Georadar Survey and Simulation for Subsurface Investigation at Historical Mosque of Sorghatmesh, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Sorghatmesh mosque is a historical structure that was constructed in Cairo, Egypt, by Prince Saif El-Din Sorghatmesh in 1356. A dual-frequency ground-penetrating radar (GPR) with 250–700 MHz was used to investigate the subsurface of the Sorghatmesh mosque for restoration purposes. A total of 37 lines were surveyed on the ground floor of the mosque. The subsurface utilities were detected, and the status of the concrete base and the medium of the ground floor were assessed. A set of subsurface anomalies were detected and interpreted within the ground floor area of the mosque. In order to validate the interpretation, a trial pit was drilled on the ground floor, allowing for the visual inspection of the subsurface, and a Georadar numerical simulation was carried out to study the responses of the subsurface materials and conditions. For a better comprehension of the results, the ground floor area was categorized into five zones where the GPR interpretations between survey lines are almost similar. This work not only demonstrates the effectiveness of GPR as a non-invasive investigation tool but also highlights the potential of integrating advanced technologies into cultural heritage preservation by offering refined methodologies and insights for future research and restoration efforts.

Keywords

• dual-frequency GPR
• GPR simulation
• subsurface assessment
• cultural heritage
• groundwater
• subsurface utilities