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GEOL-F541

Applied Geophysics and Geohazards

academic year
2026-2027

Course teacher(s)

Corentin CAUDRON (Coordinator), Karen FONTIJN and Thomas LECOCQ

ECTS credits

5

Language(s) of instruction

english

Course content

The course will cover different natural hazards, their processes and monitoring approaches: 
K. Fontijn will provide an overview of different types of natural hazards and their physical processes, concepts of multi-hazard and cascading hazard scenarios, and related risk. In addition, we will introduce concepts of risk communication and crisis management. The course will be illustrated by a range of recent relevant examples.  
C. Caudron will cover some specific themes including; volcano, landslides, tsunamis and earthquakes monitoring, as well as applied geophysics approaches such as seismic interferometry and fiber optic sensing. Inverted pedagogy will be used during the course, including practicals using computer codes. Seminars and presentations are also possible.
Applied geophysics will be the topic of a 2-3 days excursion coordinated by the Royal Observatory of Belgium when/if possible.

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

Provide students an overview of geohazards, how to monitor and characterize them. 
Train the students with advanced geophysical tools and methodologies, including numerical skills and coding.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

Geophysics at the bachelor level and Volcanology (GEOL-F4002).

Teaching methods and learning activities

In-person lectures. Some lectures could take the form of practicals and include seminars by postdoctoral researchers, PhD students or external invitees. Exercices will be used throughout the classes.
Fieldwork followed by practicals will show the students how to operate geophysical instruments, process and interpret the data.

Course notes

  • Université virtuelle

Contribution to the teaching profile

This course introduces the student to a range of modern techniques to monitor natural processes that could cause hazards. It also provides the student with a basis of interdisciplinary thinking about hazards, risk and society.  

Other information

Contacts

Corentin Caudron, G-Time, ULB
Karen Fontijn, Karen.Fontijn@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch, Outside campus ULB

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

  • written examination
  • Project
  • Continuous assessment
  • Oral presentation

written examination

Project

Continuous assessment

Oral presentation

Language(s) of evaluation

  • french
  • english

Programmes