The course has the stated objective of providing adequate knowledge of the use of the main non-invasive geophysical investigation techniques in the applied field, aimed at reconstructing the subsurface in order to highlight and delineate the presence of any anomalies. The spillover of this knowledge has a considerable role and significance in the design of the most appropriate geophysical surveys, as support for studies aimed at the mitigation of natural hazards, in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage, and as propaedeutic in the design and land-use planning phase. The required skills consist of a good command of the physical and mathematical principles governing wave propagation, aimed at knowledge of the subsurface.

 21 hours (3CFU) of frontal lessons

36 hours (3CFU) of field and laboratory activities

Should the teaching be delivered in a blended or distance learning mode, necessary variations from what has been stated above may be introduced in order to comply with the syllabus provided and given in the syllabus

• discrete knowledge of mathematics and physics

• required

Electrical Methods: The electrical resistivity of rocks. Archie's formula. Anisotropy, longitudinal conductance, transverse resistance, principles of equivalence and suppression. Instrumentation. Energizing section. Receiving section. Signal acquisition in cases of low signal to noise ratio. Resistivity method. Current flow in a homogeneous medium: theoretical foundations. Electrode devices. Resistivity profiles and surveys. Data acquisition in the field. Data analysis and interpretation. The use of the logarithmic scale. Direct and inverse interpretation. Superposition method. Auxiliary point method for interpretation of curves with more than three layers. Auxiliary graphs. Use of computer for interpretation. Apparent resistivity maps, pseudosection. Reconstruction of impermeable conductive substrate for hydrogeological surveys. Selection of appropriate geoelectrical surveys for archaeological surveys and engineering purposes. Conventional electrical coring. Choice of methodologies to be used in the campaign for survey optimization. 2D and 3D electrical tomography. Application cases. 

Seismic Methods: Volume waves and surface waves. Wave propagation. Snell's law. Fermat's principle. Diffraction. Acoustic impedance. Transmission and reflection coefficients. seismic velocities. Seismic instrumentation. Seismic sources. Reflection seismic: horizontal reflector, normal moveout; inclined reflector, dip moveout. Campaign methods in reflection seismic. Refraction seismic: single horizontal refractor; multiple horizontal refractors; tilted refractor. Case of vertical faulting. Hidden layers. Discontinuous refractors. Delay time method. Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM). Field methods in refraction seismic. In-hole seismic measurements; up-hole method; down-hole method; cross-hole method. Selection of methodologies to be used in the campaign for optimization of investigations. Seismic tomography.

Electromagnetic Methods: The Ground Penetrating Radar (georadar). Instrument characteristics and principles of operation. Data acquisition, processing and interpretation. Transmitting and receiving antennas. Choice of antenna frequency. Considerations of G.P.R. prospecting. limitations of G.P.R. prospecting. application examples.

TELFORD W. M., GELDART L.P., SHERIFF R.E., KEYS D.A. - “Applied Geophysics” - Cambridge University Press, 1976.
Reynolds J.M. (1997): An introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics. J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 796 pp.
M. Corrao e G. Coco: Geofisica applicata. Con particolare riferimento alle prospezioni sismiche, elettriche, elettromagnetiche e geotermiche. 2021, Flaccovio Dario editore

Appropriate presentations on the topics covered will be provided

• oral examination

1. electric tomographies 2D and 3D
2. seismic tomography
3. laws of geometric optics
4. electromagnetic prospections
5. georadar sections and radargrams