625304 Applied Geophysics

Information 2002

Overview

A nominal 60 contact-hour introduction to Geophysics, taught with the aid of WWW-delivered materials.

Mission Statement

The users of geophysical data need to know how geophysics should be done and what can be expected of the results. Geophysicists, in turn, need to know what the users will expect of them.

The basis for a common understanding between geophysicists and the users of geophysical data lies in the formalisation of the exploration process.

The subject is broken into modules, each dealing with one exploration method. Students learn the relevant physics at an intuitive level with the aid of a series of forward-modelling simulation exercises presented in the context of responding to client-specific problems in the form of requests for bid. Students learn by designing, conducting, and interpreting geophysical surveys to yield the greatest benefit-to-cost ratio. While completing these tasks, students learn how geophysicists think, what they do, and how much to trust their conclusions. (After Thomas Boyd, 1997.)

Where and When

Lecture:

Wednesday,10 am, Loewe Theatre (McCoy Building)

Tutorial:

Friday, 4:15 pm, Baragwanath Conference Room (McCoy Building)

Lab classes:

Wednesday, 2:15 pm, iMac Lab (McCoy Building)

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Assessment

Closed-room examination:

90 minutes, during November examination period, counting 50% of total assessment

Two components:

• Short answers (40%)
• Short essay (10%)

Problem Reports (there are four, built into the Web course)

50% of total assessment

• 20% for first report (Gravity)
• 15% each for subsequent reports

  (Reports comprise both tender and interpretation documents)
  Three reports must be submitted. If a fourth is submitted, it will be assessed, and the student will receive the marks for the first (gravity) report, plus the best two results from the three subsequent reports.
  
  Reports may be submitted in paper form, at the School Office, or via email. Please make sure that your report is datestamped by the office, or acknowledged by me.

Report deadlines:

• Report 1: 17:00, Monday, September 9, 2002 (University Week 7)
• Report 2: 17:00, Monday, October 14, 2002 (University Week 12)
• Report 3: 17:00, Monday, November 4, 2002 (First week of swotvac)
• Report 4: 17:00, day following date of examination

Late reports will not be assessed.

Any report submitted more than one week before its deadline will attract a bonus of 2% (absolute).

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