The methods and knowledge of geophysics had been developed for mining and petroleum industries, which involve consolidated subsurface environments with high pressure and temperature.
Using geophysical methods and digital technology allows hydrogeologists to more quickly study hydrological characteristics on a larger scale with a lower cost and less invasive techniques.
A Hydrogeophysics Advanced Study Institute was held at the Trest Castle in the Czech Republic in July 2002 and funded by NATO when they acknowledged the necessity for fully developed, minimally invasive procedures for investigating and monitoring hydrogeological processes and parameters in shallow subsurface conditions.
They determined the main obstacles of hydrogeophysics are gaps in the knowledge and understanding of the correlation between hydrogeological parameters and geophysical characteristics, and difficulty in being able to integrate those different sets of information.
[3] There are many different methods for determining subsurface properties and features that can be done from different locations/ proximities to the study sites: Geophysics helps to learn about many hydrogeological matters such as: These parameters are then used to investigate matters including searching for underground water resources, aquifer control or contamination from sea water or industrial sources, and storing harmful substances underground.