Electrical, Electromagnetic and Gravimetric Methods for Environmental and Exploration
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Undefined
Expected learning outcomes
Undefined
Lesson period: First 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
First 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.
· Induced Polarization: definitions and physical principles, dispersive resistivity and phenomenological models; time-domain and frequency-domain galvanic measurements;.
· Electromagnetic Prospection: physical principles; instrumentation and acquisition procedures of time-domain (TDEM) and frequency-domain (FDEM) electromagnetic data; Airborne EM; induced polarization in EM data.
· 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.
· Forward modelling and inversion of geophysical data: brief outline of modelling and inversion techniques; resolution of inversion parameters and equivalent models; inversion regularization.
· Induced Polarization: definitions and physical principles, dispersive resistivity and phenomenological models; time-domain and frequency-domain galvanic measurements;.
· Electromagnetic Prospection: physical principles; instrumentation and acquisition procedures of time-domain (TDEM) and frequency-domain (FDEM) electromagnetic data; Airborne EM; induced polarization in EM data.
· 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.
Prerequisites for admission
Physics: knowledge of mechanics and electromagnetism. Mathematics: differential equations, complex numbers, Fourier analysis.
Teaching methods
Theoretical lectures; practical exercises in python/Matlab, with implementation of simple processing and visualization scripts, and use of complex software for data processing/inversion.
Teaching Resources
Reynolds, J.M., 2011, An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, Wiley.
· Siemon B., Christiansen A.V., Lykke-andersen H., Jørgensen F., Dietrich P., Auken E., Jimenez M.A., 2006, Groundwater Geophysics: A Tool for Hydrogeology, 2nd edition, Springer
· Binley, A. and Slater L., 2020, Resistivity and induced polarization: Theory and applications to the near-surface earth. Cambridge University Press.
· Siemon B., Christiansen A.V., Lykke-andersen H., Jørgensen F., Dietrich P., Auken E., Jimenez M.A., 2006, Groundwater Geophysics: A Tool for Hydrogeology, 2nd edition, Springer
· Binley, A. and Slater L., 2020, Resistivity and induced polarization: Theory and applications to the near-surface earth. Cambridge University Press.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Exam method: oral, plus home assignement on Gravimetric/Magnetic prospection. 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.
GEO/11 - APPLIED GEOPHYSICS - University credits: 6
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Professors:
Chen Jian, Fiandaca Gianluca
Professor(s)
Reception:
From 9:00 to 17:00
2nd floor, near the classroom D