Environmental Engineering

MICHELE CERCATO
MICHELE CERCATO

General outcomes
The main objective of this course is to provide students with the fundamental principles and methods in Applied Geophysics for Civil and Environmental Engineering applications, with particular focus on specific problems such as seismic and hydrogeological risks, pollution, landslides and soil instability, groundwater management, geothermal energy, etc.

Specific outcomes
● Fundamental knowledge of the theoretical principles and practical methods of the most widely applied geophysical techniques in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Geology.
● The course provides the tools necessary to enable the student to independently choose the most appropriate methodology according to specific engineering problems with particular focus on modeling the subsoil as a physical system and on the assessment of specific risks affecting the subsoil such as seismic and hydrogeological risks, pollution, landslides and soil instability, groundwater management, geothermal energy, etc.
● Specific understanding of the main possibilities and limitations of geophysical methods and their integration. Survey design, quality estimation and reliability assessment of the geophysical investigation.
● Specific skills for communicating the results of a geophysical survey with specific reference to data dissemination and interaction with other professionals

General outcomes
The main objective of this course is to provide students with the fundamental principles and methods in Applied Geophysics for Civil and Environmental Engineering applications, with a particular focus on specific problems such as seismic and hydrogeological risks, pollution, landslides and soil instability, groundwater management, geothermal energy, etc.  

Specific outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge of the theoretical principles, data acquisition and interpretation procedures of the most widely used geophysical techniques in subsoil exploration for geological, civil and environmental engineering purposes.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to implement the different activities involving geophysical data (design, acquisition and analysis of experimental data) using specific algorithms and software tools.
The study of the potential and limits connected to the different geophysical prospecting aimed at engineering applications, the exercises and interpretation activities of the experimental data allow the student to be able to evaluate the degree of reliability of the results and to be able to quantitatively indicate the level of confidence of the reconstruction for indirect way of the structural features of the subsoil.
3. Making judgements
The exercises on real data and the analysis of typical investigation scenarios will allow students to be able to evaluate the best prospecting techniques for specific engineering problems, with particular reference to the modeling of the behavior of the subsoil as a physical system (in response to natural and anthropogenic forcing ) and the risk assessment linked to the soil sector (seismic and hydrogeological risk, pollution, structural instability, use of water and geothermal resources, etc.).
4. Communication skills
The cost/benefit analysis, the simulation of the drafting and the analysis of technical reports will allow students to be able to communicate the results of the geophysical investigation for dissemination and interaction with other professionals.
5. Learning skills
The theoretical and practical knowledge acquired during the course will allow the ability to self-study and update in a constantly evolving sector, both in terms of advances in instrumentation and algorithms and software used in modeling and data interpretation.

Fundamental knowledge of Calculus and numerical analysis, Chemics, Physics and Geology are requested.

1. Introduction to Applied Geophysics
Introduction to geophysical surveying: data acquisition, analysis and interpretation. Physical properties of rock and soils in geophysical applications: reference values and diagnostic criteria. Elements of signal processing, Fourier theory, convolution, filtering and correlation. Inversion theory in geophysics. Joint interpretation of geophysical data.

2. Seismic prospecting methods
Seismic waves in elastic and viscoelastic media. Wave equation. Waves at interfaces. Seismic equipment. Principles of seismic signal processing. Seismic reflection and refraction prospecting, seismic tomography and borehole seismics. Surface waves. Application of seismic methods to engineering, geological and environmental problems. Comparison between different methods for hear-wave velocity assessment. Seismic codes and seismic characterization.

3. Engineering seismology
Earthquakes and engineering parameters for quantitative analysis. Magnitude and seismic Intensity. Seismic Hazard at the regional scale (Macrozonation) and at the local sacale (Microzonation). Seismic networks and seismic catalogues. Principles of seismometry. Strong motion archives.

4. Geoelectrical methods
Fundamentals and methods of geoelectrical surveying. Electrical potential theory. Resistivity methods and Induced polarization methods. Electrical resistivity tomography: data acquisition and inversion. Time-domain induced polarization. Data acquisition and inversion. Applications.

5. Magnetic and electromagnetic methods
Review of Maxwell Theory for dielectrics. Outline and classification of magnetic and electromagnetic methods. Electromagnetic high-frequency methods: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Operating principles, data acquisition, processing and interpretation. Applications.

Lecture notes provided by the Instructor

- Everett M.E. Near Surface Applied Geophysics. Cambridge University Press, 2013.
- Reynolds J. M. An introduction to applied and environmental geophysics. John Wiley&Sons, 2011.
- Stein S. e Wyssession M. An Introduction to Seismology, Earthquakes and Earth Structure. Blackwell Publishing, 2003.
- Telford W.M., Geldart L.P., Sheriff R.E. Applied geophysics 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Classroom training

Classroom lessons and exercises in person

No fewer than three questions will be asked in the exam. The exam is generally an oral interview.
A question will focus on an analytic demonstration regarding a topic among those covered in class. The response can also be made in writing to facilitate the timing of the exam. The other questions may concern applications of geophysical techniques on real scenarios, with particular reference to the applicability and diagnostic potential, as well as on specific topics related to the operational procedures of the individual techniques and to the modeling, simulation, acquisition and inversion of geophysical data.
To pass the exam, the student must achieve a grade of no less than 18/30 and demonstrate that she or he has achieved sufficient knowledge of the course topics that were the subject of evaluation, as well as that he has developed the ability to frame and define the engineering aspects related to the applied geophysics.
To achieve maximum marks (30/30) with honors, excellent knowledge of the topics being assessed must be demonstrated, excellent independent judgment, aptitude for quantitative evaluation and process interaction for engineering applications.

- A theoretical proof or demonstration of one of the topics explained during the course
- Discussion on one of the exercises carried out in the classroom
- Engineering applications of geophysical methods in realistic scenarios
- Acquisition and interpretation of geophysical data for specific methods