McEllhiney Lecture: The Future of Water: Data vs. Instincts

The Future of Water: Data vs. Instincts

The science of hydrogeology was developed by creating conceptual models of the subsurface based on chemical or physical hydrogeology principles. Numerical and analytical modeling added significantly to the science to understand how best to sample and test these subsurface ideas. The ability to collect high density electrical data on an academic and commercial basis has allowed us to make several new advancements in the science. This lecture will look at how electrical data can allow us to determine the location of flowpaths, find meter-scale structures that change our conceptual models, and monitor life in the subsurface as it grows. Examples will include water supply in porous media and karst domains as well as contaminated sites affected by microbial activity.