The Utilization of Remote Sensing Imagery and Inverse Distance Weighted Scheme to Simulate the White Oil Effects on Soil Geotechnical Properties

Abstract

     This research aims to utilize a complementarity of field excavations and laboratory works with spatial analyses techniques for a highly accurate modeling of soil geotechniques properties (i.e. having lower root mean square error value for the spatial interpolation). This was conducted, for a specified area of interest, firstly by adopting spatially sufficient and  well distributed samples (cores). Then, in the second step, a simulation is performed for the variations in properties when soil is contaminated with commonly used industrial material, which is white oil in our case. Cohesive (disturbed and undisturbed) soil samples were obtained from three various locations inside Baghdad University campus in AL-Jadiriya section of Baghdad, Iraq. The unified soil categorization system (USCS) was adopted and soil was categorized  as clayey silt of low plasticity (CL). The cores were contaminated in a synthetically manner using two specified values of white oil (5 and 10 % of its dry weight). Then, the samples were left for three days to certify homogeneity. The results of laboratory tests were enhanced by spatial interpolation mapping, using Inverse Distance Weighted scheme for normal soil samples and those with synthetic pollution. The liquid limit rates were raised slightly as contamination rates raised, while particle size was reduced; in contrary, shear strength parameter values were decreased.