Faster, cheaper assessment of soil contamination
Soil contamination is a growing problem around the world and threatens the health of both humans and entire ecosystems. Unfortunately, this problem is expensive to investigate and rectify. Therefore, a previous EU project, MICCS, developed a faster and cheaper in situ investigation system based on novel drilling probe technology, chemical sensors and ground-penetrating radar. The MICCS-DEMO (Demonstration of methodology for fast and reliable investigation and characterization of contaminated sites) project conducted a full-scale demonstration of the MICCS system to ensure its market readiness. The key barrier was found to be regulatory acceptance, so MICCS-DEMO focused on the system's performance under different pollutants and geological conditions. The system comprises a probe fitted with sensors that measure contaminants as it is forced through the soil profile. Using advanced ground radar technology, researchers acquired additional information that helped to create an overall picture of the contaminated site. The result was faster and more effective accumulation of data, thereby lowering costs and contributing to a more rapid and effective clean-up effort. As well as practical demonstrations, MICCS-DEMO also ensured that market exploitation studies were conducted and the technology successfully disseminated. Further, it addressed business opportunities for the MICCS system outside the soil remediation industry as well as the benefits of developing additional sensors. The revised MICCS system will mean soil contamination assessment that is 30 % faster and 20 % cheaper, while also being more accurate and comprehensive. This will yield improved competitiveness of the project's small business customers, savings for Europe, more effective decontamination and a cleaner environment.
Keywords
Soil contamination, pollution, probe technology, chemical sensors, ground-penetrating radar
