Department of Environmental Sciences

The shallow subsurface environment with depth ranging from a few to tens of meters below the surface is characterized by a high level of heterogeneity from pore to geologic scale. This results in high variability in spatial and temporal distribution of properties and processes within it. The implication of this is that the ability to predict the distribution of soil moisture and nutrients, groundwater flow, the fate and transport of chemicals, the engineering properties of soils as well as the location of ancient structures and buried objects within the shallow subsurface is limited. This is a constrain on the understanding, use and sustainable management of the shallow subsurface and its resources.

Our research at the Hydro- & Environmental Geophysics Lab (UToledo HEG-Lab) focuses on advancing the use of geophysical methods in combination with In-Situ (Direct-Push & Direct Sensing) and hydrological methods for improved characterization of shallow subsurface heterogeneities as well as monitoring the state and processes within it; with applications for:

• soil and hydrological processes investigation and management;
• monitoring biogeochemical processes and contaminated sites;
• investigating engineering, archaeological and forensic sites;
• and other environmental applications.

We combine both numerical and laboratory studies with field experimental implementations to obtain images of the shallow subsurface and estimates the needed hydraulic and biogeochemical parameters for developing and calibrating an integrated system’s model. Available facilities include geophysical equipment for electrical resistivity, induced polarization, self-potential, electromagnetics, ground penetrating radar, gravity, magnetics and seismic measurements; computational and inversion facilities as well as a modern laboratory and field hydro-geophysics test sites.

We combine both numerical and laboratory studies with field experimental implementations to obtain images of the shallow subsurface and estimates the needed hydraulic and biogeochemical parameters for developing and calibrating an integrated system’s model. Available facilities include geophysical equipment for electrical resistivity, induced polarization, self-potential, electromagnetics, ground penetrating radar, gravity, magnetics and seismic measurements; computational and inversion facilities as well as a modern laboratory and field hydro-geophysics test sites.