Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
2500254 Geology | OT | 3 | 0 |
2500254 Geology | OT | 4 | 0 |
The pre-requisites of the course are (1) basic background in maths, physics and geology and (2) motivation in the quantification and modelling of the geological processes.
After acquisition of the basic background in the different branches of the geology, together with fundamentals on maths, physics and chemistry, the student is now able to quantify different geological processes by means of numerical modelling. The purpose of the course is to explore the possibilities of the numerical modelling in geology. For this reason, the main objectives are
- Understand the characteristics and significance of static and dynamic modelling applied to geological processes.
- Recognise different types of mathematical equations to describe the geological processes using physical laws.
- Learn the basics of numerical methods to solve partial/ordinary differential equations.
- Define and solve simple examples applied to geosciences.
- Improve the working group and communication (verbal, written) skills.
During the theoretical classes, an explanation to the principal techniques used in the numerical modelling of the geological processes will be done. In the practical classes, the students will learn how to solve problems using numerical modelling. For this purpose, an introduction to computational environments as “Matlab” and “Excel” will be done. The program “Matlab” is a high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualisation and programming. Using “Matlab”, the students will be able to analyse data, develop algorithms and create models and applications. Practical classes are done using student’s personal computers or/and computers in the faculty computational classroom. The student will develop a modelling project based on geological processes, and the project will be public presented and defenced.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Lectures | 16 | 0.64 | 1, 4, 3, 7, 8 |
practical sesions (problems and computational classroom) | 18 | 0.72 | 1, 3, 5, 7 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Solving problems and exercises, reading of papers and define/solve geologic models | 50 | 2 | 1, 2, 6, 3, 7, 9 |
The evaluation of the course is based on (1) the lab dossier of exercises and problems, (2) the readings and short comments of papers on numerical modelling in geosciences, and principally, (3) the oral presentation and written report of a modelling project.
The weightings of these activities are (1) the lab dossier is 30% of the final grade, (2) the readings and short comments of papers are 10% of the final grade and (3) the modelling project is 60% of the final grade, 30% for the oral presentation and defence, and 30% for the written report.
In the case that the modelling project is graded as “fail”, the student will be allowed to a reassessment of the course by submitting a new written report and oral defence in the date indicated by the instructors.
To pass the course, the student must to obtain (1) a minimum score equal or higher than 3.5 in each part of the assessment activities and (2) an average score equal or higher than 5, attending the activity weightings. A student will be considered as “not assessable” only if the attendance to assessment activities is lower than 35% of the total weighting of the course.
• Plagiarism and Misconduct in assessment activities:
- Students who engage in misconduct (plagiarism, copying, personation, etc.) in an assessment activity will receive a grade of “0” for the activity in question.
- Total or partial plagiarism of any of the assessment activities will automatically be awarded a “fail” (“0”) for the plagiarised item. Plagiarism is copying from unidentified sources and presenting this as original work (this includes copying phrases or fragments from the internet and adding them without modification to a text which is presented as original). Plagiarism is a serious academic offence. It is essential to respect the intellectual property of others, to identify any source uses, and to take responsibility for the originality and authenticity of all work produced.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Presetation and oral defence of the geological modelling project | 30 % | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 4, 2, 6, 3, 7, 9, 8 |
Problem and exercise dossier | 30 % | 4 | 0.16 | 2, 6, 5, 8 |
Reading of papers on geological modelling | 10 % | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 7, 9 |
Report of the geological modelling project | 30 % | 8 | 0.32 | 1, 4, 2, 3, 7, 9, 8 |
Fowler, A.C. Mathematical models in the applied sciences. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997. ISBN 0521467039.
Frank R. Giordano, William Price Fox, Steven B. Horton, Maurice D. Weir. A First Course in Mathematical Modeling. 2008. Brooks/Cole, Cendage learning.
Xin-She Yany (2008). Mathematical modelling for Earth Sciences. Dunedin Academic Press ltd.
Taras Gerya, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zurich). (2009). Introduction to Numerical Geodynamic Modelling. Cambridge University Press.
Slingerland, Rudy; Kump, Lee (2011). Mathematical Modeling of Earth's Dynamical Systems. Princeton University Press.