Newsletters

In past newsletters we have provided a variety of geophysical case study examples that Pyramid has completed over the years. These projects have showcased methods such as electrical resistivity, seismic testing, electromagnetics and ground penetrating radar that were used to ...

In general, the density of the earth increases with depth, from a lighter silicic crust (or basalt in the oceans) to a sequence of denser, more metallic rocks from the mantle to the inner core. This is what we expect ...

Groundwater hydrogeology can be a challenging subject, even when water flows through a fairly homogeneous medium of grains with interconnected flow paths, but when water moves down via gravity through various strata at some point it typically reaches a level ...

The Triassic Basin soil and rock formations in the Durham, North Carolina, region provide challenges for geotechnical design and construction. These formations consist of highly heterogenous stratigraphy including sands, silts and clays overlying a weathered rock unit that can contain ...

There is a considerable amount of road building, repairing and widening happening in North Carolina, and I am always fascinated by the way these roads come together in a way that is hard to imagine when the projects are begun ...

The geophysical technologies we use for our typical projects are part of a vast spectrum of physical wave energy technologies used in a wide swath of applications. Our techniques and expertise are concentrated on the types of technologies that work ...

As environmental consultants, we are tasked with formulating an environmental assessment plan that will answer as many questions as possible, as thoroughly as possible, for the least amount of cost and effort. Size of the land (acreage), buildings and improvements, ...

The use of electromagnetic (EM) geophysical methods to evaluate ground conductivity variations is an effective tool to resolve environmental issues. However, the EM profiling instruments commonly used for such applications provide depth-averaged conductivity values at point locations. Additionally, a variety ...

Lead is a highly toxic metal that may cause a range of health problems, especially in young children. When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, including the kidneys, nerves ...

The relationship between signal to noise is something we environmental scientists, engineers and geophysicists need to understand and work with on a regular basis. But it is an important issue in all aspects of engineering and in life.  What is ...

The recent forest fires in the western portion of the state have reminded us of how much air pollution is of natural origin. When we hear the words, "air pollution," our thoughts immediately go towards things like automobile emissions and ...

There are many types of properties that require environmental due diligence that are not traditionally commercial in nature. The types of investigations performed varies for different types of properties, different client specifications and different requirements of partners and financing organizations ...

North Carolina contains hundreds of properties that served as landfill sites in the past; these former landfills have long since been inactive, and many of the sites are overgrown with no specific knowledge of the extent of the buried waste ...

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has a multitude of uses, many of which we have discussed in past newsletters. Applications include the detection of underground storage tanks (USTs) and drums, geologic mapping, void detection, archeological investigations, and subsurface utility locating. In ...

In many parts of the Piedmont of North Carolina, there is an interesting pattern of streams, lakes and rivers that seems to go against conventional Newtonian wisdom. Many of these drainage features go from the southwest to the northeast, which ...

It is common for all of us to see technicians along the side of roads with hand-held utility locating equipment. Typically they will mark their findings with spray-paint and/or pin-flags. What, you may ask, are they doing exactly? And the ...

The first true golf course was St. Andrews in Scotland. The word links means sandy undulating ground near a shore, and St. Andrews in Scotland is built on such terrain, on the eastern shore of the North Sea. The course ...

On October 22, the governor signed into law NC House Bill 765, or the Regulatory Reform Act. The bill was designed to make amendments to a variety of state laws related to business regulation, State and local government regulation, and ...

In our July Newsletter we provided a basic overview of groundwater, hydrogeology, and aquifer systems specific to North Carolina. This month we wanted to expand on those issues by discussing wells, well construction, and some basic parameters that differ between ...

We are currently entering what is considered the peak of hurricane season, and we thought this month it would be appropriate to discuss some general information regarding hurricanes in North Carolina, including their behavior, historical significance and local impacts. Hurricanes ...

If the grass in your yard and neighborhood is anything like ours, it has seen some major changes over the last few months as we have gone from a period of drought back into our normal summer afternoon rain showers ...

We have all heard about the presence of asbestos in old buildings, military bases, industrial facilities and processing plants. These are the locations where you have seen remediation companies removing the old asbestos and disposing of it at waste facilities ...

Recently, an article was released in the Raleigh News and Observer discussing potential changes to the North Carolina State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The proposed bill (House Bill 795) includes changes that would affect the minimum level of funds associated ...

The North Carolina State Park system is one of the most diverse and expansive in the United States. For those of you that live here, you have probably enjoyed a visit to at least of few of the state parks ...

Gem and Gold Mining in North Carolina Did you know that North Carolina is one of the most noteworthy states in the country for its sources of precious gemstones? Our state has provided a wide variety of gemstones such as ...

NC Mountain to Sea Trail The North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST Trail) is a 1,150-mile hiking trail that stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. The trail starts at Clingman's Dome (the highest point in Tennessee and ...

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico Pyramid Environmental recently performed a geophysical investigation for the National Park Service at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Carlsbad, NM. The survey used Electrical Resistivity mapping (ER) to look for potential underground caves or caverns near ...

One of North Carolina's most beautiful and dynamic coastal destinations is The Outer Banks. Many of you are likely aware of the ongoing issues associated with erosion and loss of beachfront along the Outer Banks. We wanted to provide you ...