Near Surface / Environmental

nvironmental and Engineering Geophysics, also known as Near-Surface or simply Applied Geophysics refers to geophysics conducted in the upper few hundred meters of the earth’s surface. Consequently, the areas of interest are in water exploration and contamination characterization and exploration, cavity detection and mapping, mineral exploration and development, earthen dam imaging for leakage and a variety of military and civil engineering imaging investigations. The E & E group also conducts electrical investigations for the exploration and development of Geothermal sites. Near-Surface Geophysics therefore makes significant contributions to societal problems.

At ERL we are involved in research and teaching in all of the above areas. All types of geophysical methods are incorporated in field investigations and analyses. However, the most widely used methods are EM based, in contrast to major use of Seismology in the Petroleum Industry. All frequency ranges of the EM spectrum are used from DC (Resistivity and Self Potentials), low-frequencies (Induced Polarization and Magnetotellurics/Tellurics), mid-frequencies EM (Inductive EM methods) to High-frequencies (Ground Penetrating Radar).

Students can take the UG/G class on Environmental and Engineering Geophysics. Furthermore, there is a Field Geophysics course which is normally oriented to a real rather than academic problem.