Where we make the biggest impact

Applications

Applications of Aestus' technology

Aestus’ GeoTrax Survey™ and integrated Electrical Hydrogeology™ process provides the clarity needed to allow you to make confident and cost-effective decisions for your project sites. Our work spans geologic mapping, geohazard analysis, water well siting, and more, each backed by field-proven results. Explore the applications below to see how our approach works in practice and the measurable value it adds.
Contaminated Sites icon

Contaminated sites

Map the type, location, and movement of pollutants to guide effective cleanup.

  • Contaminant distribution mapping (LNAPL, DNAPL, aqueous)
  • Bioactivity assessment for remediation
  • Track where injection treatments travel
Water Supply Icon

Water supply & aquifer management

Locate and protect vital groundwater resources.

  • Target water supply wells with precision
  • Monitor managed aquifer recharge
  • Detect saline intrusion before it spreads

Geohazard detection

Identify ground stability risks before they cause damage.

  • Sinkhole potential mapping
  • Check for piping in earthen dams
  • Detect voids, karst, and unstable geology
Structural Mapping Icon

Geologic & structural mapping

Understand the subsurface framework that controls water and contaminant movement.

  • Detailed geologic mapping
  • Identify lithologic controls and preferential pathways
  • Locate tunnels for security concerns
Subsurface Monitoring Icon

Subsurface monitoring

Track changes over time to prevent costly surprises.

  • Monitor injection sites and treatment performance
  • Detect contaminant excursions beyond compliance boundaries
  • Evaluate long-term stability of critical sites

Get relief from the guesswork

Hidden subsurface problems can drain budgets, delay projects, and damage reputations. With Aestus’ proven imaging and analysis, you see what’s really happening underground before committing time and resources. That clarity lets you move forward with confidence, knowing your next step is the right one.
Barrels of contamination and contaminated spill

Contaminated sites

Electrical hydrogeology makes it possible to see how contamination is distributed and moving underground. With high-resolution imaging, you can map pollutants, confirm where remediation is effective, and uncover hidden pathways that wells alone may miss.  Typical applications include, but are not limited to, LNAPL, DNAPL, PFAS, metals, salt/brine leaks and spills at gas stations, dry cleaners, refineries, pipeline facilities, industrial plants, and others.
Timeline: Dependent on the tier of service engagement
  • Environmental consultants designing or refining remediation plans
  • Regulators who need defensible, site-wide data
  • Site owners seeking faster closure and reduced liability
  • Responsible parties aiming to reduce cleanup costs
  • Visualize contaminant plumes in 2D and 3D
  • Track migration and confirm treatment effectiveness
  • Target remediation precisely to reduce wasted effort
  • Shorten project timelines and lower overall cost
  • High-resolution electrical resistivity imaging of contaminated zones
  • Integration with existing soil, groundwater, or well data
  • Mapping of source zones and preferential pathways
  • Clear interpretation with actionable next steps
Drilling for water supply well

Water supply & aquifer management

Aestus’ electrical hydrogeology process helps you find, assess, and manage groundwater resources with greater confidence. From siting high-yield wells to monitoring recharge projects, GeoTrax™ imaging provides clarity that reduces risk and supports sustainable water management.
Timeline: Dependent on the tier of service engagement
  • Municipalities developing new water supply wells
  • Engineers and hydrologists designing ASR or MAR projects
  • Agricultural and industrial users managing large water demands
  • Regulators overseeing groundwater protection
  • Identify and target high-yield aquifers with confidence
  • Monitor aquifer recharge and recovery over time
  • Reduce the risk of drilling dry or low-producing wells
  • Support sustainable management of groundwater resources
  • Subsurface imaging to locate and characterize aquifers
  • Integration of electrical data with existing hydrologic studies
  • Maps of preferential flow paths and aquifer storage zones
  • Professional interpretation with clear recommendations for siting and monitoring
Large sinkhole in the middle of a field

Geohazard detection

GeoTrax™ imaging helps identify hidden subsurface risks before they become costly or dangerous. From sinkholes to dam seepage, electrical hydrogeology reveals geologic weaknesses and water movement that standard methods often miss.
Timeline: Dependent on the tier of service engagement
  • Municipalities and utilities managing dams, levees, or reservoirs
  • Developers assessing sites with karst or unstable geology
  • Infrastructure owners concerned about seepage or settlement
  • Risk managers responsible for safety and liability
  • Detect potential sinkholes and unstable ground conditions
  • Identify seepage paths in dams, levees, and embankments
  • Reduce risk of unexpected failures and costly repairs
  • Protect infrastructure investments and surrounding communities
  • Electrical imaging of karst, fractured bedrock, and soft soils
  • Mapping of seepage zones and preferential flow paths
  • Subsurface profiling for slope stability and foundation support
  • Expert interpretation with recommended mitigation strategies
Geologic image of layers of soil

Geologic & structural mapping

Aestus’ electrical hydrogeology process creates a clearer picture of subsurface geology and structural features. From mapping faults and fractures to defining stratigraphy, GeoTrax™ imaging provides the detail needed for smarter planning, design, and risk reduction.
Timeline: Dependent on the tier of service engagement
  • Engineers and geologists needing accurate geologic models
  • Developers planning infrastructure in complex geology
  • Energy and mining projects requiring structural clarity
  • Regulators reviewing geologic risk assessments
  • Map faults, fractures, and stratigraphic boundaries with precision
  • Reduce uncertainty compared to sparse drilling data
  • Improve design and siting decisions for infrastructure projects
  • Support long-term stability and risk management
  • High-resolution subsurface imaging of geologic structures
  • Mapping of lithologic contacts and stratigraphy
  • Identification of fractures, deformation zones, and faults
  • Integration with borehole and geophysical data for robust models
Working off of a prepared site map, the Aestus team works on prepping the site for scanning

Subsurface monitoring

Subsurface conditions change over time. With time-lapse Electrical Hydrogeology™, you can view the same location in the subsurface hours/days/weeks/months/years later to track plume migration, aquifer recharge (MAR or ASR projects), or potential geohazard development. GeoTrax Monitoring™ brings clarity to confirm success, detect risks early, and prevent costly surprises.
Timeline: Monitoring programs are customized to client and project needs and can last days or years
  • Environmental teams verifying remediation performance
  • Water managers tracking aquifer recharge and recovery
  • Dam and levee operators monitoring seepage or stability
  • Owners of high-liability sites requiring ongoing assurance
  • Compare subsurface changes over time with confidence
  • Confirm remediation effectiveness or detect untreated zones
  • Monitor aquifer dynamics in ASR/MAR projects
  • Identify emerging risks like seepage or sinkholes early
  • Time-lapse electrical resistivity imaging at the same location
  • Subsurface change detection in 2D and 3D
  • Mapping of plume migration, recharge, or structural shifts
  • Expert interpretation with clear reporting on evolving risks
Technology Selection Matrix

The Subsurface Technology Selection Matrix

Choose the right subsurface tool for your jobsite.

Not sure which technology to use for site characterization? We’ve got you covered.

Our free Subsurface Technology Selection Matrix helps you match your project size and goals with the right scanning tools. Whether you’re chasing contamination, mapping groundwater, or planning remediation, this guide gives you the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.
This guide will help you…
  • Avoid wasted time and budget on tools that don’t fit your site needs
  • Learn the strengths and limitations of each major subsurface technology
  • Get expert guidance on when to scan, drill, or combine both for best results

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Madison Culver
Madison Culver, M.Sc.
Staff Geologist / Field Technician
Since joining Aestus in 2024, Madison has performed various project tasks including field data acquisition, data integration and analysis, 2D and 3D visualization, and project report development.

As an undergraduate at Oklahoma Sate University, Madison utilized electrical resistivity imaging to locate a drilling target for a municipal water well in rural Oklahoma. Her Master’s degree, also from Oklahoma State University, focused on the production and laboratory testing of a novel groundwater tracing particle for use in a sole source aquifer.

Madison previously worked at an environmental consulting firm in Dallas, Texas, where she performed soil/groundwater investigations/reporting, PFAS sampling programs, and Environmental Site Assessments.

Madison is based out of Irving, Texas.
Michelle Lahti
Michelle Lahti, PACE
Administrative Director
Since joining Aestus in 2021, Michelle has supported the CEO and other managers in their day-to-day needs. She also manages human resources and all elements of the many conferences Aestus attends. Michelle works hard to ensure that the needs of stakeholders are addressed in all steps of the business process when working with our clients.
Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in Avionics Engineering Technology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She also has experience as a small business owner, and over 15 years’ experience as an executive assistant in many different industries. She has her Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) through the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP).
Michelle is based out of Wellington, Colorado.
Autumn Town
Autumn M. Town, M.Sc.
Staff Geologist / Field Technician
Autumn performs various project tasks for Aestus, including field data acquisition, data integration and analysis, 2D and 3D visualization, and project report development. Since joining Aestus in 2023, she has helped meet project objectives such as mapping stratigraphy, identifying areas of contamination, and characterizing preferential flow pathways at complex sites across the United States.
As an undergraduate at Oklahoma State University, Autumn utilized electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) to evaluate the hydrogeologic effects of PFAS-containing firefighting foams. While completing her Master’s degree, also at Oklahoma State University, she focused primarily on sedimentology and stratigraphy as she studied the effects of depositional and diagenetic processes on porosity development in a tight gas sandstone reservoir.

Autumn is based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Morgan Love
Morgan Love, M.Sc.
Senior Project Geologist
Morgan has been a part of the Aestus team since 2012. She supports all aspects of data integration for Aestus in 2D and 3D space, including modeling of geophysical, geochemical, and geologic data. She also performs geophysical data processing and develops quality control and automation protocols to ensure data integrity.

Prior to Aestus, Morgan used her environmental geology undergraduate degree working for a water resource company, a geosciences software company, and a seismic data acquisition company. She holds a Master's Degree in Computer Information Systems.

Morgan is based out of Fort Collins, Colorado.
Grant Eastman
Grant Eastman
Equipment Manager / Field Technician
Grant maintains all our equipment and vehicles at a firehouse ready status in order for the field team to be ready to mobilize at moment’s notice. He also troubleshoots any technical issues that come up as well as being a member of the field team.

Grant graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Watershed Science. After graduating he completed 8 years of military service with the Colorado Army National Guard, including two deployments to the middle east. Before joining Aestus, he was a senior technician building custom automation equipment and wire harness mockups for aerospace companies.

Grant is based out of Milliken, Colorado.
Samantha Frandsen
Samantha Frandsen, M.Sc, P.Gp.
Hydrogeophysicist / Project Manager
Since joining Aestus in 2018, Samantha has performed all aspects of the Aestus project lifecycle, including acquisition field work, processing of geophysical data, data integration, 3D visualization, and reporting. As project manager, she oversees a variety of projects completed at complex sites across the United States and strives to help our clients efficiently leverage Aestus’ high-resolution GeoTrax Survey™ data to improve understanding of subsurface conditions.

Prior to her time with Aestus, she earned her Bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in Physics from the University of Richmond and taught high school physics as a Teach for America corps member. She then completed her Master’s degree (Distinction) in Exploration Geophysics at the University of Leeds in the UK. For her thesis, she utilized several different geophysical techniques to characterize the subsurface remains of a former gasworks facility for which she was awarded the GETECH award for best overall performance in the Independent Project and the Association for Industrial Archaeology’s Dissertation Award.

When she’s not investigating what’s below the ground, Samantha enjoys exploring all the above-ground fun her Stateline (South Lake Tahoe), NV home has to offer via trail running, mountain biking, and snowboarding.

Samantha is based out of Stateline, Nevada.
Michael McNair
Michael McNair
Project Geologist / Field Team Leader
Michael has worked on a variety of project types using Aestus’ electrical hydrogeology techniques to help Aestus’ clients succeed relative to characterization of contaminated sites, evaluating geohazards, municipal water well exploration, and monitoring subsurface changes over time. Michael currently manages Aestus’ field operations to collect high quality subsurface electrical imagery (GeoTrax Survey™) at rural, urban, and industrial sites with complex logistics. When not in the field, Michael is a key member of Aestus’ reporting team and leads or assists with 2D/3D data integration, QC, data interpretation, and reporting.

Michael previously worked at an environmental consulting firm in Dallas, Texas, where he performed soil/groundwater investigations in the field and subsequently developed reports. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Baylor University.

Michael is based out of Orlando, Florida.
Todd Halihan
Todd Halihan, Ph.D., P.Gp.
CTO/Data Interpretation Lead
Todd’s focus at Aestus centers on subsurface characterization using electrical hydrogeology and sustainable water supply. He is also a professor and the Sun Company Clyde Wheeler Chair in Hydrogeology at Oklahoma State University. He was the National Ground Water Association’s 2018 McEllhiney Lecturer and he is a founding member of the NGWAU program for groundwater outreach and education.

Dr. Halihan is the recipient of the American Institute of Hydrology’s C.V. Theis Award winner. He is also a professional geophysicist (CA), professional driller (OK) and a PADI divemaster.

Todd is based out of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Stuart McDonald
Stuart W. McDonald, P.E.
CEO/Project Executive/Contracting
Stuart has dedicated over 20 years of his career overseeing the development of Aestus with the goal of empowering clients worldwide to gain more certainty in subsurface issues to make better technical decisions and save time and money on their projects. He has been involved in managing hundreds of projects for Aestus in the USA, Europe, Asia, and South America.

Stuart spent the first decade of his career as an environmental consultant primarily with Canonie Environmental and Harding Lawson Associates and gained experience performing cradle to grave site characterization and remediation work on high profile Superfund and other projects. This experience was the genesis of founding Aestus in 2001 as it became clear that the environmental industry needed more data density and more certainty for optimal decision-making on projects.

Stuart is based out of Loveland, Colorado.