Making, processing, and interpreting measurements of the physical properties of the Earth with the objective of practical application of the findings. Most exploration geophysics is conducted to find commercial accumulations of oil, gas, coal, or other minerals, but geophysical investigations are also employed with engineering objectives, in studies aimed at predicting the nature of the Earth for the foundations of roads, buildings, dams, tunnels, nuclear power plants, and other structures, and in the search for geothermal areas, water resources, pollution, archeological ruins, and so on.