Geophysical Field Work and Processing: Preparation and Field Work

Abstract

Mapping aquifers for water supply, identifying archaeological remains for protection, and assessing landslides for geohazard mitigation highlight the critical role of near-surface geophysics. The course ‘Geophysical Field Work and Processing’, split into ‘Methods’, ‘Preparation’, and ‘Field Work’, offers a practice-oriented introduction to conducting near-surface geophysical investigations.

Objective

The overall learning goal of the course 'Geophysical Fieldwork and Processing' is that by the end of the course the students will be able to plan and conduct a near-surface geophysical field campaign to address a ‘real-world’ problem as well as to process their self-acquired data, and to interpret and document their results. Specific learning objectives of the ‘Preparation’ and ‘Field Work’ part are that by the end of the course, students will be able to… …design and plan experiments to collect geophysical data appropriate for the target of investigation; …relate the problem to solve to other investigations (e.g., case studies); …identify the appropriate analysis technique and adequately process the data using state-of-the-art approaches; …critically evaluate intermediate and final results, and question underlying assumptions; …interpret the results considering all relevant information, critically analyze alternative interpretations, and draw conclusions based on the results; …integrate the results into context, compare the results with relevant data and other studies, and provide sound recommendations.

Content

The ‘Preparation’ and ‘Field Work’ parts of ‘Geophysical Field Work and Processing’ are dedicated to addressing ‘real-world’ problems such as mapping archaeological remains, investigating the internal structure of a landslide, or locating abandoned landfills in geophysical field campaigns planned by student teams. Typically, the projects will be conducted in close collaboration with external experts. The Preparation component (second half of the semester) focuses on planning the field experiments. Students are introduced to the problems, then learn in lectures and hands-on exercises to use planning tools (e.g., GIS for mapping), develop survey designs, and organize logistics. By the end of Preparation, teams produce documented survey plans informed by expert input, literature review, and, where feasible, reconnaissance field visits. The Fieldwork component (first month after the spring semester; June) focuses on executing small-team field campaigns to acquire geophysical data using multiple methods. Students then process, analyze, and interpret their self-acquired data. The typical schedule includes several days in the field followed by processing sessions with state-of-the-art software. Final results and interpretations are presented as oral presentations and written reports, and discussed in class and with external experts.

Resources