Optimized Enhanced Bioremediation through 4D Geophysical Monitoring and Autonomous Data Collection, Processing, and Analysis

Figure 1. The field site is located at the Brandywine Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office, an inactive U.S. Department of Defense facility in Maryland. The site is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List (NPL) for PCB-contaminated soil and volatile organic compounds in the ground water.

Figure 2. Jim Rauman and Jason Smith (USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center) install one of seven direct-push wells that will be used for borehole electrical-resistivity surveys at the study area.

Figure 3. USGS scientists prepare to install a well at the study area. Well construction across the study area allows for ongoing ground-water sampling at 56 points.

Figure 4. Rory Henderson (USGS OGW Branch of Geophysics) installs trenches that will house surface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and data transfer cables at the study area.

Figure 5. Thirty porous-pot electrodes were installed to enable collection of self potential (SP) and induced polarization (IP) measurements during bioremediation at the study area.

Figure 6. Four wells were installed for use in conducting borehole radar tomography at the study area. The radar data will be used to help characterize the hydrogeology of the site and to inform analysis and interpretation of other geophysical data collected during monitoring.

Figure 7. Fred Day-Lewis (USGS OGW Branch of Geophysics) prepares the on-site field office, where automated computer systems will record real-time geophysical data at the study area. The data will be uploaded automatically to computers at the Idaho National Laboratory for processing and analysis.

Figure 8. Jason Smith (USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center) conducts slug tests during well installation at the study area.