Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Survey and Laboratory

A.Y. 2019/2020
9
Max ECTS
92
Overall hours
SSD
GEO/05
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
General aims: The main objective of the course is teaching students to acquire geotechnical, geomechanical and hydrogeological data, by means of easy in situ and laboratory techniques, and to process such data to create thematic maps or produce technical databases for engineering design.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Attending the course, students will increase their capacities in technical surveying and field data analyses. They will learn specific technical procedures and apply them, including the use of instruments, with the final aim of summarizing them in technical reports and maps
Applying knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course the student should have: 1) the ability to plan geological surveys to analyze and solve geo-engineering problems, 2) the ability to read and produce thematic maps and reports
Making judgements: personal laboratory and field activities, and the consequent production of reports and maps, will allow students to increase their ability to critically analyze data and results and to develop professional abilities
Communication skills: at the end of the course the student should have the capacity to communicate technical results, on the course specific topics, in both oral and written form
Learning skills: specific technical abilities, proposing solutions to simple technical problems and experience in working within a group.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
GEOTECHNICAL AND HYDROGEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND LABORATORY
The course comprises lectures in which the fundaments of engineering geology are recalled, and the main geotechnical and hydrogeological instruments described, focusing on the practical and executive aspects as well and the data processing methods. Laboratory practical classes and data processing exercises are planned. The course includes field activities: guided or individual field surveys and in situ measurements, followed by a personal geo-technical and hydrogeological report that will be evaluated.
Each topic comprises a description of procedures for data collection and data processing.
The main contents are:
- geological-technical description of soil, with visual or simple field instruments
- geotechnical soil classification (USCS - AASHO)
- execution and processing of geomechanical surveys for the characterization of rock masses
- rock mass classifications (Basic Geological Description (BGD); GSI, RMR (Bieniawski),Q system (Barton), and rock mass strength and deformability
- landslides classification, and morphometry
- definition of geo-technical units
- examples of engineering geological mapping intended to specific cases.

Hydrogeological survey
- instruments for the monitoring of hydrometeorological variables; tests for the determination of hydrogeological parameters
- Introduction to extreme events statistics and calculation of intensity-duration frequency curves
- Flow measurements in rivers, streams and channels; empirical/numerical methods to determine discharge at watershed outlets
- Remediation and protection measures for riverbeds: manual for their census

The suggested methods for data collection and processing are presented in accordance with and referring to the existing legislation.
Prerequisites for admission
Skills acquired in the coursesTechnical Geology (I semester - I year); Applied Geomorphology (1st semester - 1st year); Geology (II semester - I year), are required. Field teaching activities foreseen for this course are indispensable.
Teaching methods
The course includes lectures (4 CFU), classroom or laboratory exercises (2 CFU) and practical field activities (compulsory geological-technical survey campaign - 6 days - 3 CFU).
Teaching Resources
Lecture note provided by the teachers, reference technical standards for the execution of laboratory and on-site tests. In-depth technical bookswill be comunicated at the beginning of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The assessment test consists of three phases:
- evaluation of the workbook (collection of exercises carried out by the student during classroom exercises and independently);
- assessment of a group report relating to field survey activities;
- oral examination to check knowledge on the topics covered in the program.
GEO/05 - ENGINEERING GEOLOGY - University credits: 9
Field activity: 36 hours
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Appointment to be taken by email
Office or Microsoft Teams