1. Scope

1.1 This guide covers the selection of surface geophysical methods, as commonly applied to geologic, geotechnical, hydrologic, and environmental investigations (hereafter referred to as site characterization), as well as forensic and archaeological applications. This guide does not describe the specific procedures for conducting geophysical surveys. Individual guides are being developed for each surface geophysical method.

1.2 Surface geophysical methods yield direct and indirect measurements of the physical properties of soil and rock and pore fluids, as well as buried objects.

1.3 The geophysical methods presented in this guide are regularly used and have been proven effective for hydrologic, geologic, geotechnical, and hazardous waste site assessments.

1.4 This guide provides an overview of applications for which surface geophysical methods are appropriate. It does not address the details of the theory underlying specific methods, field procedures, or interpretation of the data. Numerous references are included for that purpose and are considered an essential part of this guide. It is recommended that the user of this guide be familiar with references cited (1-20) and with Guides D 420, D 5730, D 5753, D 5777, D 6235, and D 6285, as well as Practices D 5088, D 5608, and Test Method G 57.

1.5 To obtain detailed information on specific geophysical methods, ASTM standards, other publications, and references cited in this guide, should be consulted.

1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word 'Standard' in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.7 The success of a geophysical survey is dependent upon many factors. One of the most important factors is the competence of the person(s) responsible for planning, carrying out the survey, and interpreting the data. An understanding of the method's theory, field procedures, and interpretation along with an understanding of the site geology, is necessary to successfully complete a survey. Personnel not having specialized training or experience should be cautious about using geophysical methods and should solicit assistance from qualified practioners.

1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the guide. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.9 Precautions:
1.9.1 This guide does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with the use of the methods. If the methods are used at site with hazardous materials, operations, or equipment, it is the responsibility of the user of this guide to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of any regulations prior to use.

1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D420 Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes

D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids

D4428/D4428M Test Methods for Crosshole Seismic Testing

D5088 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment Used at Waste Sites

D5608 Practices for Decontamination of Field Equipment Used at Low Level Radioactive Waste Sites

D5730 Guide for Site Characterization for Environmental Purposes With Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone and Ground Water

D5753 Guide for Planning and Conducting Borehole Geophysical Logging

D5777 Guide for Using the Seismic Refraction Method for Subsurface Investigation

D6235 Practice for Expedited Site Characterization of Vadose Zone and Groundwater Contamination at Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites

D6285 Guide for Locating Abandoned Wells

G57 Test Method for Field Measurement of Soil Resistivity Using the Wenner Four-Electrode Method

Keywords

DC resistivity; frequency domain electromagnetics; geophysical methods; geophysics; gravity; ground penetrating radar (GPR); magnetics; metal detector; pipe/cable location; self-potential; seismic reflection; seismic refraction; site characterization; time domain electromagnetics; VLF electromagnetics: Geophysical investigations/geophysics; Geosynthetics; Surface analysis--soil/rock/related materials;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 07.060 (Geology. Meteorology. Hydrology)

DOI: 10.1520/D6429-99

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