| Unit name | Geophysical Data Acquisition and Analysis |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC20056 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Wookey |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Successful completion of a Year 1 Earth Sciences programme. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
Acquisition, processing, analysis and interpretation of geophysical data is key for its role in a variety of fields, including environmental assessment, civil engineering, resource evaluation and hazard monitoring. This unit will introduce students to a range of methodologies used for the transformation, modelling and interpretation of geophysical digital data, and provide practical experience of acquiring, processing and interpreting such data in the field.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit draws on teaching from previous years in applied geophysics, computational data analysis, and fieldwork. It provides a mathematical, computational, and practical foundation to techniques used in later modules, and for H-level project work.
An overview of content
This unit will introduce students to a range of methodologies used for the transformation and interpretation of geophysical digital data. Using a combination of lectures and computer-based practicals both the mathematical principles behind and the practical applications of these methodologies will be taught. Firstly, common signal processing applied to geophysical data (including spectral methods) will be covered. Next, the course will introduce the concept of geophysical data inversion, and cover basic linear inverse theory as well as practical aspects of its application. The fieldwork element of the course involves the application of geophysical instruments and processing to investigate the subsurface environment, geology and structures, to meet objectives designed around the (fictional) development of the site.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Students will acquire foundational knowledge in methods applicable not just to geophysics, but to data from across a broad spectrum of disciplines within and beyond Earth Sciences. You will also gain practical data analysis experience, including applying existing software and developing your own codes for analysis and modelling. You will gain also experience in field geophysical surveying, including using instruments for multiple techniques and interpreting data on-site. Through this you will gain practical team-working and time-management skills coordinating your efforts for the final assessment.
Learning Outcomes
You will:
The in-class component unit is taught via a combination of lectures and 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 exam. and students are strongly encouraged to work through the these independently. Opportunities (through office hours and in practical sessions) are provided to discuss questions about practical work.
Learning on the field component is primarily through group-based field tasks (collecting data with various geophysical / analytical instruments), and subsequently processing the data. The interpretations of the processed data will be used to meet objectives set in the briefing for the fieldwork. These will be presented by the group to the cohort at the end of the field course.
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. All the in- and out-of-field tasks contribute to the fieldwork assessment, providing data, results and interpretation for the final presentation. All the unit activities require active participation, guiding the professionalism mark.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Assessment for this unit consists of three parts:
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. EASC20056).
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 assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
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.
