Field Course
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding: learn how to plan, design, execute and interpret a geophysical survey, from the selection of the methods to be applied to the interpretation of results.
Applying knowledge and understanding: the acquired knowledge allows to approach correctly the planning, design, execution and interpretation of a geophysical survey and to clearly communicate the results.
Applying knowledge and understanding: the acquired knowledge allows to approach correctly the planning, design, execution and interpretation of a geophysical survey and to clearly communicate the results.
Expected learning outcomes
Making judgements: the student is able to design and plan a geophysical survey, e.g. selecting the most appropriate geophysical methodologies, acquisition settings and survey layout; furthermore, the student is able to evaluate the optimal processing and interpretation approaches for solving a geophysical problem and the best way of presenting the results.
Communication skills: The student is able to clearly communicate the results of a geophysical survey, both orally and with a written report that illustrate data acquisition, processing and interpretation.
Learning skills: Give the student the ability to learn autonomously topics that can not be dealt with during the lessons/field acquisition, 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 the results of a geophysical survey, both orally and with a written report that illustrate data acquisition, processing and interpretation.
Learning skills: Give the student the ability to learn autonomously topics that can not be dealt with during the lessons/field acquisition, 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 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
Electrical prospection: electric quadrupole and apparent resistivity; arrays. Vertical electrical soundings; Horizontal electrical soundings; electrical resistivity tomography (ERT); cross-borehole tomography; time-lapse measurements and monitoring; Induced polarization; acquisition and processing of electric data;
· 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; acquisition and processing of electromagnetic data.
· Forward modelling and inversion of geophysical data: brief outline of modelling and inversion techniques; resolution of inversion parameters and equivalent models; inversion regularization.
· 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; acquisition and processing of electromagnetic data.
· Forward modelling and inversion of geophysical data: brief outline of modelling and inversion techniques; resolution of inversion parameters and equivalent models; inversion regularization.
Prerequisites for admission
Physics: knowledge of electromagnetism. Mathematics: differential equations, calculus.
Teaching methods
Theoretical lectures; acquisition in the field of geophysical data; practical exercises of processing and inversion of data.
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: written report on the acquired measurements and oral presentation of the results. 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/10 - SOLID EARTH GEOPHYSICS - University credits: 1
GEO/11 - APPLIED GEOPHYSICS - University credits: 4
GEO/12 - OCEANOGRAPHY AND PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE - University credits: 1
GEO/11 - APPLIED GEOPHYSICS - University credits: 4
GEO/12 - OCEANOGRAPHY AND PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE - University credits: 1
Practical exercises with elements of theory: 60 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
From 9:00 to 17:00 (appointment via e-mail)
2nd floor, near the classroom D