Research on inorganic contaminants is successfully done using various geophysical techniques in order to provide good and rapid reconnaissance of contaminated sites.
Electromagnetic Mapping, Electrical Tomography, Vertical Electrical Sounding, Self Potential and Ground Penetrating Radar are techniques that can highlight areas of potential contamination, without exposing any personnel to the hazards of contaminated sites.
Geophysical surveys can be applied to a site in order to determine the size of the contaminated area and the depth of the contamination, to establish the contamination degree and to plan direct sampling work.
Geophysical methods have been also used in monitoring the areas with periodical infiltrations of inorganic pollutants (chemical and petrol products) or areas with salt water infiltration (marine water, brine overflows).
Other geophysical applications: