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An Automated Analysis System for High-Resolution Electrical Resistivity Tomography--Multi-Phase Technologies, LLC, 310 Rebecca Drive, Sparks, NV  89436; 775-425-9706

Dr. Douglas J. LaBrecque, Principal Investigator

Mrs. Marjorie O. LaBrecque, Business Official

DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-00ER83051

Amount:  $95,883

 

Many DOE facilities inadvertently have released toxic or radioactive substances as the result of not fully appreciating the potential public health hazards, and a lack of awareness of the complexities of subsurface flow and contaminant transport.  Many new remediation technologies deployed at Federal and private sites carry certain risks that must understood and be controlled.  Thus there is a need for efficient, systems for monitoring before, during and after remediation activities.  This project seeks to develop a new interpretation strategy for electrical resistivity tomography data.  This strategy will include:  a new inverse algorithm to improve the quality of the images and allow for quantitative comparison with hydrological parameters and an automated interpretation routine that carries out hands-free data reduction and interpretation.  Under Phase I a new inverse algorithm will be developed and tested on existing data sets.  The new algorithm includes anisotropic effects that caused distortions in images from existing algorithms.  A strategy will be developed for efficient, autonomous handling of fully three-dimensional data sets. 

 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  Electrical resistivity tomography is becoming an increasingly important technique for characterizing and monitoring the subsurface.  It is ideally suited to remotely or autonomous operation allowing for long-term inexpensive monitoring.  Widespread, commercial application of the method will require automating data reduction as well as the data collection.