A probability electrical resistivity tomography imaging of complex tectonic features in the kissamos and paleohora urban areas, western crete (Greece)

A number of 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomographies (ERT) was conducted in northwest and southwest Crete with the aim to model geotectonic features at selected urban sites. The study area is located within the central forearc of the Hellenic subduction zone. Thirteen ERT profiles were realized using the dipole-dipole electrode and/or the Wenner-Schlumberger arrays. In order to model the resistivity distribution, the probability-based electrical resistivity tomography inversion (PERTI) method has been applied. The main features of the PERTI method are: (i) unnecessity of a priori information; (ii) full, unconstrained adaptability to any kind of dataset, including the case of non-flat topography; (iii) independence from data acquisition techniques and spatial regularity; (iv) capability to resolve complex continuous resistivity variation. Since the present case-study is the first application of the PERTI algorithm to locate fault zones and near subsurface irregularities, its routine has been tested using the well-known RES2DINV commercial software as reference. The comparison has shown a common coherence between the results of the two inversion methods and confirmed the better filtering capacity and greater versatility of the PERTI algorithm, already outlined in a number of previous papers dealing with archaeological applications.