Electrical resistivity application for road failure assessment at an industrial hub in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract This paper employs the geophysical surveying technique of two-dimensional electrical resistivity imaging (2D ERI) for gaining insights into the causes of incessant road failures being encountered at an industrial hub, along Idiroko Road, in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. These utilises occupation of three traverses, each of 100 m for the 2D ERI, constituting a control of a stable road portion, and a stable and unstable portions of a crucial turning along the dual carriage highway of Idiroko Road in Ota. The obtained 2D ERI measurements were rendered to the processing of the RES2DINV software for the derivation of the 2D resistivity inverse model. Results show that the portions of the roads that are stable exhibited higher values of apparent resistivity compared to portions exhibiting frequent road failures. Ensuing sub-surface layer characterisations by the 2D ERI revealed geo-electrical layers exhibiting permeable soil formations that allow water to percolate in the stable portion of the road while the unstable portion depicted presence of water in an impermeable soil formation. These engender recommendations for road construction durability issues that can culminate into system of sustainable road network at the studied industrial hub location in Ogun State, Nigeria.