511826 - GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

courses

ID:

511826

Duration (hours):

48

CFU:

SSD:

GEOLOGIA APPLICATA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 12/06/2026)

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, the student will acquire the knowledge to 1) evaluate key aquifer properties such as porosity, transmissivity, and storage; 2) identify and analyze environmental problems related to the misuse and/or over-exploitation of groundwater resources (e.g. subsidence); 3) understand the contribution which satellite observations can bring to improve groundwater resource management, 4) understand the fundamental principles of climate change and its impact on hydrogeological systems, 5) analyze climate-induced changes in groundwater, and water quality using data-driven approaches, 6) develop skills in applying hydrological models and machine learning techniques for climate change impact assessment, 7) explore adaptation and sustainable groundwater resource management strategies under changing climate conditions. The student will be able to apply theoretical, field, and modeling skills to effectively assess and manage groundwater resources.

Course Prerequisites

The students have to own or to obtain an initial concept of geological model.

Teaching Methods

Lessons and laboratory activity

Assessment Methods

Student learning will be evaluated through: Project (50%): Students will analyze a climate change impact on a hydrogeological process of their choice (e.g., groundwater, water quality). They will use real-world datasets and apply hydrological modeling or ML methods.
Exam (50%):A final exam covering theoretical and applied aspects of course materials (2 hours-written test with 6 open questions regarding the topics of the course).

Texts

• Course notes and PowerPoint slides provided by the instructor.
• Selected scientific papers on groundwater flow, field methods, and modeling.
• Recommended textbooks:
o Fetter, C.W. (2018). Applied Hydrogeology.
o Gambolati G., Teatini P. (2021) - Land subsidence and its mitigation. Land Subsidence and its Mitigation - The Groundwater Project (gw-project.org)

The course is composed of three modules. MODULE 1 – Groundwater resources introduction, Challenges related to groundwater. Hydrogeological Behaviour Of Soils And Rocks, Types of aquifers and their behaviour, Groundwater Terminology, Pressure and Pressure Head, Water movement in aquifers, Hydrogeological parameters
MODULE 2 - Environmental problems related to the misuse and/or over-exploitation of groundwater resources. Earth Observation technologies for the identification, the analysis and the monitoring of groundwater exploitation. Earth Observation technologies for the aquifer characterization
MODULE 3 - Climate change and groundwater resources. Introduction to climate change and water resources, Climate change impacts on hydrological systems, Water quality in a changing climate, Climate change impacts on water demand, Groundwater changes in a changing climate, Extreme events and hydrological risks, integrated modeling of water resources; Challenges of water management in the context of climate change.