Author(s): Maria Paula Mendes; Ana Paula Falcao; Nuno Afonso; Miguel Esteves; Maria Catarina Paz
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Abstract: The Lisbon botanical Garden, dating back to the 19th century, is home to nearly 18,000 of plants species from around the world. As construction work is being planned that involves soil excavation near the garden boundaries, it is crucial to establish whether tree roots can access the groundwater level in the area potentially affected by this work. Given the garden´s natural and historical significance, our research was conducted using non-invasive techniques, such as nearsurface geophysics. Specifically, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) were employed to assess tree root depth and establish the saturated zone, respectively. The applied methodology allowed us to determine that: (1) groundwater levels were higher in May 2021 compared to October 2020, ranging between 3 and 2.7 meters, and 4 and 3 meters, and (2) the mean root system depth is approximately between 2.5 and 3.0 meters. The results obtained will assist in defining mitigation measures and guidelines to prevent the loss of these important species.
Year: 2024