INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2018/2019
- Teacher
- MARCO STEFANI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
Training objectives
- Didactical Targets.
The course is aimed at providing a synthetic introduction to Earth Sciences subjects relevant to the understanding of the Architecture, such as topographic mapping, the mitigation of the natural hazards, induced by river and sea flooding, or by earthquakes and tsunami, the physical influences on the development of the anthropic sites, the use of the natural rocks and of their technological products, with examples from the historic European architecture.
Abilities.
Lecture ability of the topographic cartography and elementary introduction to specialized mapping, such as geological, geotechnical, and geomorphologic map. Interpretation of satellite and ground level landscape pictures. Understanding of technical reports and cartography on environmental risks induced by landslides, flooding, coastal erosion, earthquakes. Understanding of criteria of the seismic risk zonation. Basic understanding of the geotechnical measures and of the cone penetration tests. Classification and recognition of the main rock types, with a particular attention for the lithologies used in the historic architecture of Italy and of other regions of Europe. Prerequisites
- No previous advanced and specialist knowledge is needed for the course to be profitably followed. A good understanding of the 3D geometric relationships depicted in the topographic map and architecture plan is a useful ability for an easier fruition of the didactic activity.
Course programme
- (1) INTRODUCTION AND CARTOGRAPHY
(1a) Learning targets.
(1b) Nature and importance of the Earth Sciences.
(1c) Topography, cartography and remote sensing
(2) A DYNAMIC PLANET
(2a) An always changing planet.
The main structures of the Earth, nucleus, mantle, crust, hydrosphere, atmosphere.
Introduction to the plate tectonics and to the main geochemical cycles.
(2b) Introduction to the geological chronology and to history of life.
(2c) Deformation of the Earth.
Brittle and ductile tectonics.
Faults and folds.
Distensive, strike slip and compressive structures.
Seismic activity and seismic danger.
Historic seismology.
(2d) Earthquake history and distribution in Italy.
Local site effects, amplification and coseismic liquefaction.
An introduction to the impact of the seismic accelerations on the building strcutures.
Examples of historic earthquakes recorded in Italy and their effects on buildings.
(3) EARTH MATERIALS AND THEIR ARCHITECTURE USE.
(3a) Introduction to crystallography, mineralogy and petrography
(3b) Rock classification
Sedimentary rocks, terrigenous, carbonate, and evaporates.
Magmatic rocks, intrusive and effusive.
Metamorphic rocks, orto- and para-metamorphic, metamorphic grade.
(3c) The use of rocks in architecture.
Examples from ancient buildings in Italy, Milan, Venice, Ferrara, Bologna, Florence. Rome, Naples.
(3d) Introduction to the artificial products deriving from rocks.
(4) GEOMORPHOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
River flooding, coastal erosion, landslide, accelerated erosion. Didactic methods
- Oral lections with power point image projections; interpretation of topographic maps and subsurface logs. Since there no adequate and comprehensive text book exists, neither in English nor in Italian, a continuous attendance to lessons is highly recommended indeed.
Learning assessment procedures
- The examination procedure will start at the conclusion time of the lessons of the Geology and Petrography course, the participation to which will be documented by the compulsory collection of the student signatures. The examination procedure will consist of two steps.
(a) Firstly, an online test will take place, consisting of several short questions in Italian, such as multiple response testing, true or false questions, etc. The test will take place in an Architecture Department classroom, using the Wi-Fi network. A Ferrara University official address (n.n.student@unife.it) will be therefore needed. The exam grade will be privately communicated to students through email and will contribute for up to a half to the eventual vote formulation. The text will take place once per Academic Year.
(b) The students that will pass the test, will take the oral examination, consisting in a PowerPoint supported presentation of a personal research dealing on a specific topic, proposed by the candidate and approved by the teacher, before the examination date. Possible research topics are, for instance, the use of rocks in ancient building and the associated quarrying, the geological and geomorphological influence on a town development, the seismic damage affecting a specific region, the impact of flooding or land sliding on a human site, etc. A direct visit or research experience of the candidate on the presentation topic is desirable. The research subject can be selected from Italian or extra-Italian areas. The oral presentation will be about 15-20 minutes long and can be held in Italian, but also in English, French, or Spanish languages. Questions on the discussed topic will follow. The opportunity to try to improve the grade received from the first text through oral examination on various topics concerning the course will be provide on a voluntary basis. The eventual grade will be determined in n/30 and will be recorded on online.
If actual and documented problems will prevent the student form taking the multiple questions text, the candidate will have to orally answer to questions concerning the different course topics at the same date of the oral examination on the personal research.
For any further clarification and help, feel free to contact the teacher, Prof. Marco Stefani, by Email or at the Architecture Department. Reference texts
- No comprehensive text book exists at a level adequate to the course. Several books provide an elementary introduction to the Physical Geography and to basic concepts of the Earth Sciences. Because of this clear lack of adequate textbook, a constant attendance to the lections is strongly recommended.
