161 Dynamics of Natural and Built Environments
Our communities, economies and infrastructure depend on interactions between the natural and built environments. Engineered systems (e.g. earthworks, structures, utilities) must be resilient to evolving natural forcings, and similarly engineered systems must also minimize negative effects on the natural environment.
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 214A
Beyond Traditional Site Characterization: Integrating High-Resolution Geophysics for Effective Remediation in Complex Subsurface Environments
Paper number: 161-1
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:05 AM – 8:20 AM
Authors
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Edward WinnerRPI Remediation Products, Golden, Colorado
Abstract
Environmental remediation efforts have often fallen short at complex sites due to insufficient
characterization of subsurface heterogeneity. Features such as stratigraphic layering,
preferential flow paths, and low-permeability zones frequently serve as long-term contaminant
reservoirs. Yet these critical subsurface variations are easily overlooked by traditional
investigation methods, leading to ineffectual, protracted, or failed remediation. The limited
adoption of geophysical tools—despite their capacity to resolve these features on actionable
scales—has further constrained remediation outcomes.
Recent advancements in high-resolution geophysical technologies—including laser-induced
fluorescence (LIF), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), borehole logging, and continuous multichannel tubing—now enable detailed visualization of
subsurface structure at meter to sub-meter resolution. When integrated with geological
interpretation and direct-push methods, these tools provide a more complete and dynamic
understanding of contaminant distribution and transport. This is particularly valuable in
geologically complex settings such as alluvial and fluvial deposits, fractured bedrock, karst
systems, and urban fill. Case studies from Kentucky illustrate how such integrated
characterization has facilitated light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) remediation in both
alluvial and karst terrains.
To advance the effective, sustainable, and timely environmental cleanup, the industry must
adopt a holistic approach that embeds high-resolution geophysics into the core of site
conceptualization and remedial design early in site characterization. Integrating advanced
imaging with adaptive site models and expert geological interpretation enhances precision
targeting, reduces costs through smarter deployment, and significantly increases the likelihood
of long-term remediation success. This shift from generalized assumptions to site-specific, data-
driven strategies marks a necessary evolution—one that defines the future of environmental
remediation practice.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6
doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-413059
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