Application of satellite remote sensing in geological environment investigation; Development of a geobotanical remote sensing method for estimating high water table areas in a humid warm-temperate region

Koide, Kaoru

JAEA-Research 2023-003, 101 Pages, 2023/06

JAEA-Research-2023-003.pdf:14.08MB

This study developed a geobotanical remote sensing method for estimating high water table areas such as groundwater discharge points using differences in the growth conditions of forest trees induced by moisture supply from groundwater in a humid warm-temperate forest area. A new vegetation index (VI) termed AgbNDVI (Added green band NDVI) was proposed to discriminate the differences. The AgbNDVI proved to be more sensitive to water stress on green vegetation than existing VIs: SAVI and EVI2, and possessed a strong linear correlation with the vegetation fraction. To validate the proposed method, a 23 km study area was selected in the Tono region of Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. The AgbNDVI values were calculated from atmospheric corrected SPOT HRV data. To correctly detect high VI points, the influence factors on tree growth were identified using the AgbNDVI values, DEM and forest type data; the study area was then divided into 555 segments according to combinations of the influence factors: elevation, slope gradient, slope aspect and forest type. Thresholds for detecting high VI points were defined for each segment based on a histogram of AgbNDVI values. By superimposing the high VI points on topographic and geologic maps, most of the high VI points are clearly located on the concave/convex slopes and near the geologic boundaries prone to groundwater runoff. In addition, field investigations support the correctness of the high VI points, because the growth increments and biomass of trees () are greater than at points other than the high VI points, and they are located around known groundwater seeps and in a high water table area. Consequently, the proposed method can be expected to provide useful information for characterizing hydrogeological structures by combining with conventional photo-geological interpretation.

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Plan for fiscal year 2017

Ishibashi, Masayuki; Hama, Katsuhiro; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Matsui, Hiroya; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Ikeda, Koki; Mikake, Shinichiro; Iyatomi, Yosuke; Sasao, Eiji; Koide, Kaoru

JAEA-Review 2017-019, 29 Pages, 2017/10

JAEA-Review-2017-019.pdf:3.21MB

The Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) project is being pursued by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to enhance the reliability of geological disposal technologies through investigations of the deep geological environment in the crystalline host rock (granite) at Mizunami City in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. On the occasion of the reform of the entire JAEA organization in 2014, JAEA identified three important issues on the geoscientific research program: "Development of countermeasure technologies for reducing groundwater inflow", "Development of modelling technologies for mass transport" and "Development of drift backfilling technology", based on the latest results of the synthesizing research and development (R&D). These R&D on three remaining important issues have been carrying out on the MIU project. This report summarizes the R&D activities planned for fiscal year 2017 based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2015 and so on.

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Annual report for fiscal year 2014

Hama, Katsuhiro; Mikake, Shinichiro; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Sasao, Eiji; Kuwabara, Kazumichi; Ueno, Tetsuro; Onuki, Kenji*; Beppu, Shinji; Onoe, Hironori; Takeuchi, Ryuji; et al.

JAEA-Review 2015-024, 122 Pages, 2015/11

JAEA-Review-2015-024.pdf:80.64MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) is pursuing a geoscientific research and development project namely the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in crystalline rock environment in order to construct scientific and technical basis for geological disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW). The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase III, as the Phase II was concluded for a moment with the completion of the excavation of horizontal tunnels at GL-500m level in February 2014. This report presents the results of the investigations, construction and collaboration studies in fiscal year 2014.

Synthesized research report in the second mid-term research phase; Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project and Geo-stability Project

Hama, Katsuhiro; Mizuno, Takashi; Sasao, Eiji; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Sato, Toshinori; Fujita, Tomoo; Sasamoto, Hiroshi; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Yokota, Hideharu; et al.

JAEA-Research 2015-007, 269 Pages, 2015/08

JAEA-Research-2015-007.pdf:68.65MB
JAEA-Research-2015-007(errata).pdf:0.07MB

We have synthesised the research results from Mizunami/Horonobe URLs and geo-stability projects in the second mid-term research phase. It could be used as technical bases for NUMO/Regulator in each decision point from sitting to beginning of disposal (Principal Investigation to Detailed Investigation Phase). High quality construction techniques and field investigation methods have been developed and implemented and these will be directly applicable to the National Disposal Program (along with general assessments of hazardous natural events and processes). It will be crucial to acquire technical knowledge on decisions of partial backfilling and final closure by actual field experiments in Mizunami/Horonobe URLs as main themes for the next phases.

Current status of R&D activities and future plan and role of JAEA's two generic URLs

Koide, Kaoru; Osawa, Hideaki; Ito, Hiroaki; Tanai, Kenji; Semba, Takeshi; Naito, Morimasa; Sugihara, Kozo; Miyamoto, Yoichi

Annual Waste Management Symposium (WM 2015), Vol.5, p.3631 - 3645, 2015/00

JAEA has promoted R&D on HLW geological disposal technology. JAEA launched the Mizunami and the Horonobe URL Projects to cover the diversity of geological environments in Japan. The Mizunami URL Project is a geoscientific research project in the crystalline rock environment. The Horonobe URL Project consists of geoscientific studies and R&D on geological disposal technology in the sedimentary rock environment. Both URL projects have been planned to proceed in three overlapping phases, Surface-based investigation Phase, Construction Phase and Operation Phase. Currently, the construction of research galleries in both of the Mizunami and the Horonobe URLs has been completed to 500 m and 350 m depths, respectively. JAEA will promote R&D activities in Phase III including study of the long-term evolution of the geological environment, and contribute to international cooperation, development of human resources and communication amongst stakeholders through both URL projects.

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Plan for fiscal year 2014

Hama, Katsuhiro; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Sasao, Eiji; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Ikeda, Koki; Sato, Toshinori; Osawa, Hideaki; Koide, Kaoru

JAEA-Review 2014-035, 34 Pages, 2014/10

JAEA-Review-2014-035.pdf:44.83MB

The Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) project is being pursued by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to enhance the reliability of relevant disposal technologies through investigations of the deep geological environment within the host crystalline rock at Mizunami City in Gifu, central Japan. The project proceeds in three overlapping phases, "Phase I: Surface-based investigation Phase", "Phase II: Construction Phase" and "Phase III: Operation Phase". The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase III, as the Phase II was concluded for a moment with the completion of the excavation of horizontal tunnels at GL-500m level in February 2014. The present report summarizes the research and development activities planned for fiscal year 2014 based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2010.

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Annual report for fiscal year 2012

Hama, Katsuhiro; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Sasao, Eiji; Hikima, Ryoichi*; Tanno, Takeo*; Sanada, Hiroyuki; Onoe, Hironori; et al.

JAEA-Review 2013-050, 114 Pages, 2014/02

JAEA-Review-2013-050.pdf:19.95MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) is pursuing a geoscientific research and development project namely the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in crystalline rock environment in order to construct scientific and technological basis for geological disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW). The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase II and the Phase III in fiscal year 2012. This report presents the results of the investigations, construction and collaboration studies in fiscal year 2012, as a part of the Phase II and Phase III based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2010.

Re-interpretation of data obtained by airborne geophysical survey using helicopter

Hasegawa, Ken; Yamada, Nobuto; Endo, Yoshinobu*; Koide, Kaoru

JAEA-Research 2013-028, 83 Pages, 2013/12

JAEA-Research-2013-028.pdf:18.29MB

To evaluate the applicability of the airborne geophysical methods to granitic area, Tono Geoscience Center conducted the airborne geophysical survey using helicopter in the region of the Toki granite from 1997 to 1999. Data of electromagnetic survey, magnetic survey and radiometric survey were collected. This time, we re-interpreted these data. The following is the summary of the results obtained. (1) Electromagnetic survey; We developed the new calculation method and the data was reprocessed. As a result, it made us possible to obtain the apparent resistivity value corresponding to the rock resistivity. And the new apparent resistivity contour map clearly shows the depth changes of the granitic rock. (2) Magnetic survey; Magnetic susceptibility of the target granite is not uniform. From the viewpoint of magnetic susceptibility, the granite is divided into about five parts using a color shaded relief map. This map is a very useful tool for a qualitative interpretation of magnetic data. (3) Radiometric Survey; Some local anomalies were obtained. It is inferred that they correspond with the autocrops of the granitic rocks or the uranium deposits, not with the open fractures. These results indicate that an airborne geophysical survey using helicopter provides the useful information for planning of the geological and geophysical ground surveys.

Applying vegetation indices to detect high water table zones in humid warm-temperate regions using satellite remote sensing

Koide, Kaoru; Koike, Katsuaki*

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 19, p.88 - 103, 2012/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2012.03.017

This paper presents a method for detecting high water-table areas based on vegetation information in a humid warm-temperate forest area using remotely sensed data (SPOT). The purpose is to develop methodologies for characterizing hydrogeological structures at a regional scale. To detect differences in vegetation conditions due to groundwater supply, a new vegetation index (AgbNDVI) and a segmentation analysis based on geographical characteristics were proposed. A study area was selected in the Tono region of central Japan. As a result, most of the high-VI points are located on the concave/convex slopes, in the vicinity of geologic boundaries, around groundwater seeps and in high water-table areas. Therefore, high-VI points can be a crucial marker for estimating hydraulic properties of geologic structures and groundwater flow regime. Consequently, the proposed method can be an useful tool to detect high water-table areas in humid warm-temperate forest areas.

Detecting distribution pattern of latent hydrothermally altered zones by geobotanic remote sensing

Koike, Katsuaki*; Uchiyama, Kyosuke*; Koide, Kaoru

Joho Chishitsu, 23(2), p.68 - 69, 2012/06

Hydrothermally-altered zones frequently collapse in intense rain and are intimately related to genesis of heavy metal mineralization. Therefore it is very important to investigate their distributions from the viewpoints of disaster prevention and mineral resource exploration. This study developed a new vegetation index (VIGS) for detecting abnormalities of vegetation induced by differences in soil chemistry and soil moisture related to hydrothermally-altered zones. The VIGS includes the green and mid-infrared bands, which are highly sensitive to vegetation water stress. To validate its availability, this VI was applied in a landslide prone area (Hachimantai) and a gold deposit area (Hishikari Mine) using Landsat TM data. As a result, it was found that the VIGS is very useful to detect abnormalities of vegetation related with hydrothermally-altered zones because abnormalities of vegetation coincide with landslides and hydrothermally-altered zones associated with gold mineralization.