2023-2024 / GEOL0013-5

Hydrogeology

Part A

Part B

Duration

Part A : 26h Th, 20h Pr, 1d FW
Part B : 10h Proj.

Number of credits

 Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Geological and Mining Engineering5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Geological and Mining Engineering (joint-degree programme with the "Université polytechnique de Madrid")5 crédits 
 Bachelor in geology4 crédits 

Lecturer

Part A : Alain Dassargues
Part B :

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The fundamentals of hydrogeology and groundwater are proposed in this course:
- Introduction - Definitions: groundwater resources advantages and drawbacks, relative importance in the world, in Belgium, in the Walloon region.
- Hydrological cycle and water balance of a basin, groundwater reserves.
- Confined, water table and perched aquifers: definitions and examples, the importance of a clear geological understanding when defining hydrogeological conditions.
- Hydrogeological parameters and groundwater flow equations: hydrostatic, porosities, hydraulic conductivity and Darcy's law, intrinsic permeability, generalization, application, limitations, measurements on field, piezometric maps, application examples, transmissivity, steady-state groundwater flow in saturated conditions, specific storage coefficient, transient flow in confined and water table aquifers.
- Pumping tests and recovery: assumptions, interpretation methods in steady state and transient state, superposition principle, anisotropy, leakance, applications.
- Hydrochemical state of groundwater.
- Processes and equations describing the contaminant transport in groundwater by advection, diffusion, dispersion, adsorption/desorption, decay, and immobile water effect.
- Introduction to the use of isotopes and interpretation of results.

This 'partim' of the course is made of the exercises to be solved individually by each student.

 

Part A

The fundamentals of hydrogeology and groundwater are proposed in this course:
- Introduction - Definitions: groundwater resources advantages and drawbacks, relative importance in the world, in Belgium, in the Walloon region.
- Hydrological cycle and water balance of a basin, groundwater reserves.
- Confined, water table and perched aquifers: definitions and examples, the importance of a clear geological understanding when defining hydrogeological conditions.
- Hydrogeological parameters and groundwater flow equations: hydrostatic, porosities, hydraulic conductivity and Darcy's law, intrinsic permeability, generalization, application, limitations, measurements on the field, piezometric maps, application examples, transmissivity, steady-state groundwater flow in saturated conditions, specific storage coefficient, transient flow in confined and water table aquifers.
- Pumping tests and recovery: assumptions, interpretation methods in steady-state and transient state, superposition principle, anisotropy, leakance, applications.
- Hydrochemical state of groundwater.
- Processes and equations describing the contaminant transport in groundwater by advection, diffusion, dispersion, adsorption/desorption, decay, and immobile water effect.
- Introduction to the use of isotopes and interpretation of results.

Part B

This 'partim' of the course is made of the exercices to be solved individually by each student.
 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, the student will have a strong basic knowledge of hydrogeology and groundwater flow problems. He will be able to:
- understand and exploit theoretical and practical hydrogeological concepts;
- calculate groundwater fluxes and flow directions;
- interpret hydrogeological maps;
- draw and interpret piezometric maps;
- predict and detect local hydrogeological specificities of a study site;
- interpret pumping tests;
- design of field measurement campaigns for groundwater quantity and quality;
- interpret and report on hydrochemical groundwater quality data;
- understand and interpret the main solute transport processes in groundwater.
Exercises and practical courses are lead by an assistant helped by two student-instructors. They will help each student to develop his self-sufficient capacities in practical and real case studies.
The not compulsory reading of reference books (in English) will allow additional documentation and understanding of scientific texts on this topic.

To develop his self-sufficient capacities in practical and real case studies.

This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, III.2, IV.2, V.1, V.2 of the BSc in Engineering.


This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, III.2, IV.2, IV.3, V.1, V.2 of the MSc in Geological and Mining engineering.

Part A

At the end of the course, the student will have a strong basic knowledge of hydrogeology and groundwater flow problems. He will be able to:
- understand and exploit theoretical and practical hydrogeological concepts;
- calculate groundwater fluxes and flow directions;
- interpret hydrogeological maps;
- draw and interpret piezometric maps;
- predict and detect local hydrogeological specificities of a study site;
- interpret pumping tests;
- design of field measurement campaigns for groundwater quantity and quality;
- interpret and report on hydrochemical groundwater quality data;
- understand and interpret the main solute transport processes in groundwater.
Exercises and practical courses are led by an assistant helped by two student-instructors. They will help each student to develop his self-sufficient capacities in practical and real case studies.
The not compulsory reading of reference books (in English) will allow additional documentation and understanding of scientific texts on this topic.

Part B

To develop his self-sufficient capacities on practical and real case studies.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

The course requires a good knowledge of general geology and basic knowledge of hydraulics and mathematical and vectorial analysis.

The course requires a good knowledge of general geology and basic knowledge of hydraulics and mathematical and vectorial analysis.

Part A

The course requires a good knowledge of general geology and basic knowledge of hydraulics and mathematical and vectorial analysis.

Part B

The course requires a good knowledge of general geology and basic knowledges of hydraulics and mathematical and vectorial analysis.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is composed of "ex-cathedra" lectures and directed exercises sessions. The exercises sessions are organised in direct relation with the topics covered by the theory lectures. Usually, two hours of lecture are followed by an exercices session of two hours (except for the first half-day of the semester). In addition, and in function of the availability in the student time schedule, a one day on field (or two half-days) will be organised for on field measurements and for visiting water company exploitation installations. The dates will be fixed together with the students.<br /><br /> A few exercises mut be solved individually by the student and a short report is required. The deadline for this report is fixed together with the students.

Part A

The course is composed of "ex-cathedra" lectures and directed exercise sessions.
The exercise sessions are organized in direct relation to the topics covered by the theory lectures. Usually, two hours of lecture are followed by an exercise session of two hours (except for the first half-day of the semester).
In addition, and in the function of the availability in the student time schedule, a one-day on-field (or two half-days) will be organized for on-field measurements and for visiting water company exploitation installations.
The dates will be fixed together with the students.

Part B

A few exercises mut be solved individually by the student and a short report is required. The deadline for this report is fixed together with the students.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face.<br /><br /> Home individual work.

Part A

Face-to-face.

Part B

Home individual work.

Recommended or required readings

A pdf copy of all slides and partial notes are made available on E-Campus. This is only a summary of what was said and shown during the lectures.

The following reference book is highly advised:


- Dassargues, A. 2018. Hydrogeology: groundwater science and engineering, Taylor & Francis CRC Press, 472p.

or

- Dassargues, A. 2020. Hydrogéologie appliquée : science et ingénierie des eaux souterraines, 512p. Dunod. Paris.


In this book, the student will find more details and examples than collected during the lectures.
The pdf copy of the slides will be available in French and possibly also in English.

Part A

A pdf copy of all slides and partial notes are made available on E-Campus. This is only a summary of what was said and shown during the lectures. The following reference book is highly advised:
- Dassargues, A. 2018. Hydrogeology: groundwater science and engineering, Taylor & Francis CRC Press, 472p.
or
- Dassargues, A. 2020. Hydrogéologie appliquée : science et ingénierie des eaux souterraines, 512p. Dunod. Paris.
In this book, the student will find more details and examples than collected during the lectures. The pdf copy of the slides will be available in French and possibly also in English.

Part B

Reference book : - Dassargues, A. 2018. Hydrogeology: groundwater science and engineering, Taylor & Francis CRC Press, 472p.

Assessment methods and criteria

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Written work / report


Additional information:

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- If the evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

A written exam is organized in January and in September sessions. With open questions, the evaluation is based mainly on understanding the concepts and processes, but it requires also memorization. Indeed, good knowledge and perfect command of the fundamentals are needed for preparing accurate and adequate answers.
During the exercise sessions, different problems are submitted to the students for individual resolution. A final report on these resolutions is required for the last exercise session of the semester. The evaluation of this exercise report provides 30% of the final exam mark.

Part A

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Written work / report


Additional information:

A written exam is organized in January and in September sessions. With open questions, the evaluation is based mainly on understanding the concepts and processes, but it requires also memorization. Indeed, good knowledge and perfect command of the fundamentals are needed for preparing accurate and adequate answers.
During the exercise sessions, different problems are submitted to the students for individual resolution. A final report on these resolutions is required for the last exercise session of the semester. The evaluation of this exercise report provides 30% of the final exam mark.

Part B

The evaluation of this report about exercises provides 30% of the final exam mark.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course will be given during the 1st semester: Monday am.The schedule and location of the course should be checked on CELCAT.

Part A

The course will be given during the 1st semester: Monday am. The schedule and location of the course should be checked on CELCAT.

Contacts

Alain Dassargues 04/3662376 Alain.Dassargues@uliege.be Tom Debouny (assistant): Tom.Debouny@uliege.be

Part A

Alain Dassargues 04/3662376 Alain.Dassargues@uliege.be Tom Debouny (assistant): Tom.Debouny@uliege.be

Part B

Alain Dassargues 04/3662376 Alain.Dassargues@uliege.be Tom Debouny (assistant): Tom.Debouny@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs