35
*STTR
Dr. Chin Man W.
Mok, Principal Investigator, commok@geomatrix.com
Ms. Dawn Kaback,
Business Official, dkaback@geomatrix.com
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-05ER86244
Amount: $100,000
Research
Institution
Although
high-resolution geophysical measurements have been proven to be valuable for characterizing
the subsurface at contaminated DOE sites, the data are not yet in routine use. The obstacles are twofold: (1) the potential inconsistency between intepretations
of geophysical data and conventional pointwise lithologic and hydrogeologic
data, and (2) the lack of comprehesive tools to logically utilize all data to
assist in making coherent interpretation. This project will develop a user-friendly
software that utilizes state-of-the-art Bayesian estimation and geostatistical
methods to facilitate the use of high-resolution geophysical measurements for
estimating hydrogeological parameters. Phase
I will focus on the development of HydroImage, a software for integrating
high-resolution crosshole geophysical tomographic data and borehole
hydrogeological measuremenst. The
software will combine the following subsystems to allow an investigator to
efficiently and cost-effectively perform data analysis and make coherent
interpretations: (1) a user-friendly interface,
including visualization and data output capabilities; (2) a geostatistical
integration subsystem; (3) a geophysical inversion subsystem; (4) a petrophysical
and scale matching subsystem; and (5) a Bayesian integration subsystem.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The HydroImage software should provide improvements in mapping and understanding hydrogeologic processes, improve the prediction of flow and transport of contaminants, and allow remediation systems to be designed to be more efficient and cost-effective. Attendant benefits would include the reduction of a public health risk and the ability of wildlife to settle in their former habitat.