The course teaches the basic concepts of hydrogeology using examples from the UAE. Topics include: the hydrologic cycle, origin and age of groundwater, properties and kinds of aquifers, groundwater exploration, drilling, design, development and completion of water wells, principles of groundwater flow and pumping tests, physical and chemical properties of groundwater, recent developments in groundwater studies, and water resources in the UAE.
This course aims to develop a clear understanding of the principles of geophysics. It includes: reflection and refraction seismic waves, seismic data processing and interpretations, gravity measurement and applications of Newton's Law, gravity survey field procedures and interpretation. Magnetic parameters, field procedures and interpretations. Electrical properties of rocks, Ohm's Law, field resistivity measurements and geoelectrical interpretations.
The course describes the essential features of the Geological setting and structural framework of the Arabian Peninsula. It includes: the sedimentary sequences Palaeozoic-Cenozoic and the effect of tectonic movements and water depth variation on sedimentary facies. Introduction to the Geology of the UAE, structural and tectonic setting, evolution of Rub Al Khali and Ras Al-Khaima basins. Evolution of the islands in UAE. Stratigraphic sequence facies and palaeogeography of the UAE. Oil exploration history, hydrocarbon characteristics, and oil fields.
The course aims at giving the students the basic principles of inorganic geochemistry and water hydrochemistry. The course contents cover chemical differentiation of the earth, metals and non-metals, geochemistry of sedimentary rocks, clay minerals, carbonate deposits, isotope geochemistry, geochemical equilibrium, environmental pollution and its sources, water chemistry, acidity- alkalinity, saltwater intrusion, rock-water interaction, hydrochemical evolution.
Through this course, faculty members are given the chance to teach new or timely subjects that are not covered in other courses.
This course aims to provide the students with fundamental knowledge about the Earth’s origin, composition, structures and history. Information about the different geological processes and plate tectonics are also introduced.
The course is designed to all university students in order to provide them with general education knowledge about our planet; its past, present and future changes. The course will include three main sections; the first focusing on Earth evolution in time and space, the second covers the Earth materials and Earth shaping processes and the third deals with natural hazards and the future of earth sciences. The course will be based on lectures, computer assisted exercises, multimedia presentations and seminars.
This course aims to develop a clear understanding and basic concepts of crystallography and mineralogy. Crystal system, symmetry, lattice, defect, twining, mineral groups, and mineral optical properties are well discussed. Petrographic microscope parts and uses, thin-section, opaques, isotropic and anisotropic minerals and related characteristics are included. Uniaxial and biaxial minerals are also defined with their different appearance. The course is associated with a laboratory part that forms the main practical application of the course items.
This course introduces the students to the principles of Structural geology, including the essential types of structural data, and how to measure and record them. It briefly treats primary structures before proceeding to explain the evolution of the important deformation (secondary) structures. The analysis of data to reveal the form and time relations of the largest crustal structures is then presented. The significance of plate tectonics for resource exploration will also be mentioned.
This Paleontology course is divided into two parts: the first deals with Micropaleontology and concentrates on selected forams, ostracods, nannofossils and etc…. The second part instructs students in the essentials of Invertebrate Macropaleontology, with emphasis on sponges, corals, bryozoa, brachiopods, molluscs, echinoids and arthropods. Students are trained to identify and describe key fossils to genus level using microscope and hand lens and to determine their relative age. Additional skills include fossil sketching and literature search. Some applications of Paleontology to hydrocarbon exploration are presented. Invertebrate Paleontology is the study of ancient invertebrates, typically defined as any organisms without backbones and divided into Micropaleontology (is the study of microscopic fossils) and Macropaleontology (fossils which can be studied with naked eye and using hand lens).
This course presents a broad review of igneous rocks, emphasising their tectonic associations, interrelationships and petrogenesis as well as an introduction to the principles that govern mineralogical mineral assemblages and reactions in metamorphic rocks. After successful completion of this course you will have an integrated understanding of the range, composition and petrogenesis of the major igneous and metamorphic rock groups and will be able to identify them in thin section and deduce their tectonic association and mode of origin. You will review metamorphic facies, facies series and their distribution, as well as the thermal and tectonic controls on metamorphism. You will become familiar with the key skills used to aid the interpretation of metamorphic rocks: AKF, AFM diagrams and Thompson projections (for pelites) and petrogenetic grids and you will learn how to interpret these.
The course aims to develop the skills of students with a firm understanding of the basic principles and concepts of sedimentation and sedimentary rocks in relation to depositional and post-depositional processes and products. It includes studying both modern and ancient sedimentary environments on continents and in marine systems. The course provides introduction to the environments, processes and classification of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The topics cover information about weathering, erosion, sedimentation and formation of rocks. Field and laboratory techniques used in the analyses of sediments and sedimentary rocks are presented. Description of all varieties of sedimentary rocks and their economic uses are discussed with examples from the UAE region.
This course is aimed to acquaint students with the fundamental concepts of engineering geoscience and applications in engineering constructions and infrastructure planning such as tunnels, dams, bridges etc. In addition, the course will provide methods and techniques commonly used in collecting and testing geological units and classify the data for engineering applications.
Economic geology: Study the genesis and geology of ore deposits including base- and precious-metals, gems and other materials of commercial value, such as salt, gypsum, and building stone. This course concerned with the distribution of mineral deposits, factors controlling the formation of these deposits, the economic considerations involved in their recovery, and an assessment of the reserves available.. It applies the principles and methods of various other fields of the geologic sciences, most notably geophysics, structural geology, and stratigraphy. Its chief objective is to guide the exploration for mineral resources and help determine which deposits are economically worthwhile to mine. . Discuss how society uses each material, the environmental implications of doing so, and the remediation steps necessary to minimize the associated environmental impact.
This course is designed to give a comprehensive knowledge of geophysics focusing mainly on the theory of potential field methods and their applications. The course covers the gravity and magnetic methods as well as the electric and electromagnetic methods. The course subject will focus on the application of these methods in subsurface structure studies, groundwater prospecting, mineral prospecting, engineering and environmental studies.
Stratigraphy is the study of all rock strata, and their organization into mappable units based on their properties. Students will be instructed in elementary lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy, and introduced to other stratigraphic method (chronostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, etc.). Practical aspects of this course include stratigraphic section measurement, correlation, lithofacies and biofacies analysis. Applications of stratigraphy to hydrocarbon exploration are discussed.
This course introduces the students to the theory and applications of Exploration Seismology. The course is concentrated on the reflection and refraction techniques. The course focuses on the field survey and data acquisition, data processing and interpretation in terms of structural and stratigraphic features. The course introduces the students to processing of seismic data on computer with emphasis on exploring and characterizing petroleum reservoirs using seismic reflection methods.
This course covers the theory of plate tectonics and examines the geology of earthquakes, the global pattern of seismicity and seismicity associated with the tectonic settings. It focuses on the regional seismicity and the seismicity of UAE both historical and recent. Special attention will be given on the interpretation of seismic waves, fault mechanism, identification of events from observatory records, and assessing seismic hazards in the region.
This course introduces the basic principles of remote sensing and fundamentals of GIS. This includes introduction to electromagnetic radiation and targets; reflectance of terrain features; target signature; color composition; digital image processing and interpretation; photo geological examples from the United Arab Emirates.
This course presents an exposition of the impact of chemistry and its laws on the spatial distribution of elements in the various spheres of the Earth. It introduces theories on the origin of the elements which compose the Earth, and the Solar System. The geochemistry of isotopes and radionucleides. Geochemistry of the three types of rocks on the Earth’s crust. Thermodynamics of elements. Geochemical exploration. Geochemical balance, and finally environmental geochemistry as a modern discipline.
This course covers the importance of the petrophysical properties of reservoir rocks, such as porosity, permeability, resistivity, and water saturation. It provides the basic background to well logging and reservoir characterization. The course aims at the achievement of profound understanding of the major petrophysical properties of reservoirs, and provides the theoretical knowledge required for log analysis and reservoir characterization. The course leads to bridges the gap between geologic and engineering understanding of reservoir rocks, and give a better understanding of the relation between rocks and fluids.
This course is an introduction to the groundwater and the problems associated with it. The course is aimed to provide the students the basic aspects of hydrogeology such as hydrological cycle and properties of aquifer. In this course, principles of groundwater flow and soil moisture and groundwater recharge will be covered. The course covers also water chemistry and water quality and introduces the different field methods used in hydrogeology exploration and groundwater modeling. This course will help prepare students for either a career in hydrogeology or in other areas of environmental science and engineering where a strong background in hydrogeology is needed.
The course aims at introducing principles of cosmology and the formation of galaxies and planets in space and time as well as components of space in our solar system and planetary composition. Methods used to probe space and atmosphere of terrestrial planet will be presented. Special focus will be given to the composition and landscape features of terrestrial planets (Mars, Mercury and Venus) and comparison with those found on Earth.
This course deals with the principles of environmental geoscience as an integral part of the students’ curriculum. It includes renewable and non-renewable resources, minerals, fossil fuels and water, conservation measures. Natural hazards including volcanic activity, earthquakes, floods, regional subsidence and landslides. Mitigative measures. Pollution of air, surface and subsurface water, and soil. Waste disposal in a Geologic context. Man’s modification of the physical environment. Environmental management.
The course aims at introducing the principles of radioactivity and radioactive isotopes, including modes of occurrence in nature and sources for industrial production. Exploration methods for radioactive isotopes and processes of formation will also be introduced. In addition, methods used in the survey and selection of repository sites for the storage of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste will be presented.
This course uses geocomputation and geovisualization for analyzing geoinformation. It combines geospatial analysis and modeling, development of geospatial databases and geosciences oriented information systems design. Topics will cover following fields: environmental geodatabases; water geodatabases; soil geodatabases; minerals geodatabases; hydrocarbons geodatabases; etc. Furthermore, analysis of geodatabases using spatial analysis tools and functions will be covered. It is expected that at the end of the course students will be able to build discipline-oriented geodatabases and implement geospatial projects to solve spatial problems about Earth and its resources, using available geospatial data. Case studies from the United Arab Emirates will be selected.
This course introduces the principles and concept of hydrocarbons formation in sedimentary rocks. The course provides comprehensive integration hydrocarbons from the sources to generation, migration and trapping. The course will introduce methods and techniques used to evaluate hydrocarbons potential of sedimentary basins. Introduction of applications related to hydrocarbons exploration, accumulation and exploitation will also be presented. The course aims at teaching the theories and hypothesis related to the formation of hydrocarbons. At the same time the mechanisms of hydrocarbon generation, migration and trapping are learned. Students will learn also about the different methods used in hydrocarbon exploration. Students will learn about the role of geological condition in the hydrocarbon exploration. At the end of the course non-conventional petroleum resources will be presented.
This course aims at delineating subsurface Geology including layer succession, types of structures, petrophysical parameters of different layers, types of fluids and their quantity, buried ores, etc. The most important type of these methods are the seismic methods, especially the reflection seismic. A precise determination of the attitude of subsurface layers, structures, water tables, bearing capacity of different soil materials for civil engineering purposes, and the fluid zonation in oil traps is the main duties of the surface and borehole seismic surveys. Gravity, magnetic and electric methods play a secondary role in geophysical exploration for oil, groundwater and other land-resources.
This course is designed to enhance the student research and innovation capability in geosciences. This course may also involve field and laboratory activities as well as literature survey. Report and presentation are required.
The course Geology of the UAE will focus on the geological features and history of the Arabian Plate, upon which UAE is situated. It is an overview of the geological evolution of the exposed and deep (subsurface) geology (stratigraphy, structure, economic importance, etc.) of the UAE. A highlight of the course is treatment of the UAE- Oman Semail Ophiolite, which is one of the largest and best exposed ophiolites in the world. The course includes field visits to key geological sites and requires an individual student-written report on aspects of the geology of the UAE.
The course aims to develop practical skills in field Geology and field surveying. It includes training in the use of a range of field instruments, field trips to selected areas, practical methods of Stratigraphy and facies analysis, ophiolite Stratigraphy, metamorphic rocks and metamorphism, structural Geology and regional tectonics, sabkha environments and salt domes.
The training programme is coordinated by both the Department, academic supervisor and the faculty training committee. The programme is continuously monitored and reviewed by a field supervisor staff member at one of the various geological organizations in the United Arab Emirates. (This course is conducted over half a semester (8 weeks) during the third year of study. Offered condensed courses should be taken during the other half of the semester).
The aim of this course is to understand and apply the fundamentals of geochemistry in evaluating methods for mineral exploration and the associated environmental impact (K1, K2). Several analytical techniques such as XRD, XRF, SEM, ICPMS and interpretation and modelling software including Matlab and IGPET will be used to promote application of IA (S1-S6). The course will cover lectures and laboratory and field experiences. By the end of this course students will be able to define the basic principles and methods used in geochemical exploration and survey and environmental impact (S2) Students will also be familiar with the different types of geochemical distribution aureoles, including primary, secondary and flow dispersions, and their relation to ore deposits and environment. mineralogical/geochemical data to determine and interpret the areas of anomalies (S4) and/or a possible association of an environmental effect (S1). Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
This course aims at introducing the principle used for the evaluation of groundwater potentials and the impact on the environment (K1, S1). The course provides techniques used for the identification and assessment of groundwater during strategic planning for natural resources. Spatially distributed hydrological modelling using Geoinformatics techniques will be introduced (K2, K3, S1, S2). Case studies from arid to semi-arid on groundwater environmental assessment procedures and practices will be addressed. Students finishing the course will gain experience in assessment strategies and approaches commonly applied in groundwater policies and in writing scientific reports (S6).
Aerial and space photography. Electromagnetic spectrum. Techniques, electronic processing and enhancement. Sequential photography. Landsat satellites and others. Pattern recognition and classification. Applications in resource and pollution studies: geological, soil, hydrological, agricultural, forests, rangeland, coastal zones, urban and rural landuse. Identification, monitoring and warning against pollution and natural hazards.
This course aims to present advanced applications in non-seismic methods (potential field, electrical, electromagnetic) for the purposes of subsurface imaging (K1, K2, S1) and resource exploration (S2). The students will develop skills in the methods of measurement techniques and data acquisition (S3) and data correction/processing and modeling (S4). Particular attention is paid to inversion and modeling of the geophysical data in 2D and 3D, including reference to the application of Artificial Intelligence in geophysical data analysis. Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
An integral approach to petroleum plays and a review of worldwide petroleum provinces is proposed (K1). This course aims at introducing properties and processes associated with development of hydrocarbon reservoir and seal (cap) rocks (K1). Particular focus will be given to tools and methods that are used to evaluate and define characteristics of reservoirs and seal formation (S1, S2). Students finishing the course will develop skills in recognition of potential reservoir and seal rocks as well as in identifying most suitable methods to be used for fingerprinting rock properties which form an essential component in exploration and production of hydrocarbons (S1, S3). Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
Application of principles and techniques of geochemistry to mineral and oil exploration. Mobility, dispersion, pathfinders and anomalies. Soil, water, rock, and plant surveys. Analytical techniques and field methods. Critical heavy metals influencing health of man, animals and plants. Medical implications. Identification and monitoring of air, water and soil pollution. Geochemical maps.
This course is prepared to help students maximize learning and understanding the subjects in energy and its resources. The major concepts of this course cover the basic relationship between geology and Earth resources, conventional energy sources such as coal, oil and natural gas, sustainable energy such as solar, biomass, fuel cells and etc., minimizing the environmental degradation while extracting, usage of earth natural resources as energy sources, and possible future energy resources.
Geotechnical studies. Surface structures in the fields of civil engineering and agriculture. Coastal zones. Site selection, foundation problems. Landslides. Design and construction of underground structures. Extraction of water, petroleum and natural gas. Military applications. Failure of structures. Engineering codes.
This course builds on the students’ knowledge of the main micro and macrofossil groups, particularly foraminifera, ostracods, calcareous nannofossils and pollen grains and spores (palynomorphs), siliceous microfossils (Radiolaria), sponges, coelenterates, bryozoan, brachiopods, molluscs, echinoids, trilobites, graptolites and trace fossils (S2). The course will further develop the students’ ability to recognize the essential characteristics of the general and apply that knowledge to petroleum exploration through integrated field, laboratory and case study exercises (K1, S1, S2,). The students will also be taught the significance of paleontology in biostratigraphic, paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic research. Specific applications to basin hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir biostratigraphic zonation will be highlighted. Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
This course explores methods of analyzing spatial data in the interactive and graphical environment of a GIS and remote sensing (K3). The course draws on related theory in spatial statistics, geo-statistics, geographical analysis and cartographic modeling as well as teaching students how to enhance and process satellite images (S1, S2)). It is expected that at the end of the course students will be able to extract the necessary information and integrate Geo-data types related to land forms, environment, water, and hydrocarbon exploration. Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
The aim of the course is to acquaint the students with the advanced theoretical and interpretation techniques of the different exploration geophysical methods and the problem recognition in exploration mainly in Petroleum Exploration (K1, K2). The course concentrates mainly on the explanation and functioning of the different methods (S2, S3, S4). The course also covers the data acquisition and processing. In addition to the comparison and correlation with other geophysical and geological data. Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
This course aims to provide advanced methods for the characterization of carbonate and evaporate depositional systems and the techniques used in interpreting and understanding primary and secondary modifications (K1, K2, S1, S2). A special focus will be given to features of depositional environments and in particular to the sabkha system of the UAE (K1). Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
This course introduces the principles of engineering rock mechanics including data collection and assessment. The course stipulates how structures such as dams, tunnels, caverns, etc. built on or in rock masses critically depend on the rock mass properties and interaction between the rock mass and the engineered structure (K4). This course also focuses on description and representation of a rock mass, stress and strain in a rock mass and deformation and failure of a rock mass. These principles are simply applied to rock engineering applications such as rock slope stability analysis, design of underground structures in rocks (S3). Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
The scope of this course is to use remote sensing and GIS techniques and technologies for mapping, measuring and monitoring biodiversity. The theoretical backgrounds as well as the practical implementation of RS/GIS for biodiversity research and conservation application are taught. The remote sensing data analysis, GIS database building as well as the integration with biodiversity data and the spatial statistics including spatial modelling are introduced and mainly done with Erdas Imagine and ArcGIS softwares.
The course covers broad subjects with emphasis on long-lived basic principles of earthquake mechanism. The recent technological progress in instrumentation, computer, and high-quality data has made it very easy to perform seismotectonic research (K1). The course first consolidates students’ knowledge and understanding of the concepts of modern global tectonics (K1, K2). The keys structural elements and seismic characteristics of the tectonic divergent, convergent and transform plate margins are presented. The tectonic evolution of the Arabian Plate is reviewed. The course then explores the dynamics of the solid Earth from theoretical and observational seismology and seismotectonics in relation to earthquake hazard and mitigation (S1, S2). It provides an in-depth study of earthquake seismology and earthquake hazard. Procedures for Interpreting earthquake seismograms and determination of earthquake focal mechanisms are given, with special attention to the seismicity of the UAE via local seismological network data (S3, S4). Part of the course assessment includes oral presentation and report (S6).
This course will focus on Evolution of the Earth’s climate during geological time and factors that cause climatic changes and related environmental hazards (K1, S1). The course will use GeoInformatics techniques and software (S3, S4) for interpretation of geodatabase building (K2, S5) and analysis. Tools commonly used for the identification of climate and paleoclimate changes and associated environmental hazards, such as sea level rise, drought and floods (K2, S3, S4, S5) will be presented. Part of the course assessment includes presentation and report (S6).
This course deals with the exploration of terrestrial planets in respect to planetary resources and their analogues on Earth. It takes the Earth as a reference to understand development of surface features on terrestrial planets and their related dynamic, physico-chemical, and morphological processes. The course introduces different methods used in the exploration of Earth and terrestrial planets including different specialties of Earth Sciences. The main objective is to introduce students to the geological histories, and geological processes, of other planets and to illustrate how this knowledge has led to our current understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar system. The course is designed to give students the basic introduction to planetary geology, with particular emphasis on the geology of Mars.
This course is designed to meet students’ needs to enhance and support his/her research skills and knowledge. Basic Knowledge competencies and computational skills that may not have been satisfactorily covered by core and elective courses, will be emphasized during this course. K1-K4, S1-S6 will be more emphasized during this course.
The course provides a selection of classic examples of tectonic divergent (Atlantic passive margin and mid-ocean ridge spreading axis), transform (strike-slip and transpressive plate boundary), and convergent (Andean and Mariana-type subduction, arc-arc, arc-continent, and continent-continent collisions) plate boundaries for detailed treatment. The origins and evolution of key tectonic elements such as ocean basins, transform faults, oceanic trenches, volcanic island arcs, back-arc basins, continental rifts, continental shelves, orogenic mountain ranges etc. are explored.
The course aims to enable students to use computer-based innovative techniques for the analysis and modeling of geospatial data. GPS, GIS, Digital Image Processing, and Geo-database building will be explained and used for problem solving and modeling. The course consists of three interrelated parts: a theoretical part which focuses on the concepts, a practical part which aims at developing hands-on skills in using software tools, and an application oriented part in which participants learn how to design and carry out sequential data processing steps for solving typical application problems in Geoscience. It is expected that at the end of the course students will be able to build models integrating various types of Geospatial data related to land forms, environment, water, hydrocarbon exploration, etc.
This course examines the important modern issues of environmental and social dimensions that lie within the geological sphere of study. The main topics covered in this course deal with energy sources and waste products, water for populations and industry, mineral and industrial material resource prospects and challenges, land use, land management, seismic assessment, coastal and sabkha issues, environmental engineering, climate and desertification issues.
The aim of the course is to acquaint the PhD students with the different geophysical field techniques and technical problem recognition. The course covers explanation and functioning of the geophysical instruments including magnetometer, gravimeter, geoelectric instruments both electromagnetic and electric, and seismic. The course also covers the data acquisition and first step processing. The course aims at acquainting the students with the principles, data acquisition and processing of gravity, magnetic and geoelectric methods. The roles of these methods in the earth science investigations will be demonstrated.
The course aims to provide an understanding of the dynamics of the solid Earth from theoretical and observational seismology and seismotectonics in relation to earthquake hazard and mitigation. It provides an in-depth study of earthquake seismology and earthquake hazard. The course includes procedures for Interpreting earthquake seismograms and determination of earthquake focal mechanisms. Special attention is given to the seismicity of the UAE by considering the local seismology network data. The keys structural elements and seismic characteristics of the tectonic divergent, convergent and transform plate margins are presented. The tectonic evolution of the Arabian Plate is reviewed. The course then explores the dynamics of the solid Earth from theoretical and observational seismology and seismotectonics in relation to earthquake hazard and mitigation. It provides an in-depth study of earthquake seismology and earthquake hazard. Procedures for Interpreting earthquake seismograms and determination of earthquake focal mechanisms are given, with special attention to the seismicity of the UAE via local seismological network data.
This course aims to introduce principles of diagenesis in sedimentary rocks and the effects of diagenetic processes and sequence stratigraphy on petroleum reservoirs with respect to basin architecture, relative sea level change and history. Concepts of stratigraphy, including, litho-bio-chemo-stratigraphy and sedimentology of clastic and nonclastic rocks will be introduced. Diagenetic processes cause changes in the porosity and permeability of sedimentary rocks that are controlled by the sequence stratigraphic secessions order and geometry. These changes impact the development of petroleum reservoirs and systems through changes in the permeability and porosity that directly related to oil migration and exploitation. The course will also introduce the students to sequence stratigraphic correlation on local, regional and global scale.
This course aims to provide introduction of geological, geophysical, petrophysical and geochemical methods used in the evaluation of petroleum bearing sedimentary rocks. Principles of petroleum systems and elements particularly source, migration, reservoirs, traps and seals will be provided. The course will also include evaluation of geological risk and optimization in exploration prospects through correlation between the different elements of the petroleum system. The course also will provide tools in petrophysics including well logging information and evaluation of petrophysical parameters, covering Porosity, Permeability, Formation evaluation and water and oil saturation, and Capillary pressure curves and wettability. These goals will be achieved by using advanced digital correlation matrices of the different geological, geophysical and geochemical parameters
The course introduces students to the fundamentals of computing and to their practical applications in geosciences. Students will be trained on how to: define and create thematic layers from remote sensing and field spatial data; classify remote sensing data and extract information about earth surface; build geo-databases in a GIS environment; populate geodatabases, retrieve geo-data from geo-databases; import geo-data from external sources (e. g, existing databases, internet sites, ancillary data, etc.). The software used are ArcGIS from ESRI, Ltd, with Spatial Analyst and 3D analyst extensions for processing vector data models & ERDAS Imagine for raster data models and digital image processing. Students will be trained on using remote sensing data such as: satellite imagery of moderate to high resolutions (examples: Landsat, WV-2 & 3, Pleiades, Sentinel1 & 2, etc.); DEMs (available 15m and 5m for urban areas); GPS data (field survey); old maps (scanned 1: 25,000 topo maps) and other ancillary data. All mentioned data will be integrated in a unified coordinate system in geo-databases. This course is complementary and a co-requisite to the course (GEOL 720: Modelling and GeoInformatics) offered as a core course AND is intended to provide students, who have little to no experience in remote sensing and GIS, with necessary foundations to run smoothly the Modelling and GeoInformatics (GEOL 720) course. Students will acquire more experience and familiarize themselves with more remote sensing and GIS data analysis through hands-on exercises, home assignments and project implementation.
The course covers detailed distribution, abundance and behavior of various elements in different parts of the earth. This mean abundance and behavior of trace element and their analysis, mobility and migration. This course focused on trace element geochemistry including a review of partition coefficients and theoretical approaches to understanding trace element partitioning during partial melting and fractional crystallization. Geochemical analyses including varieties of different instrumentation and techniques of different analytical methods. These methods include X-ray Fluorescence (XRD), inductive coupled plasma mass-spectrometer (ICP-MS), thermal ionization mass-spectrometer (TIMS), X-ray diffraction method (XRD), electron microprobe (EPMA) and sensitive resolution mass-spectrometer (SIMS). Throughout the course, lectures are interspersed with papers that are to be read by students and discussed during class. A listing of papers to be discussed is included but unfortunately the interactive class discussions emerging from reading these papers cannot be reproduced in a Web-based course. In addition, part of the course will comprise a seminar format that will require students to use the knowledge gained to evaluate and discuss geochemical topics.
Minerals are the essential earth solid materials made of chemical elements that occur in almost every environment. Therefore, any environmental impact, protection or treatment is strongly connected directly or indirectly to these materials. This course will explain this connection and reveal how mineralogy is a key of many environmental issues. It is planned to cover more or less following topics: The scope of environmental mineralogy, geochemical distributions of elements, heavy-metals, minerals and soil development, minerals and human health, conservation, landfills and containment control, mineral marine sediments, mine and nuclear wastes mineralogy, and the role of mineralogy in waste management and remediation strategies will be discussed with examples from UAE where possible.. Some geochemical analyses, methods or techniques may also be outlined when necessary. Although textbooks are the main reference of the course, related journal papers or published articles may be added to be presented and discussed during the class time.
The main objectives of this course is to introduce many of the basic concepts used by geochemists in obtaining information on the origin and history of crude oil, bitumen, petroleum and natural gas, to evaluate the source rocks of oil, to develop the concept of biomarkers and to interpret GC and GC/MS chromatograms.
The course teaches the basic concepts of hydrogeology using examples from the UAE. Topics include: the hydrologic cycle, origin and age of groundwater, properties and kinds of aquifers, groundwater exploration, drilling, design, development and completion of water wells, principles of groundwater flow and pumping tests, physical and chemical properties of groundwater, recent developments in groundwater studies, and water resources in the UAE.
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