Groundwater Exploration & Study Focus On Electrical Methods

A comprehensive curriculum on the systematic application of geoelectrical methods, from survey design and data inversion

What you'll learn

Practicing Geologists and Hydrogeologists

Civil, Geotechnical, and Water Resource Engineers

Environmental Scientists and Consultants

Graduate and Senior Undergraduate Students

Project Managers and Decision-Makers

Professional Drilling Companies and Consultants

Requirements

A foundational understanding of basic geology or earth science concepts.

Description

In the field of resource management, uncertainty poses the greatest financial and operational risk. The process of locating subsurface water resources, in particular, has historically been subject to imprecise methods and speculative drilling, often resulting in significant economic loss. Modern geophysics offers a scientific and data-driven alternative.This course provides a comprehensive and professional-level training on the industry-standard method for groundwater characterization: Electrical Resistivity.My name is Hosein Moghaddasi. I am a geophysicist with a Master of Science degree from the Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran. For over twelve years, my professional activities have been centered on subsurface exploration. As co-founder of Jarfab Kavosh Consulting Co., my team and I have successfully executed over 300 geophysical projects focused on groundwater and mineral resource mapping.The curriculum presented here is a direct codification of the systematic workflow we employ in our professional practice. It is built upon a foundation of rigorous geophysical theory but is focused entirely on practical, real-world application.You will learn the complete professional workflow: from designing a field survey and ensuring data quality, through the computational process of data inversion, to the final and most critical step: rigorous hydrogeological interpretation. While our primary focus is mastering electrical resistivity, we will also explore how complementary methods like seismic and electromagnetics are integrated to reduce ambiguity and build a truly robust subsurface model.This course is distinguished by its extensive use of case studies and datasets from our professional archives, offering you unparalleled insight into real-world projects. It is designed for geologists, engineers, environmental scientists, and students who wish to attain a professional level of competency in the application of geoelectrical methods for groundwater studies.Enroll to advance your technical expertise and adopt a methodology that replaces speculation with scientific certainty.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction - The Quest for Hidden Water

Lecture 1 Introduction

Lecture 2 Introduction to Groundwater & Hydrogeophysics

Lecture 3 What is Groundwater and Why is Exploration Vital?

Section 2: Understanding Aquifers

Lecture 4 Aquifers - The Basics

Lecture 5 Understanding Aquifers

Lecture 6 Aquifer Types (Simplified)

Lecture 7 Aquifers - Porous Media

Lecture 8 Aquifers - Hard Rock Formations

Section 3: Geological Factors in Exploration

Lecture 9 Geology is Key!

Lecture 10 Geological Factors in Exploration - Porous Media Targets

Lecture 11 Geological Factors in Exploration - Hard Rock Targets

Lecture 12 The Importance of Correctly Understanding Dimensionality and Geological Analysis

Section 4: What is Hydrogeophysics?

Lecture 13 What is Hydrogeophysics?

Section 5: Fundamentals of Electrical Geophysics

Lecture 14 Electrical Resistivity Method

Lecture 15 Basic Concepts of Electrical Resistivity

Section 6: From Physics to Field Measurement

Lecture 16 What Controls Earth's Resistivity?

Lecture 17 Typical Resistivity Values

Lecture 18 Apparent vs. True Resistivity

Lecture 19 The 4-Electrode System

Lecture 20 Geometric Factor (k)

Section 7: The Workhorse Method: 1D Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES)

Lecture 21 Common VES Arrays: Schlumberger

Lecture 22 Advantages, limitations, and disadvantages of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES)

Lecture 23 Common VES Arrays: Wenner

Lecture 24 Other geoelectrical arrays

Lecture 25 1D Resistivity Sounding (VES) - Probing with Depth

Lecture 26 Depth of Investigation (DOI)

Lecture 27 Influence of Resistivity Contrast

Lecture 28 Conceptual Question 1

Section 8: 1D Field Acquisition & Data Quality

Lecture 29 1D Field Acquisition

Lecture 30 Planning the Survey - Site & Line

Lecture 31 Planning - Array & Spacing

Lecture 32 Field Procedure: Schlumberger VES (Steps)

Lecture 33 Data Quality Control (QC) in the Field

Lecture 34 Common Field Issues & Troubleshooting

Section 9: Data Processing and Inversion

Lecture 35 1D Data Processing & Inversion

Lecture 36 Example VES curve

Lecture 37 What is a Pseudosection?

Lecture 38 Pseudosection vs. Inverted Section

Lecture 39 The Concept of Inversion And Iterative Approach

Lecture 40 RMS Error - Quantifying the Fit

Section 10: From Model to Meaning: Interpretation & Case Studies

Lecture 41 Software Demo – 1D Inversion Workflow

Lecture 42 True resistivity cross-section obtained from inversion

Lecture 43 3D hydrogeological block based on inverted true resistivity profiles

Section 11: Limitations & Challenges For VES

Lecture 44 VES Limitations & Challenges

Lecture 45 VES Limitations-Equivalence And Etalonage

Lecture 46 Suppression - Hiding Thin Layers

Section 12: The 1D Assumption & Implications and How Can Minimize Errors?

Lecture 47 The 1D Assumption & Implications and How Can Minimize Errors?

Lecture 48 Direction of Array Expansion for VES For delineating Bedrock topography

Lecture 49 Direction of Array Expansion for VES If Permeability Trend Is Key

Section 13: Connecting Resistivity to Hydrogeology in 1

Lecture 50 Primary Goal

Lecture 51 Calibration

Lecture 52 Estimating Water Quality (Salinity/EC/TDS)

Lecture 53 Conceptual Question 2

Section 14: Real example

Lecture 54 Mashhad Water Supply

Section 15: Beyond 1D - Imaging the Earth with ERT

Lecture 55 Why Move Beyond 1D?

Lecture 56 Electrical Resistivity Tomography, or ERT

Lecture 57 Introduction to 4D Imaging (Time-Lapse ERT)

Lecture 58 Data Acquisition for 2D/3D ERT

Lecture 59 Data Processing & Inversion (2D/3D)

Lecture 60 Combining IP and resistivity surveys

Lecture 61 Considerations for 2D/3D ERT

Lecture 62 Advantages of 2D/3D ERT over VES

Lecture 63 ERT Software Overview

Lecture 64 ERT vs. VES - Pros & Cons

Section 16: Connecting Resistivity to Hydrogeology in 2D

Lecture 65 2D Geoelectrical Studies in Alluvial Environments

Lecture 66 Mapping Contaminant Plumes

Section 17: Integrated Geophysics - Combining Methods for Clearer Results

Lecture 67 Time-Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM / TEM) Method

Lecture 68 Seismic Methods

Lecture 69 Seismic Waves Classification

Lecture 70 Typical Seismic Velocities

Lecture 71 Seismic Refraction

Lecture 72 Seismic Reflection

Lecture 73 Passive Seismic methods

Lecture 74 HVSR

Lecture 75 Passive Seismic Methods For Measuring Shear Wave Velocity (Vs)

Lecture 76 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

Lecture 77 Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

Section 18: Putting It All Together - The Complete Workflow

Lecture 78 Planning a Groundwater Project

Lecture 79 Designing the Survey Layout

Lecture 80 Using Borehole Data Effectively

Lecture 81 Future Trends & Further Study

Lecture 82 Resources for Further Learning

Lecture 83 Thank You

Geologist or Hydrogeologist seeking to master a critical geophysical method and elevate your professional practice from qualitative assessment to quantitative, data-driven exploration. Civil, Geotechnical, or Water Resource Engineer who requires reliable subsurface characterization for projects involving water supply, infrastructure design, and sustainable resource management. Environmental Scientist or Consultant engaged in groundwater mapping, resource assessment, or the delineation of contaminant plumes, who needs a robust tool for subsurface investigation. Graduate or Senior Undergraduate Student in Geosciences, Environmental Science, or Engineering who wishes to bridge the gap between academic theory and the practical, field-based skills demanded by the industry. Project Manager or Decision-Maker in the water, mining, and construction sectors who needs to understand the principles behind modern exploration techniques to better manage projects and assess technical reports. Professional Drilling Company or Consultant aiming to significantly improve well-siting success rates by integrating scientific geophysical methods into your operational workflow.