ENGINEERING GEOPHYSICS (STAG 6313)

COURSE OUTLINE:

This course is a survey of the principal geophysical techniques used in the engineering and environmental industries. It will give the non-specialist an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of geophysics, and an appreciation for which geophysical techniques would be appropriate for particular applications. The basics of the interpretation of raw and processed data will also be covered. We will look at:

• selecting a technique to meet survey objectives

• designing a survey by selecting survey parameters

• survey execution

• interpretation of survey results

Objectives:

To provide students with sufficient knowledge in the basic principles of geophysical methods, instrumentation, field procedures, to make simple interpretation and application.
Students are expected to acquire an understanding of the different geophysical methods, an ability to carry out geophysical surveys and an appreciation for the vast amount which we do not know.
To develop the ability to think objectively, critically and quantitatively. Students should be able to assess a given geologic problem and determine the appropriateness of the geophysical method(s) to be applied in solving that problem.

The texts are:

1.An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics by John Reynolds.
2. Exploration Geophysics of the Shallow Subsurface, 1992, H. R. Burger, w/ Macintosh computer software, Prentice Hall, 489 pp

3. Field Geophysics by J. Milsom

Also useful references are:

Applied Geophysics for Geologists and Engineers, 1981, by D.H. Griffiths and R.F. King. 2^nd Edition , Pergamon Press, 230pp.

Looking into the Earth by P. Kearey and A. Khan.

An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration by Kearey, Brooks, and Hill

Principles of Applied Geophysics by D.S. Parasnis

Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 1997, by Sharma, P. V., 1997., Cambridge University Press, 475pp

Introduction to Geophysical Prospecting by Dobrin and Savit
Applied Geophysics by W.M. Telford, L.P. Geldard and R.E. Sheriff

Suggested Journals:

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP)
Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society
Journal of Geophysical Research
Geophysics
Pure and Applied Geophysics
Geotechnical and Environmental Geophysics
Geophysical Prospecting
Journal of Applied Geophysics
Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics

Marking scheme

Labs 20%

Assignments 20%

Mid term exam 20%

Final exam 40%

Time: Tuesday 10.00 –12.00 (Lecture) & 14.00 – 17.00 (Practical)
Place: Postgraduate Room (2^nd floor, Geology Building)
Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahim Samsudin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Umar Hamzah, Assoc. Prof. Dr.Abdul Ghani Rafek & Mr.Khairul Anuar Mohd Nayan.

WEEK 1) Introduction notes (ARS)

Engineering geophysics : a geophysicist’s view, a geologist’s view and a civil engineer’s view point

WEEK 2) Overview of geophysical techniques and their uses. (ARS)

Case studies.

WEEK 3) The role of engineering geophysics in site investigation (KMN)

Scope of engineering geophysics, What are the important parameters in engineering geophysics? Application of geophysical parameters in engineering designing.Example of an applications. Use and misuse of engineering geophysics. The role of engineering geophysics in site investigation and design of engineering structures.

WEEK 4) GRAVITY (ARS): The description of the Earth’s gravity field. Latitude, free-air, Bouguer and terrain corrections. Densities of rocks and minerals. Survey parameters and survey objectives. Measuring the terrain density. Regional-residual separation. Characteristic anomalies. Depth-to-source estimates. Interpretation.

WEEK 5) ) MAGNETICS (ARS): Description of the Earth’s magnetic field. Magnetic minerals. Survey parameters and survey objectives. Vector vs total field measurements. Characteristic anomalies. Depth-to-source estimates. Interpretation.

WEEK 6) Seismic Refraction ( AGR): P and S waves - properties and speeds. Poisson’s ratio, Young’s modulus, Lam´e parameters. Surface waves. Snell’s Law. Critical angle. Interpretation of simple layered structures

WEEK 7) SASW technique (KMN)

WEEK 8) Mid-sem holiday

WEEK 9) Seismic (down hole & cross hole) (KMN)

WEEK10 & 11) Seismic Tomography (Dr.Rachmat Sule)

WEEK 12& 13) Seismic Reflection (UH) :Geophones and recorders. Acoustic impedance and reflectivity. Normal moveout, converting time to depth. Survey parameters, fold, common mid-point gathers, identifying reflections and multiples, processing steps

WEEK 14 & 15) Electrical methods (UH):

a) RESISTIVITY: Sounding vs profiling. 2-D electrical Imaging. The common electrode geometries; Schlumberger, Wenner and dipole-dipole. The definition of apparent resistivity. Equivalence, suppression, ambiguity and resolution. Interpretation. Spontaneous Potential

b) INDUCED POLARIZATION: Polarization mechanisms in rock, electrode polarization, membrane polarization, seiving potentials. Time domain vs frequency domain IP. Unpolarizable electrodes. The Cole-Cole description of relaxation. Interpretation.)

Week 16) Final Examination

LABORATORIES

LAB 1) Gravity data acquisition & corrections.

LAB 2) Gravity data interpretation.

LAB 3). Magnetic data acquisition & corrections

LAB 4) Magnetics data interpretation.

LAB 5) Seismic Refraction Interpretation

LAB 6) SASW data interpretation

LAB 7) Seismic Down hole

LAB 8) Seismic Tomography

LAB 9) Seismic reflection interpretation

LAB 10) Resistivity data interpretation

Field Geophysics:

Field works for geophysical data acquisition will be arranged which may involved week end and mid-semester holiday