Curriculum: HYRIS

Term: 1^st year, 1^st Semester

Syllabus

CFU: 6

SSD: GEOS-03/B

Duration and Schedule: available here

Office hours: please contact the lecturer

OBJECTIVES

Scope of the course is to introduce the student to fundamental surface and subsurfaces data in order to develop and understanding engineering geological models for application to engineering works and to geohazards. The course consists of lectures to illustrate the theory and tutorial sessions where the emphasis is on applications and problem solving. Each subject is illustrated with the support of experimental and observational evidences and well-documented case histories concerning earthquake and landslide hazard drawn from the experience of the instructor.

DESCRIPTION

Definition and importance of engineering geology. Geological factors and their relation with engineering problems. The most important fields of application of engineering geology to foundations, slopes, tunnels, dams and earth structures. Basic aspects of engineering geology including map construction and interpretation (e.g. engineering geological mapping units). Significance of ground profiles to engineering design, their origin in various geological settings. Engineering geological model types and terminology: conceptual and observational approaches. General rules for the construction of useful models. Use of surface and subsoil data in creating model of the ground, development of engineering geological models involved in civil engineering projects and in geohazards. Some examples of engineering geological models  for geohazards assessment in different geological and geomorphological environments.

REQUIREMENTS

Basic knowledge of geology.

REFERENCES

• Luis Gonzalez de Vallejo, Mercedes Ferrer (2011). Geological Engineering. CRC Press, ISBN 9781439892213. Reference textbook.
• Course notes, scientific articles and other material will be provided during the course.

ASSESSMENT

Assignments will be handed over and graded during the course. The final examination will consist of a 3 hours, written test. The final-exam format is closed-book. Grading: 40% assignments, 60% final exam.

Instructor: Claudia Meisina: official webpage and CV

Institution: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

E-mail: claudia.meisina@unipv.it

Voice:  +39 0382 985831

Fax:     +39 0382 985890

Skype: claudia.meisina

Bio: Claudia Meisina received his PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Pavia (Italy). Currently is associate professor in Engineering Geology at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences of University of Pavia, where she leads the Laboratory of Engineering Geology and she is member of the PhD School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

She has been a post-doc at the BRGM in France. She received fellowships through Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry and Centre International pour la Formation et les Echange Géologiques.

She is member of the executive board of the italian IAEG and Secretary of the Italian Association of Engineering Geology.

She is actually involved in Liquefact Horizon 2020 Project and in several projects about the role of land use in shallow landslide triggering. She published 50+ peer-reviewed papers and 70+ papers in peer-reviewed conference proceedings/book chapters in the field of engineering geology.

My research areas are:

• development and application of methodologies for subsoil geological model and for engineering geological mapping to support geohazard assessment (shallow landslide, swelling/shrinkage of clay soils and liquefaction);
• development of methodologies for the geological interpretation of satellite radar interferometric data for landslide and subsidence identification and monitoring;
• Study of the triggering mechanism of rainfall-induced landslides in different climatic and geological contexts, through the long-term hydro-mechanical monitoring of shallow soils. Shallow landslide susceptibility assessment.