Undergraduate Course: Hydrogeology 3: Field and Modelling Project (EASC10078)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Geosciences |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Earth Science |
Other subject area |
Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
None |
|
|
| Course description |
Modelling flow, mass and heat transport in the subsurface;
- Different modelling methods for different aquifer types (Porous media, Fractured Media, Hybrid Approaches, Scaling Issues, Geomechanical facies)
- Application of Geostatistical techniques to address uncertainty and expected values (Kriging)
- Application of finite difference and finite element software tools to simulate groundwater flow and transport
- Application to scenario report focusing on (i) groundwater flow; (ii) contaminant transport in an aquifer; (iii) aquifer zonation for planning issues and drinking water extraction (iv) Heat plume migration from geothermal heat pumps. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Block 4 (Sem 2), Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-10 | | | | 14:00 - 17:00 | |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Additional information |
35 hour(s) per week for 1 week(s). 1 week field project, March, Dates flexible |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will have gained an understanding of the principal areas, features, boundaries, terminologies and conventions involved when using field observations, experimental data, field tests and other literature sources to create a hydrogeological conceptual model, convert this into a numerical model and then use the numerical model as a management tool. They will be able to develop a numerical model of the hydrogeological conceptual model. They will also be knowledgeable, and have had experience in, the different modelling methods applicable to different aquifer types and issues associated with theses e.g. porous media, fractured media, hybrid approaches, scaling issues and hydro-geological facies.
In addition they will be faced with the uncertainty of field observations and the requirement to parameterise numerical methods and will know how to parameterise different material and fluid characteristics from field observations, field test results and other literature sources. They will also understand the different techniques for the investigation of hydrogeologically relevant parameters in different types of media. Students will understand the concepts behind and the application of Geostatistaical techniques to de-limit the uncertainty and to make estimations where there is limited data available. They will be able to use geo-statistical approaches to fill in data gaps and will be able to apply both finite difference and finite element models to groundwater resources management. Geostatistical techniques will be presented and excel spreadsheets provided demonstrating the use and application of the techniques. The central theme of the course is a real life scenario requiring scientifically based recommendations for dealing with several planning and management problems. In order to complete this work, students will be required to use their skills to predict groundwater flow, contaminant transport and heat transport using numerical methods. Finally the work is to be presented in the form of a professional written report. Several workshops are given as part of the course, including consultation with practising hydrogeologists. |
Assessment Information
Scenario assessment report
|
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Chris Mcdermott
Tel:
Email: cmcdermo@staffmail.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Emma Latto
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: emma.latto@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 5:48 am
|
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