Geophysics FAQ
When should geophysical surveys be performed?
Theoretically geophysical surveys can be performed for any project that requires information of the ground (e.g. geology, groundwater table depth, hidden features) or man-made structures (e.g. concrete voids and rebar location, cracks). Using geophysics is a great idea for projects that carry high risks in terms of health & safety or expected significant ground variation. If you are unsure, just get in touch with our team and they will provide you with all the information you need to decide.
What is involved in the planning of a geophysical survey?
We plan our geophysical surveys by working closely with our clients. This means gathering local and regional geological information, determining specific site conditions and site access, discussing the objectives of the survey and how the geophysical information will be used and its format. We inform about the methods and their limitations in the detailed proposals to our clients so everyone is on the same page from the start. All it takes to get the process started is a quick phone call or email.
Do I need a qualified geophysicist to perform a geophysical survey?
Geophysical surveys require detailed knowledge of how the methods work (or don’t work). It is absolutely necessary to have a qualified geophysicist involved in the survey design and planning, processing of the data and their interpretation. Although the site investigation itself can be carried out by suitably qualified non-geophysicist personnel, it is a good idea to have a geophysicist or someone with a lot of experience in carrying out geophysical fieldwork on-site for data quality assurance. After all the principle of “garbage in, garbage out” strongly applies to geophysical surveys.