Assessing the fate and transport of subsurface contaminants requires identifying and developing an affordable sensor architecture that can provide sufficient data to both validate and drive predictive models. Generally, subsurface data sets are too sparse to adequately characterize the heterogeneity and multiple spatial s scales present. The parameters affecting mobility, toxicity, and transformations must be determined for successful modeling and subsequent decision making.
Ideally, a subsurface volume of interest would be fully characterized by data from non invasive measurement techniques. The data processed provides point information. However, existing geophysical probing technologies cannot elucidate extensive parameter sets required to assess fate and transport. Geophysical techniques are providing data important to hydrologic properties and some elemental analysis (mostly in saturated media).
Opportunities in which characterization improvements would provide significant leverage that crosscuts both fluid transport and biogeochemical data include:
- Remote sensing of more parameters- This includes surface-or-borehole-based geophysical mapping and tomography using gravitational or ear magnetic field gradients, transmitted and received magnetic field, etc. The challenge is to extend these relatively inexpensive methods to cover as many parameters as possible.
- Localized sensing of more parameters- Techniques measure some distance, e.g. meters, from borehole. Techniques include well logging, which employ neutrons, hydrolic, and elemental information. A key challenge is to extend these techniques to provide more chemical and biological data.
- Comprehensive point measurements- Point measurements would typically be made with an in situ sensor in contact with the media or from laboratory analysis retrieved samples. These are the most current method in obtaining most of the detailed chemical and biological date. The technology for point measurements are rapidly advancing as disparate technologies are combined through interdisciplinary development.
- Measurement integration- The integration of lower and indirect noninvasive methods with higher resolution but sparser direct point measurements are required to develop better representations of the subsurface
- Contacts:
- Mark Ankeny, (208) 526-5748, Send E-mail