The course aims to define the practical and operational aspects of geophysical surveys applied to civil, environmental and mining engineering and to illustrate the interpretation methods.

The student will achieve competences in the context of applications of conventional geophysical surveys to different engineering fields. He/She must demonstrate its ability to plan geophysical surveys in multiple geological and morphological environment, to interpret the results of surveys and to understand the meaning of the geophysical parameters obtained. He/She will also have to acquire skills in establish relationship between geophysical and geotechnical parameters of soils and rocks and / or hydro-geochemical parameters.

The basic knowledges refer to the background in geology, hydrogeology and geophysics with reference to the petrophysical properties of the soils, the meaning of hydrogeological parameters (density, porosity, content, water permeability), geophysical properties of soils and rocks (electrical resistivity, Seismic attributes, electromagnetic parameters) and environmental and geotechnical engineering (mechanical parameters). Basic knowledge of signal acquisition and processing concepts is required. Some skills in using computer tools (Matlab/Octave) for geophysical data processing are also required.

Seismic Methods: (1 credits)
Wave equation and correlation between mechanical parameters and seismic response; Correlation between petrophysical parameters (porosity, water content) and velocity and attenuation of porous media: Willie model, Biot-Gassman model; In-hole survey methods: downhole, cross-hole and vertical seismic profile (VSP); Seismic tomography in hole and from surface. Methods of surface waves.
Magnetic Methods (1 credit)
The Earth's magnetic field, acquisition and processing of magnetic data for mining and geological exploration; Aero-magnetic surveys; Quantitative interpretation; Examples.
Electrical Methods (2 credits)
Correlations between petrophysical parameters and electrical resistivity, and induced polarization effects, induced polarization for contaminated site measurements and mining surveys. Methods of acquisition and processing of electrical tomography of resistivity and polarization from surface and hole; examples for hydrogeological and environmental characterization. Theoretical principles, data acquisition and processing of Spontaneous Potential measures: examples for characterization of contaminated sites and in mining exploration (2 Credits).
Electromagnetic Methods (2 credits)
Methods in frequency and time domain; acquisition mode with low induction Slingram devices; examples for the characterization of contaminated sites; Time domain methods for hydrogeological characterization. Airborne electromagnetic survey for geological and mining characterization. Magneto-Telluric methods in geothermal exploration. Georadar data acquisition from surface and in-hole; principles of data processing; correlation models between petrophysical parameters and radio wave velocities in porous media

Degree in Environmental and Land Engineering: Field Practice and Data Processing of Integrated Methods for the Hydrogeophysical / Geotechnical Characterization; Field tutorial with acquisition and processing of seismic data and electrical tomography (2 credits).

Degree in Mining Engineering: examples of geophysical survey for geotechnical and mining characterization (2 credits).

Lessons are intended to provide the principles of acquisition, processing and interpretation of geophysical data (about 50 hours). Field tutorials will enable students to learn practical-operational data acquisition methods; the laboratory exercises are aimed at deepening the aspects of data processing and interpretation of geophysical surveys.
Laboratory Exercises provide for independent work by the student in the Computer Laboratories at the University.

The textbook is: J.M. Reynolds, 1997. An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, Wiley Ed., 796 pp.
The teacher provides through the portal the material presented during the lessons, hints for the classroom works and laboratory exercises. Technical documentation and scientific articles are suggested for theoretical insights and made available on-line.

The exam consists of an oral test aimed at assessing the theoretical skills and the ability to integrate the results of geophysical surveys into different application contexts. The exam is organized with a question about theoretical aspects and a question about planning and carrying out surveys and interpretation of results. The discussion of the laboratory activities is also part of the exam.
The final evaluation is based on the clarity of exposition (5 points), technical skills (5 points), capability to relate the different aspects of the subject (10 points), degree of competence achieved (10 points).