This paper investigates the effect of electrode positioning errors on the inverted
pseudosection. Instead of random spacing errors (as usually assumed in geoelectrics)
we exactly measured this effect among field conditions. In the field, in spite of the
greatest possible care, the electrode positions contain some inaccuracy: either in case
of dense undergrowth, or varied topography, or very rocky field. In all these cases, it
is not possible to put the electrodes in their theoretical position. As a consequence,
the position data will contain some error. The inaccuracies were exactly determined
by using a laser distance meter. The geometrical data from real field conditions and
by using Wenner-α, Wenner-β, pole-dipole and pole-pole arrays were then considered
over homogeneous half space.
As we have found, the positioning errors can be regarded as insignificant, even
in case of relatively uncomfortable field conditions. However, in case of very rocky
surface the distortions are more significant, but it is still possible to make some corrections:
either by neglecting a few electrode positions with the greatest positioning
error, or to minimize the inline errors, even on the price that offline deviations are
high