Environmental site investigation and characterization is potentially the most important part of an environmental project. Site investigation is so important because nearly all other aspects of the project, from financial decisions to engineering designs and construction tasks, are based on the findings of an initial site investigation.

The goal in site investigation is to use a number of methods to understand the conditions present at a site and to choose a clear and detailed method to record and present the findings for later reference. Economic and political factors often play a...