GEOCOMPUTING Course Description & Syllabus Semester:

GEOCOMPUTING
Course Description & Syllabus
Semester:
Fall 2014
Instructor:
Dr. Nico Perdrial
Office: 327 Delehanty Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday 11:30 to 12:30; Thursday 11:30 to 12:30
Email: [email protected]
Course description:
This class is an introduction to a variety of computing tools commonly used in earth sciences. Hands-on
experience is at the heart of the teaching of this class. Oriented toward scientific curriculum, real data
will be used to resolve specific problems encountered in geosciences. Specific software used in that class
will provide with: i) the in-depth understanding of the functions of calculating, statistical and graphical
tools (excel, origin, sigma plot, triplot, GCDKit), ii) an introduction to programming using visual basic and
matlab languages, iii) the ability to treat and extract data from images using imageJ and photoshop, iv)
an introduction to geochemical modeling using programs such as MINTEQ and PHREEQC, v) the ability to
draw and modify crystal structures (using crystalmaker®) as well as vi) an introduction to mapping
capabilities.
Course goal and objectives:
1. Enable students to understand and use effectively a large variety of modern scientific software.
2. Enable students to extract all information from complex (real) datasets.
3. Enable students to use a multidisciplinary approach to solve real case problems.
Section Expectations:
The class will be meeting twice a week in the computer lab. Short introductions of the topics, basic
geological concepts and context approached in the class will constitute a preamble to hands-on use of
the computing facility. I addition to in-class sessions of geocomputing, frequent homework projects will
serve the in-depth development of specific computing tools. Each student will be managing a project of
her/his choice (or assigned) using a minimum of 3 of the software introduced in class and present the
results to the group. In addition, every week one student will introduce the classmates to a specific of a
software that he developed or learned through her/his own research. There are no books required for
this class. The source of data used in the class will be extracted from the instructor library as well as the
literature.
Evaluation:
Grades will be based on presentations (10%), homework assignments (20%), projects (25%), 2 midterm
exams (20%) and a final exam (25%).
Syllabus
Date
Topic
Date
Topic
Aug. 26th
Introduction
Nov. 4th
Models - Phreeqc
Aug. 28th
Introduction
Nov. 6th
Mid-term 2
Sept. 2nd
Excel – Basic features
Nov. 11th
Structures - CrystalMaker
Sept. 4th
Excel – Calculator
Nov. 13th
Structures- CrystalMaker
Sept. 9th
Excel – Special functions
Nov. 18th
Google E.
Sept. 11th
Excel – Graphical Engine
Nov. 20th
Cran R.
Sept. 16th
Visual Basic – Introduction
Thanksgiving Recess
Sept. 18th
Visual Basic – Macro recording
Dec. 11th
Sept. 23rd
Visual Basic – Programming
Sept. 25th
Visual Basic – Graphical UI
Sept. 30th
Mid-term 1
Oct. 2nd
Graphing - GraphPad
Oct. 7th
Graphing - GraphPad
Oct. 9th
Statistical - JMP
Oct. 14th
Statistical - JMP
Oct. 16th
Image Analysis - ImageJ
Oct. 21st
Image Analysis - ImageJ
Oct. 23rd
Image Analysis - Photoshop
Oct. 28th
Models – Visual Minteq
Oct. 30th
Models – Phreeqc
Exam day
Student Learning Accommodations: In keeping with University policy, any student with a documented
disability interested in utilizing accommodations should contact ACCESS, the office of Disability Services
on campus. ACCESS works with students and faculty in an interactive process to explore reasonable and
appropriate accommodations via an accommodation letter to faculty with recommended
accommodations as early as possible each semester.
Contact ACCESS: A170 Living/Learning Center; 802-656-7753; [email protected]; www.uvm.edu/access
UVM’s policy on disability certification and student support:
www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/disability.pdf
Religious Holidays: Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. If you need to miss
class to observe a religious holiday, please submit the dates of your absence to me in writing by the end
of the second full week of classes. You will be permitted to make up work within a mutually agreedupon time.
Academic Integrity: The policy addresses plagiarism, fabrication, collusion, and cheating.
http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/acadintegrity.pdf
Grade Appeals: If you would like to contest a grade, please follow the procedures outlined in this policy:
http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/gradeappeals.pdf
Grading: For information on grading and GPA calculation, go to www.uvm.edu/academics/catalogue
and click on Policies for an A-Z listing.
Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/studentcode.pdf
FERPA Rights Disclosure: The purpose of this policy is to communicate the rights of students regarding
access to, and privacy of their student educational records as provided for in the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/ferpa.pdf
It is forbidden to use the computers for other purposes than the course requirement during class meeting
time. Therefore you are expected to not check emails, facebook, twitter or other applications/websites
non-related to the class during class meeting times.