The purpose of this website is to provide engineers with a basic knowledge of geophysics and nondestructive test
(NDT) methods for solving specific engineering problems during geotechnical site investigation, construction, and
maintenance. The website is not intended to make engineers experts in the field of geophysics, but rather to
provide them with tools that will assist them in the use of suitable geophysical and NDT techniques to evaluate
problems for design, planning, construction, or remediation efforts.
The engineering applications section of the website presents a wide range of transportation problems and
the state-of-practice of geophysical imaging and nondestructive test (NDT) methods that can be used to
solve the particular problem. The problems are divided into six groups, Bridge System Substructure,
Bridge System Superstructure, Pavements, Roadway Subsidence, Subsurface Characterization, and Vibration
Measurements.
The geophysical methods section of the website presents a more comprehensive discussion of the geophysical
methods and theory. This section is divided into two broad categories, surface methods, and borehole methods.
To develop a complete understanding of the theory and science of geophysical methods requires an
understanding of the geephysical quantities involved in the methodology.
The pages found under Surface Methods and Borehole Methods are substantially based on a report
produced by the US Army Corps of Engineers titled Geophysical Exploration for Engineering and
Environmental Investigations, 1995, Report number EM 1110-1-1802.
