Spectral characteristics at a former industrial site using complex resistivity

There is growing interest in using geophysical techniques for characterising former industrial, or 'brown field', sites. In particular, Olhoeft (1996) and others have prompted a number of studies into the use of speetral geo-electrical properties for assessing levels of contamination in sites polluted by hydrocarbons. We report here on the results of a recent survey using complex resistivity to assess the value of resistivity spectra in improving our understanding of the subsurface properties at a former industrial site and the extent of hydrocarbon contamination at the site.