Geophysical Field Work and Processing: Methods

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 objective of Geophysical Fieldwork and Processing is that, by the end of the course, students can plan and conduct a near-surface geophysical field campaign to address real-world problems, process self-acquired data, interpret, document, and communicate results, and critically evaluate findings to draw defensible conclusions and provide sound recommendations. The Methods part of the course supports this objective. By its end, students can (1) summarize the working principles of key geophysical methods, (2) identify the underlying physics of real-world problems and translate them into tractable geophysical research questions, and (3) critically evaluate solution strategies, including their assumptions and implications.

Content

The Methods component of Geophysical Fieldwork and Processing centers on (i) familiarizing students with the problems and research questions they will address in teams, (ii) refreshing and deepening knowledge of relevant geophysical methods - primarily seismic refraction tomography (SRT), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), ground-penetrating radar (GPR), geomagnetics (MAG), and electromagnetic (EM) methods -, and (iii) identifying appropriate solution strategies. This foundation equips students to plan a geophysical field campaign (focus of Preparation), conduct the campaign in the subsequent Fieldwork component, and analyze and interpret their self-acquired geophysical data (focus of Fieldwork). The Methods component includes classroom sessions, hands-on exercises, interactive discussions, and field excursions to apply and consolidate the acquired knowledge.

Resources