Landslide evaluation applying electrical tomography techniques: study case San José de Aloburo, Pimampiro,Imbabura

Landslides affect millions of people annually in the mountainous regions of Latin America, resulting in significant economic, human and structural losses (Carrasco et al., 2011). The San José de Aloburo landslide, located in Imbabura-Ecuador, occurred in November 2021, significantly changing the landscape as well as the increase of the substantial damage to the locality. Vásquez et al. (2021) characterized it as a complex rotational landslide, highlighting its geomorphological and stratigraphical particularities. This study aims to integrate geophysical and geological approaches to further analyze the internal structure and physical properties of the materials involved in the landslide.The methodology included the application of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles (Perrone, 2014), using low-cost equipment, suitable for the economic context of the region. It allowed to identify variations in the subsurface resistivity. Stratigraphic columns were constructed also to analyze the interlaying and composition of the displaced geological strata. In addition, a granulometric analysis was carried out on a representative sample to evaluate the particle size distribution.The results reveal significant variations in resistivity associated with the distribution of the displaced materials and the presence of complex internal morphology. Likewise, the integration of geophysical and geological data allowed a more precise delineation of the rupture zone, the depth of displacement and the characteristics of the materials involved. These findings provide valuable information for understanding landslide processes in the region and monitoring this type of events with the additional advantage of being economically accessible.Keywords: Landslides, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), Geophysical IntegrationReferences:Carrasco, J., et al. (2011). Impactos del cambio climático, adaptación y desarrollo en las regiones montañosas de América latina. Ministeriode Relaciones Exteriores, Gobierno de Chile-Alianza para las Montañas-FAO-Banco Mundial.Perrone, A., et al. (2014) Electrical resistivity tomography technique for landslide investigation: A review. Earth-Science Reviews, 135 , 65-82.Vázquez, Y., et al. (2021). Informe técnico sobre el movimiento en masa ocurrido en san José de Aloburo (noviembre/2021), Pimampiro,Imbabura. Escuela de Ciencias de la Tierra, Energía y Ambiente, Yachay Tech.