This 2-day course provides
individuals who have little or no geophysical exploration experience with
practical information on the strengths and limitations of the most used
geophysical techniques on hazardous waste sites. It is intended to enable
students to select the appropriate methods and to effectively supervise
geophysical surveys during hazardous waste site investigations. This course
offers the opportunity for hands on familiarization with the use of geophysical
equipment and may be offered at any facility with a suitable outdoor open space
area (rather than the 3-day Introduction to Environmental Geophysics course
which requires use of a fixed facility with established buried targets at known
locations and depths).
The course emphasizes three geophysical
methods --magnetics, electromagnetic induction (EM), and ground- penetrating
radar -- commonly employed for site characterization and waste location
throughout the U.S. The course also introduces other methods --seismic
refraction, gravity, resistivity, and borehole geophysics --that may be
effective depending on regional or site- specific conditions, and for all
methods provides examples of situations where they may be applicable. It is
intended for personnel responsible for inspections, site characterization, site
investigations, and removal and remedial actions at Superfund sites. The course
focuses on investigation plan design; types of equipment suitable for hazardous
waste site characterization; and equipment operation and characteristic data displays
for the three main methods.
The course includes lectures and field exercises. The field exercises focus on the most common techniques used for site assessment. Exercises will be conducted using Cesium Magnetometers, Time-domain and Frequency-domain Electromagnetic methods, and Ground Penetrating Radar.
After completing the course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the various geophysical methods available for shallow environmental characterization that involves locating and resolving buried objects or evaluating site geology and hydrogeologic characteristics
- Understand the advantages and limitations of the magnetic, electromagnetic, seismic refraction, gravity, resistivity, borehole geophysics and ground-penetrating radar methods in environmental applications
- Design a field survey and operate the most frequently used types of geophysical instrumentation under field conditions
- Collect geophysical field data for use in resolving buried objects
This course is a road version of a longer and more involved course usually offered at a specially constructed field site. The road course includes outdoor exercises. Participants should dress for field work. The exercise is conducted regardless of weather.
Continuing Education Units: 1.3
THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
*This course is offered free of charge to all registrants who are confirmed to attend.*