Sedimentology and Applied Stratigraphy

A.Y. 2025/2026
6
Max ECTS
64
Overall hours
SSD
GEO/02
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
Deepening knowledge of the main type of sedimentary systems, with special reference to the critical role their the heterogeneity of their products plays in land, seafloor, and subsurface space management and geological hazard assessment

Understanding nature and mode of stacking of sedimentary units (including unconformity-bounded units) within larger-scale composite units in light of autogenic and allogenic controls

Linking sedimentary heterogeneity to scale and range of variability of geotechnical, geomechanical, and poro-permeability properties

Learning how to use and integrate subsoil investigations and data from analogue systems to build comprehensive conceptual models of sedimentary heterogeneity and related uncertainty, which can aid decision-making in infrastructure projects and assessing geological and anthropogenic hazards (e.g., subsidence, seismic site effects, soil liquefaction, pollutant dispersal etc.).

Building ability to draw and use sedimentary heterogeneity models for informing subsoil investigations and ultimately mitigate subsoil uncertainty
Expected learning outcomes
In-depth knowledge of applied implications of sedimentary heterogeneities in the context of land, seafloor, and subsurface space management and geological hazard prediction

Ability to draw models of sedimentary heterogeneity useful for informing subsoil investigations and ultimately mitigate subsoil uncertainty
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
Review of the main sedimentary systems (both marine and continental) and their salient erosional and depositional products, with special reference to those (e.g., alluvial and coastal plains) characterizing the subsoil of the most densely populated areas or traversed by major infrastructures on land and at sea

From sedimentary facies tracts to 2D and 3D conceptual models of sedimentary processes and facies distribution: information from analogue modern systems

Basic concepts of 3D geological and sedimentary facies modelling: hard and soft data, deterministic vs. stochastic modelling, prediction and uncertainty

Case studies presentation, examining the geology and the subsoil of selected urban areas and highlighting the implications of uncertainty about sedimentary heterogeneity
Prerequisites for admission
Bachelor Degree in Geological Science
Teaching methods
Lectures (4 CFU, 48h, 14 lezioni), practical classes (2CFU, 24h, 12 lezioni)
Teaching Resources
Lecture slides and selected publications (including book chapters) provided through ARIEL repository
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam entails both an oral part and a written assignment, each of which has a weight of 0.5 for the calculation of the final mark.

The oral part consists of a 15 min. slide presentation, in which students will illustrate one of the topics covered by the lectures using one or more case studies from literature

The written assignment will include one essay question and an additional essay in which the student will address the possible stratigraphic relationship between a number of units portrayed in a draft stratigraphic scheme of the subsoil, along with implications for land and subsurface space management
GEO/02 - STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY - University credits: 6
Practicals: 48 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Marini Mattia
Professor(s)