Site characterization services

Our site characterization experts lead the industry in technical excellence and innovation.

Environmental site characterization is the crucial first step in addressing known or suspected contamination. It is analogous to diagnosing illnesses in medical professions — without a proper diagnosis, there can’t be an effective remedy. But the site characterization process can be costly and protracted. If you have already spent time and money characterizing your site, spending more money for site characterization may seem counterintuitive. But new understanding of the behavior of contaminants in the subsurface and new high-resolution site characterization technologies mean that taking a fresh look at your Conceptual Site Model (CSM) is often a very smart investment.

Haley & Aldrich’s environmental site characterization practitioners don’t approach site characterization as a one-size-fits-all activity. We customize our approach to align with the goals of our clients. We focus on quickly developing a better understanding of subsurface conditions, which is necessary to accurately define the risk posed to groundwater or vapor receptors. If active remediation is necessary, clear delineation of the source of the contamination allows us to develop the most cost-effective remediation approach. At sites where environmental stewardship is needed, our updated CSMs typically lead to less expensive long-term monitoring.

Due to the intricate nature of the subsurface environment, most subsurface CSMs are inherently complex. Haley & Aldrich’s site characterization team specializes in developing clear two- and three-dimensional graphical depictions of the subsurface that convey key information digestible for all stakeholders, including remediation engineers, environmental regulators, investors, and business partners.

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Service highlights

• CSM development and data gap analysis
• Data visualization and CSM animations
• Environmental forensics and litigation support
• Evaluations of existing or potential impacts to receptors
• Expert laboratory data validation
• Geological analysis by stratigraphers and fractured rock specialists
• High-resolution site characterization (HRSC)
• Streamlined Superfund RI/FS workflows
• Vapor intrusion evaluations