96018 - GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student: - knows the basic principles of the main geophysical exploration techniques (seismic, electric, magnetic, electromagnetic and gravimetric methods); - the application fields and limitations of each technique in respect to different environmental, geotechnical, subsoil exploitation and protection problems, at small and large scale.

Course contents

The course consists in 4 hour classes where the basic theoretical and practical elements of the different geophysical exploration techniques are presented.

*For students who already attended the Physics of the Earth course with me, lessons 2-3-4 will be replaced with advanced signal processing contents.
Lesson 8 will be replaced with practical exercises of analysis and interpretation of surface wave signals.

Lesson 1. Signal theory

Lesson 2*. Elastic theory and seismic waves

Lesson 3*. Seismic refraction

Lesson 4*. Seismic reflection. In-hole techniques

Lesson 5. Surface wave methods (H/V)

Lesson 6. Surface wave methods (dispersion curves)

Lesson 7. Electrical method

Lesson 8*. Gravity method

Lesson 9. Magnetic and electromagnetic methods

Lesson 10. Seismic hazard. Engineering seismology

Lesson 11. Exercises for those following the 6 CFU course

Lesson 12. Individual report review and discussion

Each exploration method will be introduced by means of laboratory experiments and field surveys.

Readings/Bibliography

Suggested readings:

THE SOLID EARTH: AN INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL GEOPHYSICS, C.M.R. Fowler, Cambridge University Press (2004, 2nd edition)

INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, Burger, Sheehan, Jones, Norton, 2006, 600 p. + CD

NEAR SURFACE APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, M.E. Everett, Cambridge, 2013, 400 p.

AN INTRODUCTION TO GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION, Kearey, Brooks, Hill, Blackwell Publ., 2002, 262 p.

I METODI GEOELETTRICO E SISMICO PER LE INDAGINI SUPERFICIALI DEL SOTTOSUOLO, Carrara, Rapolla, Roberti, Liguori ed., 2012, 295 p.

ESPLORAZIONE GEOFISICA DEL SOTTOSUOLO, Musset, Aftab Khan, Zanichelli, 2003, 420 p.

Teaching methods

Lessons, laboratory experiments and field surveys.

All lessons will be recorded and made available to students attending the classes.

Laboratory and field surveys require the student to be physically present.

Assessment methods

For students following the 3 CFU course. Each student selects 6 lessons out of the 12 available and take a test on them.
There will be the chance to take a test (1 CFU) every 8 hours of lesson.

 

For students following the 6 CFU course. The final exam is both written (3 exercises) and oral.

The student delivers one compulsory individual report on one of the geophysical exploration methods assigned by the tutor.

 

Teaching tools

All lessons will be recorded and made available online to students attending the classes.

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Castellaro