DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC SESNOR FOR DETECTING METALLIC OR NONMETALLIC UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A HAND-HELD ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSOR FOR DETECTING METALLIC OR NONMETALLIC UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (UST'S). EXISTING CASE HISTORIES INDICATE THAT THE SENSOR SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO MAP THE CONTAMINANT PLUMES IN THE SOIL, AND POSSIBLY, FREE PRODUCTS FLOATING ABOVE THE GROUND WATER. DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, GEOPHEX HAS PIONEERED IN DEVELOPING A NEW GENERATION AIRBORNE ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSOR THAT IS USED FOR MAPPING GROUND CONDUCTIVITY FEATURES. GEOPHEX HAS DEVELOPED ALL HARDWARE AND INTERPRETATION SOFTWARE FOR THE SYSTEM. PRESENTLY, GEOPHEX IS THE ONLY FIRM IN THE U.S. ENGAGED IN PRODUCING AIRBORNE ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLORING THE EARTH. UNDER THIS SBIR PROPOSAL, WE WISH TO DEVELOP, ESSENTIALLY, A MINIATURIZED VERSION OF OUR AIRBORNE EM UNIT AND A PACKAGE OF INTERPRETATION SOFTWARE SPECIFICALLY FOR UST'S.