Electric potential measurement system for continuously measuring the electric potential of the ground

An electric potential measurement system for continuously measuring the electric potential of the ground, comprising:

• a reference electrode (2) buried in the ground (6) to be surveyed;
• a first electrically conductive cable (8) electrically connecting the reference electrode (2) with a data acquisition and positioning system (5);
• a vehicle (3);
• a measurement device (4) fixed to the vehicle (3) and comprising:
• a container (13) made of an electrically insulating material and having an opening at the base (21) of the container (13);
• a non-metal filler material (15) contained in the container (13);
• a non-metal retaining mesh (16) covering the base (21) of the container (13) and configured to retain the filler material (15) and allow a non-metal electrical contact between the filler material (15) and a third electrically conductive cable (18);
• a metal electrode (14) surrounded by and in galvanic contact with the filler material (15), the metal electrode (14) having an electrical conductivity greater than the electrical conductivity of the filler material (15);
• a second electrically conductive cable (17) electrically connecting the metal electrode (14) with the data acquisition and positioning system (5);
• a contact appendage (9) made of a non-metal material suitable for establishing a continuous galvanic contact with the ground (6) as the vehicle (3) moves over the ground (6) to be surveyed;
• and
• the third electrically conductive cable (18) electrically connecting the retaining mesh (16) with the contact appendage (9);
• and
• the data acquisition and positioning system (5), fixed to the vehicle (3) and comprising:
• a satellite geolocation module (25) configured for acquiring a plurality of position data (Pi) of the vehicle (3) as it moves over the ground (6);
• and
• a data processing unit (26) configured for obtaining a plurality of electric potential difference measurements (Δvi), representative of the electric potential of the ground, between the first electrically conductive cable (8) of the reference electrode (2) and the second electrically conductive cable (17) of the measurement device (4) as the vehicle (3) moves over the ground (6);
• wherein the data acquisition and positioning system (5) is configured for storing in at least one memory (29) the electric potential difference measurements (Δvi) and the position data (Pi) of the vehicle (3) that are acquired.