Innovative strategies for high resolution site characterization: application to a flood plain

Solving complex hydrogeological problems often requires a thorough understanding of (hydro-) geological subsurface conditions. This is especially true for sedimentary deposits with complex architecture, where lithology and/or hydraulic properties can significantly vary over short horizontal and vertical distances. At these sites, a traditional, solely sample-based investigation approach is often not applicable due to limited data accuracy, resolution, and efficiency. Instead, an adapted investigation approach is required that combines exploration technologies of different resolution and investigation scales. This paper aims to demonstrate the feasibility of such a multi-scale approach for the characterization of a test site near the city of Löbnitz, Germany, that is comprised of heterogeneous alluvial deposits. Our focus is on site characterization in terms of lithology and hydraulic properties, as well as on the delineation and characterization of an aggradated oxbow as a typical example of a small scale geological structure.