Applied Geophysics
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding: Learn the basic knowledge concerning the main geophysical methods for the subsurface exploration and the physical principles which form the basis for each of these methods.
Applying knowledge and understanding: The acquired knowledge allows to approach correctly the design and the implementation of a geophysical survey carried out to give the answer to a problem in the field of applied geophysics.
Applying knowledge and understanding: The acquired knowledge allows to approach correctly the design and the implementation of a geophysical survey carried out to give the answer to a problem in the field of applied geophysics.
Expected learning outcomes
Making judgements: The student is able to evaluate autonomously the geophysical methodologies that can be applied for exploration purposes, knowing the advantages, the disadvantages and the limitations.
Communication skills: The student is able to clearly communicate to third party the topics of the applied geophysics, the difficulties encountered in the application of the different methodologies and the possible solutions. He/her is able to interact with the experts in this field.
Learning skills: Give the student the ability to learn autonomously topics that can not be dealt with during the lessons due to the limited time available, and also give him/her the ability to deepen the ones discussed.
Communication skills: The student is able to clearly communicate to third party the topics of the applied geophysics, the difficulties encountered in the application of the different methodologies and the possible solutions. He/her is able to interact with the experts in this field.
Learning skills: Give the student the ability to learn autonomously topics that can not be dealt with during the lessons due to the limited time available, and also give him/her the ability to deepen the ones discussed.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
· Electrical prospection: mechanisms of electrical conduction in rocks; Ohm's law; Archie's law; electric field generated by a point electrode; electric quadrupole and apparent resistivity; arrays. Vertical electrical soundings; Horizontal electrical soundings; electrical resistivity tomography (ERT); cross-borehole tomography; time-lapse measurements and monitoring.
· Forward modelling and inversion of geophysical data: brief outline of modelling and inversion techniques; resolution of inversion parameters and equivalent models; inversion regularization.
· Self potentials: physical principles, measurement methods.
· Induced Polarization: definitions and physical principles, time-domain and frequency-domain measurements; phenomenological models and inversion.
· Electromagnetic Prospection: physical principles; instrumentation and acquisition procedures of TDEM and FDEM data; Airborne EM.
· Gravimetric prospection: Earth's gravity field and density of soils and rocks; measurement procedures and gravimetric corrections.
· Magnetic Prospection: Earth's magnetic field and magnetic properties of minerals and rocks; measuring instruments and procedures.
· Seismic Prospection: basic properties of body and surface waves; seismic wave velocity in rocks; Refraction seismic - traveltimes for horizontal and dipping layers; intercept times and plus-minus method (Generalized Reciprocal Methods); Reflection seismic - principles, acquisition, multifold coverage, building of a stack section; Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and Horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) - principles and measurement procedures.
· Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): absolute and relative permittivity; reflection and transmission coefficient of electromagnetic waves; directivity function of receiving and transmitting antennas; the radargram.
· Forward modelling and inversion of geophysical data: brief outline of modelling and inversion techniques; resolution of inversion parameters and equivalent models; inversion regularization.
· Self potentials: physical principles, measurement methods.
· Induced Polarization: definitions and physical principles, time-domain and frequency-domain measurements; phenomenological models and inversion.
· Electromagnetic Prospection: physical principles; instrumentation and acquisition procedures of TDEM and FDEM data; Airborne EM.
· Gravimetric prospection: Earth's gravity field and density of soils and rocks; measurement procedures and gravimetric corrections.
· Magnetic Prospection: Earth's magnetic field and magnetic properties of minerals and rocks; measuring instruments and procedures.
· Seismic Prospection: basic properties of body and surface waves; seismic wave velocity in rocks; Refraction seismic - traveltimes for horizontal and dipping layers; intercept times and plus-minus method (Generalized Reciprocal Methods); Reflection seismic - principles, acquisition, multifold coverage, building of a stack section; Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and Horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) - principles and measurement procedures.
· Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): absolute and relative permittivity; reflection and transmission coefficient of electromagnetic waves; directivity function of receiving and transmitting antennas; the radargram.
Prerequisites for admission
Physics: knowledge of mechanics and electromagnetism. Mathematics: calculus.
Teaching methods
Theoretical lectures and guided exercises for processing of geophysical data.
Teaching Resources
Reynolds, J.M., 2011, An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, Wiley.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Exam method: oral. Evaluation criteria: understanding of the physical principles of the methods and their applicability; critical reasoning and evaluation of data/processing steps; skill in the use of specialist lexicon.
The final score will be expressed in thirtieth.
The final score will be expressed in thirtieth.
Professor(s)