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Geophysical Services |
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According to the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society (EEGS), geophysics can be defined as “The subsurface site characterization of the geology, geological structure, groundwater, contamination, and human artifacts beneath the Earth's surface, based on the lateral and vertical mapping of physical property variations that are remotely sensed using non-invasive technologies.”
The Earth Systems group of companies offers a variety of geophysical services to assist in imaging subsurface geology and locating buried features. While geophysics is not a substitute for borings or other methods of obtaining physical subsurface data, it is an excellent means of interpolating between borings, thus enhancing our understanding of broad subsurface areas while limiting destructive testing. At sites where access is limited, drilling is difficult, or non-invasive exploration techniques are desired, geophysical surveying can be an effective and economical tool. Our geophysical services include the following methods. (For detailed descriptions, please click the links.)
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Environmental Benefits of Geophysical Surveying
Because geophysical surveying techniques are non-invasive in nature, they have a lower impact on the environment than do conventional drilling methods. Geophysical surveys often decrease the number of borings needed to classify a site, and the techniques produce very little surface disturbance. In areas of remote access or limited vehicular traffic that may be inaccessible to a drill rig, geophysical surveying can be used. The equipment can be carried to the site in a backpack by technicians, or the technicians and equipment can be flown to and dropped off at the site by helicopter.
Geophysical surveying is frequently used for Green Energy projects such as wind farms, geothermal fields, and solar arrays. For these renewable and alternative energy projects, low impact site development is often encouraged, and site access may be challenging. Geophysical surveying contributes to and amplifies the environmental benefits of Green Energy development. |
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Packing In Seismic Equipment | |
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Financial Benefits of Geophysical Surveying
Shear-wave velocity is the least expensive of the approved methods for determining the soil profile. Due to the following, considerable cost savings are possible:
- lower impact investigations
- rapid data acquisition and analysis
- and potential reduced engineering costs
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Seismic Refraction ReMi Line | |
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Applications of Geophysical Methods
There are many field conditions in which geophysical technology can be the most advantageous method of subsurface site characterization. From environmental asssessment and remediation, to evaluation of landslides, to forensic grave locations, geophysical methods can be applied. For in-depth discussion of the benefits of our geophysical services for your projects, please contact our Bermuda Dunes office. |
Conditions to which Geophysical Methods may be Applied
- Archeological
- Buried Drum Detection
- Buried Utilities/Pipelines
- Concrete Thickness
- Contamination Plume Delineation
- Depth to Bedrock
- Depth to Groundwater
- Disseminated Metal Mapping
- Dynamic Soil Properties
- Evaluation of Fill
- Fault Mapping
- Forensic Grave Location
- Geologic Profiling
- In-situ Density
- Landslide Evaluation
- Rebar in Concrete
- Rippability
- Seismic Site Classification
- Topography of Bedrock Surface
- UST Location
- UXO Location
- Void Detection
- Wellhead Location
- Wind Energy
- Pavement Evaluation
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Applications and Corresponding
Methods Grid | |
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Consultant's Corner Articles
Our newsletter, Consultant's Corner, has featured two articles by our personnel regarding geophysical surveys. The Summer 2007 article covers refraction micro-tremor surveys (ReMi), and the Winter 2005 article presents an overview of the methods and techniques of conducting geophysical surveys. To read these articles, click on the links below. |
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