In situ characterization of large aquifer systems

This course unit should enable students to acquire the skills necessary for collecting hydrometric data (in the broad sense) in the field and to know how to apply them to different types of case studies, in order to carry out an engineering/research project in hydrogeology.

This EU takes place in two stages:

• A first week spent entirely in the field in the Pyrénées-Orientales department;
• A second week spent indoors, reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting the data collected in the field.

During the^first week, the first three days are devoted to acquiring various technical skills in hydrometry (in the broad sense) in situ, so that students can then take charge during the last two days, when they will work on a case study to be solved by project group. They will then be divided between two experimental sites where the projects will be carried out. The topics will be presented in more detail at the beginning of the course so that the pre-defined groups can propose an experimental protocol to be carried out in situ, enabling them to solve their problem. The supervisory team will validate the proposed protocols the day before the experiments begin.

During the^second week, students will analyze the data they have collected on their field project and divide up the various analyses and interpretations of this data in order to produce a presentation and report integrating and summarizing all these results, which will be used to evaluate their work.

The course is divided into two parts: an initial phase of data collection at various experimental sites during the week-long field trip to the Pyrenees, and a second phase of data processing and interpretation by project groups during the week following the field trip. The work carried out by each project group will include:

- a field training phase (field reconnaissance, measurement techniques, instrumentation, data collection) for each of the techniques covered (gauging, piezometry, hydrodynamic and hydrochemical measurements, chemical and microbiological water quality, etc.)

- a project development phase to be carried out in groups on a case study defined by the teaching team (teamwork to develop the experimental protocol and its implementation in the field, as well as during the analysis and interpretation of results)

- a phase for presenting the case study conducted within each project group (technical report on the activities implemented and the results obtained in the field + technical appendices + oral defense)

The field training phase is multidisciplinary (all students must learn all of the measurement techniques taught).

"Operation of Hydrosystems" (M1 S1)

"M1 Field Internship in Geology – Hydrogeology" (M1 S1)

"Hydrogeophysics" (M1 S1)

"Water Quality and Microbiology" (M1 S2)

"Applied Hydrochemistry" (M1 S2)

"Underground Hydrodynamics" (M1 S2)

Applied Hydrodynamics and Hydraulics (M1 S2)

The work will mainly be assessed by student groups, but will also include an individual assessment (results sheets on the experimental techniques used). The work will be assessed on the basis of a written report (report + digital technical appendices including raw and interpreted data from the various experimental sites) and a group presentation.

- Acquire skills in operational hydrogeology and other environmental measurement techniques;

- Ability to independently perform various types of measurements in situ in a variety of contexts;

- Criticize, analyze, and evaluate the measures taken in the field;

- Working as a team (group work, organization, communication).