Self-potential (SP) surveys measure naturally occurring differences in electrical potential in the absence of artificial sources and have been applied to various fields since the first application in mineral explorations. Among various causes of SP occurrences, streaming potential is generated by the flow of groundwater, and makes SP surveys suitable for the exploration of groundwater table fluctuation, fractures, sinkholes and landslide occurrences. Recently, there has been many studies that applied SP surveys to monitor water leakage through dikes and embankments. In this review paper, we first review the characteristics and theoretical backgrounds of streaming potential in saturated or unsaturated porous media to introduce it in the embankment among various application field. After the review of the background theory, we review the past cases of field SP surveys on dikes and embankments and also the characteristics of field streaming potential data in the surveys. Further, by analyzing past studies of qualitative as well as quantitative interpretation of SP survey data, we show the possibility of quantitative interpretation of streaming potential data obtained on dikes and embankments. Consequently, it is hope that this review paper helps researches on SP surveys on dikes and embankments, and provides basis for interpretation methods of the SP data to identify leaked area and further leakage rate (or permeability).

Keywords: self-potential, streaming potential, embankment, dike, leakage, monitoring