Acquisition of Electrical and Electromagnetic Instrumentation for Hydrogeophysical Research

Auburn University, Auburn AL

Investigators

Abstract

0549325 Wolf This grant supports acquisition of a multi-electrode (48) resistivity imaging system by the Department of Geology and Geography at Auburn University. The new equipment will be used in hydrogeophysical studies of near-surface sediments, hazards studies of earthquake-induced liquefaction, and bioremediation studies relating to contaminated groundwater. This added ability will promote the development of realistic models for studying the geologic factors controlling the transient nature of overpressures in sedimentary layers, the relation of soil liquefaction to site geology, and the potential use of certain geophysical methods in monitoring the bioremediation of contaminated groundwater. The new equipment and associated software will allow faculty and students to expand upon analyses of acquired data by incorporating more modern techniques, such as electrical resistance tomography (ERT). It will replace a current 4-electrode system utilized in existing applied geophysics and advanced geophysical methods courses, which emphasize environmental and engineering applications. These courses serve undergraduate and graduate geology majors, as well as students from civil engineering, physics and mathematics. ***