Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Survey and Laboratory

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.

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. At the end of the course the student will be able to:
· Perform and comment geomechanical surveys for the definition of rock mass properties
· Perform and interpret field and laboratory tests for the definition of the main properties of soils (grain size, density, water content)
· Perform and interpret infiltration tests for the definition of the hydrogeological properties of soils
· Provide suggestions for the installation of hydrometeorological monitoring networks as a support to the investigation of geological-technical problems (slope stability, soil eorsion, interaction between surface and ground water)
· Explain the basic concepts behind extreme events statistics
· Process precipitation data to derive return periods and Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves
· List the main technics for meteorological data spatialization
· Apply empirical methods to calculate the expected peak streamflow in mountain watersheds
· Explain advantages and disadvantages of a probabilistic approach, in comparison to a deterministic one, for the calculation of the expected streamflow
· Critically read geological-technical maps
· Plan a preliminary geological-technical field campaign for the investigation of a geology-related problem
· Produce the connected and relevant geological-technical maps