The Department of Geology has recently upgraded equipment needed for physical hydrogeology research and teaching. This includes high accuracy pressure transducers, 16-bit digital data acquisition systems, Pentium laptop computers, electric water-level measurement tapes, sediment sampling devices, borehole packers, digital flow meter, various pumps (submersible, bladder, etc.), and lab permeameters.

For ground-water chemistry research, the KU Plasma Analytical Laboratory houses a VG PQIIXS inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS), used for measuring trace element content of solutions; a JY Ultrace138 inductively-coupled atomic emission spectrometer (ICPAES), used for measuring major and minor element content of solutions; and a laser ablation microprobe (LAM), for direct elemental determination of solids. In addition, the Geochemistry Laboratory houses an HPLC that is used for measurement of major anions and cations in water and for other elements extracted from rocks into aqueous solution. A field vehicle dedicated to water sampling is a portable sampling and analytical laboratory fitted with a nitrogen-purged glove box. These facilities allow high quality sampling and analysis of liquids and solids for inorganic element content.

The KGS is actively involved in groundwater studies and has a large well-equipped Geohydrology Section. They have extensive equipment for physical hydrogeology measurements, a geophysical well logging unit, shallow seismic equipment, and two drill rigs for augering or coring. Chemical capabilities at KGS include an ICP spectrophotometer specifically set up for simultaneous determination of major and minor constituents in fresh to saline waters, automated segmented and flow injection analyzers for measurement of major and trace constituent concentrations in fresh to saline waters, an automated titrimeter, and pH, specific ion, and conductivity meters.

The Geohydrologic Experimental and Monitoring Site (GEMS) has been established as a research and teaching resource. This site is in the Kansas River alluvium just northeast of Lawrence. It includes about 70 wells that have been drilled for a variety of purposes. This site includes nests of wells of various diameters, drilled to various depths and having various screen lengths. It also includes an array of multi-level samplers, which are useful in tracer tests. The site has been and continues to be used for a number of research projects as well as a teaching laboratory. The primary focus at GEMS is characterization of aquifer heterogeneity.

The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering has a large, well-equipped hydraulic laboratory. Research equipment includes two water flumes and a tiltable sediment flume. The laboratory has a recirculating water-supply system with a constant-head tank. Space is available for testing of large hydraulic models. In addition, instrumentation is available to conduct research in water quality, air quality, and solid and hazardous wastes. Major equipment includes: spectrophotometers, gas chromatograph, microscopes, fluorometers, turbidimeter, fermentors and biological reactors. A well-equipped microbiology laboratory contains facilities for conducting routine bacteriologic identifications and algal assays.

The University of Kansas provides broad support for its academic programs. Academic Computing Services provides a comprehensive fiber-based ethernet communication system for the campus, which allows easy access to the internet and other regional and national networks. The library facilities at the University of Kansas provide excellent support for the educational program through on-campus library facilities and interlibrary services.