Seeing Sustainability Below the Surface - How Geophysics Testing Supports Environmental Innovation

Blog: 2026 North Central Geophysics Insights

Innovation Starts Underground

True environmental innovation doesn’t begin at the surface — it begins below it. Terracon’s geophysical surveys give clients a smarter, safer, and more sustainable way to understand subsurface conditions without the disruption, cost, or environmental impact of traditional drilling.

Using electrical resistivity, seismic refraction, and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Terracon helps clients assess groundwater movement, map contamination, and characterize soil and rock properties to keep projects moving.

Smarter Decisions, Smaller Footprint

Our clients use Terracon’s geophysical services to efficiently gather critical data early in a project’s life cycle.

• Environmental site assessments: Rapid, non-invasive mapping of subsurface contamination supports cleanup and remediation efforts.
• Landfill delineation and monitoring: Identify buried waste boundaries, leaks, and seepage zones efficiently and safely.
• Groundwater and seepage mapping: Evaluate aquifer depths and flow paths without drilling multiple wells.
• Levees evaluation services: Detect seepage paths and voids to improve public safety and flood resilience.
• Subsurface hazard review: Understand risks in challenging sites — from industrial expansions to renewable energy developments.

Each approach minimizes intrusive work, reduces spoil waste, and speeds up project approvals — making sustainable development more achievable.

Better Data, Better Decisions

From renewable sites to remediation projects, geophysical innovation helps clients make decisions that are both environmentally responsible and financially sound. Accurate data means fewer borings, smaller crews, and fewer site visits — all translating into reduced carbon impact.

Terracon’s geophysicists combine environmental science, engineering, and technology to help clients deliver projects that succeed above ground by understanding what lies below.

See how Terracon’s geophysics team supports sustainable site solutions: