigate deep sections and the site-specific nature of the uncovered areas, necessitating validation in terrains with comparable geology. Nevertheless, the established lithology-based empirical relationships offer significant benefits for geophysical–geotechnical studies, reducing associated costs across large areas. |
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