Vietnam Saltwater Intrusion Study

Imaging Saltwater Intrusion in Vietnam

This study applied electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to investigate saltwater intrusion in the Luy River coastal aquifer in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam.

Project Overview

Coastal aquifers worldwide face increasing pressure from saltwater intrusion due to over-extraction and sea-level rise. This collaborative study between Belgian and Vietnamese researchers aimed to characterize the extent of saltwater intrusion using geophysical methods.

Key Findings

21 ERT profiles revealed a substantially larger intrusion zone than previously recognized
High-resolution imaging of the freshwater-saltwater interface
Improved understanding of local hydrogeological conditions

Methodology

The study employed:

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT): Non-invasive geophysical imaging
2D inversion techniques: Processing and interpretation of resistivity data
Hydrogeological integration: Combining geophysical results with local geology

Impact

This work provides:

Critical baseline data for groundwater management
Methodology applicable to other coastal regions
Open-access publication for the international community

Publication

Published in Water (MDPI) as an open-access article, making the findings freely available to researchers and practitioners worldwide.

Citation: Cong-Thi, D., Pham Dieu, L., Thibaut, R., et al. (2021). Imaging the Structure and the Saltwater Intrusion Extent of the Luy River Coastal Aquifer (Binh Thuan, Vietnam) Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography. Water, 13(13), 1743.

DOI: 10.3390/w13131743