99616 - Applied Geology

Learning outcomes

The course is designed to instruct the students to recognize rock-forming minerals and rock textures in order to classify specimens and outcrops understanding their physico-chemical behaviour. At the end of the course the students will be also able to read and understand thematic maps and documents needed for the design of buildings on the basis of general concepts of stratigraphy and structural geology. Finally, the students will be introduced to geological hazards and risks with particular regard to volcanic, seismic, landslide and flood risk, in the frame of environmental impact assessment (E.I.A.).

Course contents

The course is structured in two consequential modules of 30 hours each. Module 1 is more theoretical and would introduce the student to the basic knowledge of geology. The second Module is more practical and would focus on the field surveys, risk mitigation solution design, site characterization and geological models development. The objects of the lessons can be summarized:

Module 1

1. Lithology in function of the recognition of minerals and rocks, through genetic processes;
2. Geo-thematic cartography in function of the elaboration and reading of the geological documents preparatory to the building design through the general information on Stratigraphic Geology and Structural Geology;[GT1] [file:///C:/universita/2024-25/GuideWebBCE.docx#_msocom_1]

Module 2

1. Natural hazards risk assessment with particular interest to geological hazards
2. Monitoring devices and their relative applications in different geological and geomorphological contexts
3. Case studies of surveys and campaigns aimed at the assessment of the geological model
4. Basic concepts of underground water
5. Measures for geological risk prevention and mitigation

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Readings/Bibliography

All the provided materials, documents and readings are available on the VIRTUALE platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it [https://virtuale.unibo.it/] ) of the course.

The slides report all the necessary knowledge to take the final exam.

Some readings which may help the student to the final exam preparation are:

Module 1

• Earle, S. (2015). Physical geology. BCcampus. Online freely available

  Module 2

• Wieczorek, G. F. (1996). Landslides: investigation and mitigation. Transportation Research Board Special Report, (247). Online freely available
• Freeze, R. A., Cherry, J. A. (1979). Groundwater. Prentice-Hall. Online freely available

Additional material

• Guzzetti, F. (2006). Landslide hazard and risk assessment (Doctoral dissertation, Universitäts-und Landesbibliothek Bonn). Online freely available
• Murphy, W. L. (1985). Geotechnical descriptions of rock and rock masses US Army Engineer waterways experiment station, Vicksburg. MS GL-85-3. Online freely available
• Dikau, R., Brunsden, D., Schrott, L., Ibsen, M.L. (1996). Landslide Recognition: Identification, Movement and Causes, Wiley

Teaching methods

The lessons are taken in presence. Online lessons are not given. The language of the classes is English. The teaching method is based on frontal lectures supported by interactive discussions between the lecturer and the students and by practical group exercises to be completed during the class.

To stimulate the learning of the students, geologists, engineers and field experts will be invited occasionally as lecturers.

Assessment methods

To obtain a passing grade, students are required to at least demonstrate a knowledge of the key concepts of the subject, some ability for critical application, and a comprehensible use of technical language which are described in the Learning Outcomes section.

A failing grade will be awarded if the student shows knowledge gaps in key-concepts of the subject, inappropriate use of language, and/or logic failures in the analysis of the subject.

No intermediate tests are proposed.

No exercises or homework which can weight in the final mark are required.

The presence in class during the course is recommended but it is not mandatory and it doesn’t weight on the final score.

The knowledge assessment is based on a single written exam and on an optional oral exam. Only the students which reaches a mark of 17/30 or 30/30 will be admitted to the oral exam. If during the oral exam the student can demonstrate the knowledge of key concepts, the mark can be converted from 17/30 to 18/30 in the former situation, while If during the oral exam the student can demonstrate the ability for critical application, and a comprehensible use of technical language, the mark can be converted from 30/30 to 30 Lode/30 in the latter situation.

The written exam consists of:

• 18 multiple choice questions (VALUE: right 1 pts, wrong -0.5 pts, no answer 0 pts)
• 3 graphical multiple-choice questions (VALUE: right 2 pts, wrong -0.5 pts, no answer 0 pts)
• 2 open questions (VALUE: from 0 to 3 pts)

The final mark is calculated by the arithmetic sum of the points with a maximum of 30 points. The written exam must be completed in 1 hour and 30 minutes.[GT1] [file:///C:/universita/2024-25/GuideWebBCE.docx#_msocom_1]

To take part of the exam, the student must be booked for the exam date through the online application provided by UNIBO called: ALMAESAMI (https://almaesami.unibo.it [https://almaesami.unibo.it/] ). More information here: https://www.unibo.it/en/university/organisation-and-campuses/university-services/online-services/online-services-for-students/guide-to-online-student-services/almaesami .

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Teaching tools

Web sources, videos, online tests, practical exercises can support the learning.

Office hours

See the website of Gilberto Bonaga

See the website of Giacomo Titti