Chart of who is using geophysical methods and for what

This chart is based on over thirty years of experience in conducting near surface geophysical surveys. The list is compiled from common uses for geophysical methods and is cross referenced with a list of geophysical equipment. Geophysical instruments that are considered less common are not listed. Without doubt, almost all the geophysical methods may be applied to many other disciplines that are not listed. Note: this chart is based on manufactures statements, experience, and opinions. There are no guarantees and no replacement for experience. This list of geophysical equipment may or may not yield desirable results. Without doubt, there are other instruments and unique configurations available for deeper exploration, see the home page for more options.

Chart comparing 57 geophysical methods with 17 applications and disciplines, panel 1 of 3.

 

(copyright 2019) Approximate effective depth of penetration in meters for common near surface applications. These estimates are based on opinions and possibly ideal conditions. There are exceptions. Geology Engineering (non-environmental) Environmental Mining Underground Storage Tanks UST Utilities and buried metal cables and pipes

Borehole Tools (Mostly Mount Sopris Tools)
Optical Borehole Imager OBI40-2G limited to borehole x x x x x
Acoustic Televiewer QL40-ABI-2G limited to borehole x x x x x
Natural Gamma and SP SPR 16 64” Normal Resistivity vicinity of borehole x x x x x
Electrical Resistivity Probe IP and 4-point Resis QL40-ELOG vicinity of borehole x x x x x
Normal Resistivity 8/16/32/64″ vicinity of borehole x x x x x
Gamma SP SPR Probe 40LGR-1000 vicinity of borehole x x x x x
Fluid Conductivity and Temperature QL40-FTC limited to borehole x x x x
3 Arm Caliper QL40-CAL limited to borehole x x x x x
Geonics EM39 (borehole) Induction 2PIA-1000 vicinity of borehole x x x x x x
Full Waveform Sonic 2SAA-1000 QL40-FWS vicinity of borehole x x x x
Spectral Gamma 2SNA-1000S QL40-SGR vicinity of borehole x x x
Impeller Spinner Flowmeter FLP-2492 QL40-SFM limited to borehole x x x
Heat Pulse Flowmeter HFP-2293 Probe limited to borehole x x x
Magnetic Susceptibility (borehole) QL40-HM vicinity of borehole x x x x x x
Magnetometer (borehole) vicinity of borehole x x x x x x
Deviation QL40-DEV limited to borehole x x x x
GPR (borehole) vicinity of borehole x x x x x
Ballard Source and Geostuff Geophones vicinity of borehole x x x x

Electrical Resistivity Equipment
Capacitance Coupled Resistivity With Geometrics OhmMapper < 60 x x x x x
Electrical Resistivity Imaging AGI SuperSting R8 < 200 x x x x x
Resistivity Soundings (AGI SuperSting, MiniSting, and Swift R1) > 1000 x x x x x
Induced Polarization IP  (AGI SuperSting, MiniSting, and Swift R1) > 1000 x x x
Self potential SP > 100 x x x x x

Electromagnetic Instruments

Frequency Domain EM
Electromagnetics (others) 1 to 1000 x x x x x x
EM Geonics EM38 < 1.5 x x x x x x
EM Geonics EM31 < 5.5 x x x x x x
EM Geonics EM34 < 60 x x x x

Time Domain EM
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM47 Transmitter) < 150 x x x x
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM57 Transmitter) > 500 x x
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM67 Transmitter) > 1000 x x
EM Geonics EM61 < 3.5 x x x

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
GPR Sensors & Software 25 MHz pulseEKKO < 30 x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 50 MHz pulseEKKO < 10 x x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 100 MHz pulseEKKO < 7 x x x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 200 MHz pulseEKKO or 250 MHz Noggin < 2 x x x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 500 MHz Noggin < 1 x x x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 1000 MHz pulseEKKO, Noggin, or Conquest < 0.5 x x  x x

Seismic Methods and Instruments
Crosshole seismics (Ballard borehole source and Geostuff geophones) < 50 x x x x x
Ground Vibration Monitor (Instantel Minimate, Blastmate, and Micromate) > 60 x x x
MASW (Geometrics Geode) < 60 x x x x x
Refraction micro-tremor ( ReMi ) with Geometrics Geode < 60 x x x x x
Seismic Reflection (Geometrics Geode) > 1000 x x x x
Seismic Refraction (Geometrics Geode) > 100 x x x x
Seismic Shear Wave Surface to Borehole (Geode and Geostuff Geophones) > 60 x x x x
Seismic Shear Wave Surface to Surface  (Geometrics Geode) > 50 x x x x

Miscellaneous Geophysical Methods
Gravity > 1000 x x x x
Infrared Photography surface x x x x x x
Line Locators (Dynatel, Pipehorn, Aquatronics, Subsurface Instruments, Fischer, and Radiotronics) < 5 x x x x
Metal Detectors (More or less for hobbyists) < 0.5 x x
Magnetics or Magnetometry (Geometrics G858 and G856) > 1000 x x x x x
Magnetic Susceptibility (Geonics EM38, Geonics EM31, and Terraplus KT-10) < 3 x x x x x
Sonar, Fathometer, or Depth Finder For Fishing < 1.5 x x x
Sub-bottom Profiling > 200 x x x
Thermal Infrared surface x x x x x x
ThermalResistivity Probe Depth of Probe x
Very Low Frequency ( VLF ) Resistivity < 100 x x x x

 

AGI SuperSting Electrical Resistivity Imaging

AGI SuperSting Electrical Resistivity Imaging

Geonics EM31 for Geophysical Surveys

Geonics EM31 for Geophysical Surveys

 

 

 

Chart comparing 57 geophysical methods with 17 applications and disciplines, panel 2 of 3.

 

(copyright 2017) Approximate effective depth of penetration in meters for common near surface applications. These estimates are based on opinions and possibly ideal conditions. There are exceptions. Agriculture Archaeology Concrete, Pavement, and Road Design Hydrogeology Real Estate Assessments Electrical Power and Transmission Line Facilities

Borehole Tools (Mostly Mount Sopris Tools)
Optical Borehole Imager OBI40-2G limited to borehole x
Acoustic Televiewer QL40-ABI-2G limited to borehole x
Natural Gamma and SP SPR 16 64” Normal Resistivity vicinity of borehole x
Electrical Resistivity Probe IP and 4-point Resis QL40-ELOG vicinity of borehole x x
Normal Resistivity 8/16/32/64″ vicinity of borehole x x
Gamma SP SPR Probe 40LGR-1000 vicinity of borehole x
Fluid Conductivity and Temperature QL40-FTC limited to borehole x x
3 Arm Caliper QL40-CAL limited to borehole x
Geonics EM39 (borehole) Induction 2PIA-1000 vicinity of borehole x x x x
Full Waveform Sonic 2SAA-1000 QL40-FWS vicinity of borehole x x
Spectral Gamma 2SNA-1000S QL40-SGR vicinity of borehole
Impeller Spinner Flowmeter FLP-2492 QL40-SFM limited to borehole x
Heat Pulse Flowmeter HFP-2293 Probe limited to borehole x
Magnetic Susceptibility (borehole) QL40-HM vicinity of borehole x
Magnetometer (borehole) vicinity of borehole x x x
Deviation QL40-DEV limited to borehole x
GPR (borehole) vicinity of borehole x x x
Ballard Source and Geostuff Geophones vicinity of borehole x

Electrical Resistivity Equipment
Capacitance Coupled Resistivity With Geometrics OhmMapper < 60 x x x x x x
Electrical Resistivity Imaging AGI SuperSting R8 < 200 x x x x x x
Resistivity Soundings (AGI SuperSting, MiniSting, and Swift R1) > 1000 x x x x x x
Induced Polarization IP  (AGI SuperSting, MiniSting, and Swift R1) > 1000
Self potential SP > 100 x x

Electromagnetic Instruments

Frequency Domain EM
Electromagnetics (others) 1 to 1000 x x x x x x
EM Geonics EM38 < 1.5 x x x x x x
EM Geonics EM31 < 5.5 x x x x x x
EM Geonics EM34 < 60 x x x x x

Time Domain EM
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM47 Transmitter) < 150 x x
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM57 Transmitter) > 500 x
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM67 Transmitter) > 1000 x
EM Geonics EM61 < 3.5 x x x x x

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
GPR Sensors & Software 25 MHz pulseEKKO < 30 x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 50 MHz pulseEKKO < 10 x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 100 MHz pulseEKKO < 7 x x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 200 MHz pulseEKKO or 250 MHz Noggin < 2 x x x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 500 MHz Noggin < 1 x x x x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 1000 MHz pulseEKKO, Noggin, or Conquest < 0.5 x x x

Seismic Methods and Instruments
Crosshole seismics (Ballard borehole source and Geostuff geophones) < 50 x x x
Ground Vibration Monitor (Instantel Minimate, Blastmate, and Micromate) > 60 x x x
MASW (Geometrics Geode) < 60 x x x x x
Refraction micro-tremor ( ReMi ) with Geometrics Geode < 60 x x x x x
Seismic Reflection (Geometrics Geode) > 1000 x
Seismic Refraction (Geometrics Geode) > 100 x x x x x
Seismic Shear Wave Surface to Borehole (Geode and Geostuff Geophones) > 60 x x x
Seismic Shear Wave Surface to Surface  (Geometrics Geode) > 50 x x x x

Miscellaneous Geophysical Methods
Gravity > 1000 x  x
Infrared Photography surface x x x x x
Line Locators (Dynatel, Pipehorn, Aquatronics, Subsurface Instruments, Fischer, and Radiotronics) < 5 x x x x
Metal Detectors (More or less for hobbyists) < 0.5 x x x x x
Magnetics or Magnetometry (Geometrics G858 and G856) > 1000 x x x x x
Magnetic Susceptibility (Geonics EM38, Geonics EM31, and Terraplus KT-10) < 3 x x x x x
Sonar, Fathometer, or Depth Finder For Fishing < 1.5 x x
Sub-bottom Profiling > 200 x x
Thermal Infrared surface x x x x
ThermalResistivity Probe Depth of Probe x x
Very Low Frequency ( VLF ) Resistivity < 100 x

 

MASW Geophysical Survey

MASW Geophysical Survey

Optical Borehole Imaging Geophysical Survey

Optical Borehole Imaging Geophysical Survey

 

 

 

Chart comparing 57 geophysical methods with 17 applications and disciplines, panel 3 of 3.

 

(copyright 2017) Approximate effective depth of penetration in meters for common near surface applications. These estimates are based on opinions and possibly ideal conditions. There are exceptions. Corrosion Forensic Science Ground Vibration Monitoring Magnetic Susceptibility UXO

Borehole Tools (Mostly Mount Sopris Tools)
Optical Borehole Imager OBI40-2G limited to borehole x x
Acoustic Televiewer QL40-ABI-2G limited to borehole x
Natural Gamma and SP SPR 16 64” Normal Resistivity vicinity of borehole x
Electrical Resistivity Probe IP and 4-point Resis QL40-ELOG vicinity of borehole x x
Normal Resistivity 8/16/32/64″ vicinity of borehole x x
Gamma SP SPR Probe 40LGR-1000 vicinity of borehole x
Fluid Conductivity and Temperature QL40-FTC limited to borehole
3 Arm Caliper QL40-CAL limited to borehole
Geonics EM39 (borehole) Induction 2PIA-1000 vicinity of borehole x x x
Full Waveform Sonic 2SAA-1000 QL40-FWS vicinity of borehole
Spectral Gamma 2SNA-1000S QL40-SGR vicinity of borehole
Impeller Spinner Flowmeter FLP-2492 QL40-SFM limited to borehole
Heat Pulse Flowmeter HFP-2293 Probe limited to borehole
Magnetic Susceptibility (borehole) QL40-HM vicinity of borehole x x x x
Magnetometer (borehole) vicinity of borehole x x x x
Deviation QL40-DEV limited to borehole
GPR (borehole) vicinity of borehole x x
Ballard Source and Geostuff Geophones vicinity of borehole x

Electrical Resistivity Equipment
Capacitance Coupled Resistivity With Geometrics OhmMapper < 60 x x
Electrical Resistivity Imaging AGI SuperSting R8 < 200 x x
Resistivity Soundings (AGI SuperSting, MiniSting, and Swift R1) > 1000 x x
Induced Polarization IP  (AGI SuperSting, MiniSting, and Swift R1) > 1000
Self potential SP > 100 x

Electromagnetic Instruments

Frequency Domain EM
Electromagnetics (others) 1 to 1000 x x x x
EM Geonics EM38 < 1.5 x x x x
EM Geonics EM31 < 5.5 x x x x
EM Geonics EM34 < 60 x

Time Domain EM
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM47 Transmitter) < 150
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM57 Transmitter) > 500
EM Time Domain TDEM (Geonics Protem Receiver and TEM67 Transmitter) > 1000
EM Geonics EM61 < 3.5 x x x

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
GPR Sensors & Software 25 MHz pulseEKKO < 30
GPR Sensors & Software 50 MHz pulseEKKO < 10 x
GPR Sensors & Software 100 MHz pulseEKKO < 7 x x
GPR Sensors & Software 200 MHz pulseEKKO or 250 MHz Noggin < 2 x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 500 MHz Noggin < 1 x x x
GPR Sensors & Software 1000 MHz pulseEKKO, Noggin, or Conquest < 0.5 x x

Seismic Methods and Instruments
Crosshole seismics (Ballard borehole source and Geostuff geophones) < 50 x x
Ground Vibration Monitor (Instantel Minimate, Blastmate, and Micromate) > 60 x
MASW (Geometrics Geode) < 60 x x
Refraction micro-tremor ( ReMi ) with Geometrics Geode < 60 x x
Seismic Reflection (Geometrics Geode) > 1000 x
Seismic Refraction (Geometrics Geode) > 100 x x
Seismic Shear Wave Surface to Borehole (Geode and Geostuff Geophones) > 60
Seismic Shear Wave Surface to Surface  (Geometrics Geode) > 50

Miscellaneous Geophysical Methods
Gravity > 1000
Infrared Photography surface x x x
Line Locators (Dynatel, Pipehorn, Aquatronics, Subsurface Instruments, Fischer, and Radiotronics) < 5 x x
Metal Detectors (More or less for hobbyists) < 0.5 x x x
Magnetics or Magnetometry (Geometrics G858 and G856) > 1000 x x x x
Magnetic Susceptibility (Geonics EM38, Geonics EM31, and Terraplus KT-10) < 3 x x x x
Sonar, Fathometer, or Depth Finder For Fishing < 1.5 x x x
Sub-bottom Profiling > 200 x x x
Thermal Infrared surface x x x
ThermalResistivity Probe Depth of Probe
Very Low Frequency ( VLF ) Resistivity < 100

 

 

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