Landslide evaluation applying electrical tomography techniques: study case San José de Aloburo, Pimampiro, Imbabura

Abstract. Landslides pose a significant risk in mountainous regions, particularly in the Ecuadorian Andes. This study investigates the internal dynamics of a complex rotational landslide in San José de Aloburo, Imbabura province, using an integrated approach of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and geological analysis. Four ERT profiles were acquired along the landslide, reaching depths of up to 40 m, revealing zones of low resistivity (4–45 Ωm). These zones correlate with saturated and poorly consolidated materials and identify possible rupture surfaces. The integration of ERT data with stratigraphic columns and grain size analysis demonstrated that the instability of the landslide is due to a combination of high water content and weak, fine-grained deposits. The findings highlight the effectiveness of this low-cost, multi-method approach to characterizing landslide geometry and assessing failure mechanisms, providing a valuable framework for risk assessments in similar contexts.