Model development for subsurface organic compound vapor diffusion using geographic information systems: A feasibility assessment

Abstract

Abstract The feasibility of using a geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate the subsurface transport of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is evaluated. A GIS analysis based on selected soil properties and a flow path model were used to demonstrate the visualization of a probable path taken by diffusing VOC vapors in the vadose zone. The model uses soil properties such as texture, organic matter content, water content, bulk density, and permeability as path finding indices. The values of the soil properties used in the validation of this model were obtained from the respective County Soil Survey Reports. The various combinations of these soil properties resulted in deviations from the anticipated path taken by the diffusing organic vapors as they migrated through the subsurface. The model was evaluated using two soil systems and estimated diffusion coefficients. A proportionality constant (k) was calculated and used in conjunction with the assigned soil property values in the calculation of diffusion coefficients (Df) for trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors for each soil system. For each case, the model depicts the probable path taken by the VOC vapors as being the route through the soils having characteristics most favorable for chemical migration. Specifically, the soils along the predicted flow path have combinations of high moisture contents, low bulk densities, clay and organic matter contents as well as higher porosity and permeability than soils along any other possible flow path in the given soil systems.