ESRI-USC's
expanding research capabilities related to environmental studies
center on integrating geology, hydrology, and geochemistry with
advanced computer applications for the characterization of
groundwater and surface water systems, prediction of flow and solute
transport, state-of-the-art environmental geophysics research and
applications, and advanced geographic information systems
development. Our
applied research program focuses on both site-specific and regional
scale studies that involve field, laboratory, and modeling
activities. ESRI-USC's research faculty is devoted to environmental
applications of geological and hydrological principles and
techniques.
ESRI-USC undertakes research
projects in different fields:
 ESRI-USC's geographic information system (GIS) is used
for managing large spatially-oriented databases and modeling diverse
geographic data. In addition to pursuing contamination potential
modeling, wellhead protection area delineation, source water
protection, and facility siting studies, GIS is used to develop
large, diverse spatial databases.
Another key component of our environmental research is the
use of geophysical techniques to describe the geologic
framework of groundwater systems and to determine the extent
of groundwater contamination. ESRI-USC has in-depth
experience with geophysical methods such as 2D and 3D
high-resolution shallow reflection seismic, shallow refraction
seismic, interactive seismic interpretation, EM conductivity,
ground penetrating radar, geophysical log analysis and interpretation
modeling, and mapping, DC resistivity
Hydrogeologic characterization
via aquifer tests and single borehole tests is an area of growing
capability within the environmental program at ESRI-USC.
Computer-aided analyses of aquifer test data lead to understanding
the dynamics of groundwater flow in both porous and fractured
saturated media. This understanding facilitates prediction of
the behavior of groundwater systems in terms of flow and transport
of contaminants.
Our water resources research program focuses on nonpoint
source pollution assessments including mechanistic studies of
the mobilization and transport of agricultural chemicals.
ESRI-USC also has recently completed development of a coupled
simulation-optimization computer program for determining the optimum
size of off-stream reservoirs to be used for water supply
augmentation and water quality enhancement.
Computer modeling of groundwater flow and solute transport also is a
significant part of our environmental research capability.
ESRI-USC maintains a wide array of hardware and software dedicated
to modeling. In addition to modeling applications we
are conducting research on advanced techniques of coupled simulation
and optimization for managing groundwater systems for
either water supply or environmental restoration.
ESRI-USC capability includes both analytical and
numerical modeling using recognized computer codes such as the US
Geological Survey code MODFLOW along with pre- and post-processing
software. We also have
experience in the application of geostatistical
techniques to the evaluation of heterogeneity and spatial
variability of flow and transport phenomena. ESRI-USC has
state-of-the-art 3D visualization capabilities to display the
results of field and model-derived data.
Structural analyses of rock fabrics and fracture systems provide data
essential for highly refined computer modeling of groundwater flow,
for geohazard susceptibility and risk assessment in
conjunction with GIS, and for other environmental applications of
geology.
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