Undergraduate Course: Geophysical Techniques for Terrestrial Environmental Applications (EASC10085)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will give students a flavour of geophysical techniques used to explore the shallow sub-surface, especially regarding contamination and pollution: the methods available, how surveys are conducted, how the data are processed and modelled, and the interpretation.
Students working subsequently for a local authority or environmental agency, for instance, should be able to assess a proposal from a geophysical consultant to know if it is will address the problem at hand, is an appropriate method (or methods), if the survey is designed sensibly, and is reasonably costed. |
| Course description |
Physical property contrasts (what properties, what contrasts) and the methods that probe them. Which techniques work well (and which work poorly) in given situations. How to choose survey parameters (e.g. profile spacing, sampling rate along profile).
Electromagnetic methods, including EM34, VLF.
Resistivity, self-potential and induced polarisation/complex resistivity methods
Magnetics.
Gravity.
Ground probing radar.
Seismic refraction.
Field data acquisition, processing and interpretation.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 30 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 19,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
79 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 50%, Course Work: 50 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
The exam lasts for forty-five minute and consists of one question from a choice of three.
Course work comprises an afternoon collecting geophysical data over and near a landfill site, modelling and interpreting them (and data collected over the same area in previous years), plus producing a written report. The mark for the assessment will be based on the quality of your report, which will describe the data acquisition, modelling and interpretation. All the data is shared amongst the class, so there is no mark assigned to the quality of the data. However, you are expected to comment on the data quality and uncertainties, as well as the ambiguities in the models and their interpretation. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Ability to choose a method or methods for probing a specified environmental problem; know how to set up the survey and choose the survey parameters to best advantage; know how the survey is undertaken and the equipment used.
- Understand the resources required to collect and process the data.
- Understand the processing steps required to produce an interpretable anomaly for each of the methods discussed.
- Know whether the information that can be obtained is qualitative or quantitative.
- Basic rules for interpreting depth to single-source anomalies.
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Reading List
| Reynolds, J M, An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, Wiley-Blackwell |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Group working (fieldwork); modelling to enhance basic computing (e.g. spreadsheet, graphics) skills |
| Keywords | Geophysics, pollution detection and monitoring, site survey |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Kathy Whaler
Tel: (0131 6)50 4904
Email: Kathy.Whaler@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ken O'Neill
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: koneill3@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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