Benin, West Africa

Overview

This GWB-funded initiative addressed one of West Africa’s most pressing challenges—protecting freshwater resources while building local geoscience capacity. The project had four key goals:

1. Develop a pool of low-cost, open-source geophysical instruments for field use.
   
2. Acquire critical hydrogeophysical data to improve understanding of the Godomey Aquifer System, which supplies water to Cotonou and surrounding cities.
   
3. Share knowledge and instrumentation across a regional network of hydrogeophysicists.
   
4. Support the launch of the CSM Humanitarian Engineering and Science: Geophysics Master’s Program.

Approach

The field team deployed a combination of geophysical methods:

• DC Resistivity (CSM-developed system) – Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) in Wenner array configurations.
  
• DC Resistivity (Sting R1 system) – Used in parallel for comparative analysis.
  
• Seismic Reflection Surveys – Up to 48-channel Geometrics Geode system with 14 Hz geophones and 5 m takeout cables. A sledgehammer and seismic plate provided the seismic source.
  

Students from UAC and CSM collaborated to design and build instruments, conduct field measurements, and analyze data from the Ouédo Pumping Area, a key groundwater source for Cotonou and nearby cities.

Impact

Successfully developed and tested low-cost geophysical tools accessible to local institutions.

Gathered high-resolution hydrogeophysical data improving understanding of the Godomey Aquifer.

Created a regional network of trained hydrogeophysicists equipped with open-source technologies.

Supported the launch of a new master’s degree program in Humanitarian Geophysics at CSM.

Strengthened academic and professional ties between West Africa and international research institutions.