| Unit name | Applied Geophysics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC20042 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2D (weeks 19 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Wookey |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Mandatory year 1 units of an Environmental Geoscience or Geophysics programme at Bristol. Geology students taking this unit in Year 3 must have completed mandatory units in both Year 1 and Year 2. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
Applied Geophysics introduces you to geophysical techniques commonly used to solve applied problems in the shallow subsurface. Geophysics provides a range of approaches to image parts of the subsurface which are otherwise inaccessible. Such methods are used extensively in civil engineering and resource-related industries, and for environmental investigation and monitoring. The unit teaches concepts underlying geophysical surveying, and shows how it is used in a real-world context.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Geophysics can be used to study geological structure and lithology, rock-hosted fluids and minerals, and built infrastructure, relevant to many other units across the programme. The Applied Geophysics unit draws on fundamental mathematics, physics and coding skills from study in year 1, and directly informs later units including those focussed on projects and fieldwork.
An overview of content
The unit will cover geophysical surveying using gravity, magnetic, seismic, electrical and electromagnetic techniques. For each technique the basic underlying theory, relevant subsurface properties, targets, instrumentation, acquisition, data processing and interpretation will be explained. Several case studies for each demonstrating the technique’s utility will be provided, spanning application areas including natural hazards, natural resources, and engineering and archaeological site investigations. Practical work will include processing and interpreting real-world geophysical data.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
As well as gaining an understanding of the fundamentals of geophysics and its place in modern geosciences and related industries, you will have had practice applying mathematical, data analysis and coding skills. The teamworking element of the assessment will teach critical collaboration and negotiation skills.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
The unit is taught via a combination of lectures and weekly practicals.
Practicals predominantly comprise computational data analysis and interpretation, both demonstrating the utility of the techniques discussed in the lectures, and providing practice for the final coursework. Demonstrators are on hand during practicals to help students who get stuck. All practicals also have worked solutions on BB and students are strongly encouraged to work through the worked solutions independently. Opportunities (through office hours and in practical sessions) are provided to discuss questions about practical work. The final practical session of the unit is focussed on the coursework, enabling students to easily access support with beginning the data processing elements of the exercise.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Practical work will provide opportunities to practice and explore the processing and analysis skills necessary to complete the summative coursework. Feedback on the practicals will be provided through worked solutions, and directly by the course leader and demonstrators during the sessions. Completing practicals is also mandatory in order to gain credit points for the unit.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
100% coursework comprising a geophysical survey report (~10 pages, plus 10-15 figures) which will contain both group-based and individual elements.
For example, each student in a group (of 4-6 students) might process and document a different geophysical datatype, and contribute a section (including a figure) to the methods and results sections. The whole group will then contribute to an holistic interpretation section bringing together all of the data to answer the survey objectives.
Each student's final mark will be based on the quality of the overall report (70%), and the individual data section they wrote (30%).
When assessment does not go to plan
The University’s Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes outline the requirements for progression on and completion of degree programmes. Students who miss an exam and self-certify their absence may complete a supplementary assessment for an uncapped mark as if taken for the first time. Resit and supplementary exams are habitually taken during the reassessment period later in the summer. As far as is practicable and appropriate, resit and supplementary assessments will be in the same form as the original assessment but will always test the same intended learning outcomes as the initial missed or failed assessment. In the case of group work, failure by a whole group would result in an appropriate group task being set and reassessed for all group members. If a single student fails a group assessment or is unable to participate for an evidenced reason, an individual reassessment will be set.
There are rigorous and fair procedures in place to support students who are ill or whose studies and assessments are affected by exceptional circumstances.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASC20042).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
