The Evolving Roles of Electrical Geophysical Methods for In Situ Remediation Assessment: Progress and Perspectives

Abstract In situ remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater demands real‐time monitoring to capture complex subsurface dynamics. Geophysical methods, particularly electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polarization (IP), offer non‐ or minimally invasive, high‐resolution imaging of subsurface changes during remediation. This is the first review to synthesize advances in geophysical monitoring of four key technologies: in situ chemical oxidation/reduction (ISCO/ISCR), in situ bioremediation (ISB), in situ thermal remediation (ISTR), and permeable reactive barriers (PRB). We systematically examine how variations in hydrogeology, temperature, hydrochemistry and contaminant indicators influence electrical responses, and discuss the principles, advantages, and limitations of ERT/IP for each technology. Based on a bibliometric analysis of over 200 studies, we identify current trends, critical challenges, and future research directions. Integrating geophysical methods with direct sampling is essential to transform electrical signatures into actionable insights for remediation management. Continued progress will be made via advances in petrophysical relationships, multi‐source data fusion coupled inversion frameworks, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to enable real‐time, adaptive remediation strategies.