a b s t r a c tTo promote the utilization of ground-source heat pumps, a new methodology to calculate the lowtemperature geothermal potential (LTGP) of a region is presented. The methodology is applicable worldwide, and it considers both closed-and open-loop systems. This new approximation for closedloops calculates the admissible heat flux exchange with the ground according to an analytical solution of the heat transport equation in porous media. Open-loop systems are calculated as a function of a sustainable removable water flux and the temperature difference between groundwater and a referenced external body. The automated calculation in the setting of a GIS platform has allowed the performance of multilayered 3D mapping of the low-temperature geothermal potential for both types of exploitations considering all of the available information. An example of the application of the methodology in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (Spain) is also presented. Finally, a finite element analysis has been performed to quantify the accuracy of the method and the influence of heat advection processes in the LTGP.

A software platform was developed to facilitate the development of 3D geological models of sedimentary media for hydrogeological modelling, especially for urban environments. It is composed by a geospatial database and a set of tools that enable the user to perform an accurate\ud stratigraphic analysis. The geospatial database is used for the management of a large amount of different data types coming from different sources (geophysical logs, borehole logs, hydraulic tests, etc.). Its structure allows us to store accurate and very detailed geological borehole-log\ud description that can be straightforwardly generalized and further upscaled. The set of stratigraphic analysis instruments, working within a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment, has been set up to facilitate the geological data interpretation. Detailed stratigraphic columns of the selected boreholes can be generated using customized queries. Creating automatically a geological profile is further possible by displaying the boreholes lithological columns and the geophysical and geotechnical field-tests’ results together with the defined stratigraphic units. Based on an interactive analysis environment is created, where the user is able to analyze and to define the possible existing correlation surfaces, units, and faults. The\ud obtained information represented by the geological units/subunits can be then converted within a 3D environment.\ud The resulted 3D features could be used within the same GIS environment or by external software packages for further\ud stochastic analysis or to build up 3D geological and hydrogeological models. Starting from an accurate and very detailed geological description, the software allows us to represent in three dimensions (3D) the heterogeneity of the sedimentary media and their spatial distribution. Thus, it shows how connectivity implemented into hydrogeological models among the different sedimentary bodies plays an important role. Results are shown consisting in a case study\ud located in the Besòs River Delta, in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, on the Mediterranean coast in NE Spain.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

6Construction processes require monitoring to ensure safety and to control the new and existing GB-SAR is suitable to monitor deformation phenomena in soil and structures. 25 GB-SAR precisely quantified wall displacements induced by dewatering. 26 GB-SAR complements the traditional monitoring techniques. 27 Traditional data and numerical models confirmed the GB-SAR measurements. 28 GB-SAR can help to understand structure deformations and identify vulnerable areas.