Investigation of contaminated sites 

For environmental authorities as well as private landowners, investigation of soil and groundwater contamination is the basis for evaluating risks and elaborating remediation and development plans for any given contaminated site.

COWI conducts all types of investigations of soil and groundwater contamination from initial mapping investigations to comprehensive investigations with delimitation of contaminants. We apply the results of the investigations to design remedial actions and evaluate costs of handling contaminated soil and groundwater.

Soil gas and indoor climate

It is exceedingly difficult to determine whether the results of soil gas investigations are representative. Therefore, we have formed a group of specialists in soil gas measurement, indoor climate and ventilation. This group is at the forefront with regard to evaluation of these complicated problems.

COWI has an advanced mobile soil gas laboratory which includes a mobile GC-MS for continuous measurement of volatile substances such as chlorinated solvents or oil and petrol components in soil gas.

Risk evaluation and remediation design

The type and scale of contamination will greatly influence the options for future land use. Consequently, we evaluate risks with regard to indoor climate, land-use and groundwater. This enables us to plan and design remediation measures for the reduction of contaminant dispersion and thereby increase the usability of the area.