Integrating site characterization with aquifer and soil remediation design

A computationally-efficient approach integrating site characterization with aquifer and soil remediation design has been developed. This integration is necessary since different designs require different hydrogeological and chemical information from the site. The approach is orders of magnitude faster than typical Monte Carlo or perturbation techniques used to estimate design uncertainty. This computational efficiency allows us to envision practical use in site characterization activities to direct exploration as observations from the field are collected and analyzed. Design reliability, quantified by a reliability or safety index as described below, may be used to guide site exploration, to compare different remedial options, and to indicate when sufficient data have been collected to evaluate the design.