TITLE:
Displaying Water Table Levels, Flow Direction for Predicting Construction Techniques Using Geographic Information: Case Study of Kumba (South West, Cameroon)
AUTHORS:
Benjamin Bahel, Blaise Bayiha Ngwem, Cyrille Sigue, Bepuaka Ekuka, Martin Molua Ndive, Alain Christian Bock Hyeng, Emmanuel Yamb, Sébastien Owona
KEYWORDS:
GIS, Prediction, Water Table Level, Kumba, Foundation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Civil Engineering,
Vol.13 No.2,
June
30,
2023
ABSTRACT: The rapid economic growth of the town present the matter of water issue
as a
problem to human life human life, construction life,
agriculture, etc. This study is to predict techniques of foundation
construction through the displaying of the water table at the
flow direction in the town of Kumba and GIS. It is characterized by a
significant research question which is the level of fall and rise in
groundwater levels within the town of Kumba and this influence on choice of
types of foundation in construction. This study is directed to decision makers,
and technicians of the construction field to develop policies facilitating the
supervision when building construction foundation by informing about water
level depth and its flow direction
in the town. To achieve this, depths of static water levels were measured in
over 200 randomly selected hand-dug wells in Kumba, after their geolocation and
data were collected during the dry season (November and March 2017) and during
the rainy season (between April and October 2017). Data were analyzed and
treated using Microsoft Excel and GIS software us as Golden Surfer, Global
Mapper, and ArcGIS. The results show variations of water level and those areas
that may threaten foundation construction. Quarter as Kumba Station, Mile 1,
Bulletin Street (Fongong Quarter), and parts of Fiango show that water table is
to deep water and proper for the shallow foundation but very hard for water
supply through borehole. Groundwater flow direction was revealed to be towards
the south and southeastern parts of Kumba. The significant of the study is to propose to the
technician the direct application on the field of chosen types of foundations
according to the quarter and proposed groundwater supply possibilities.