TRAINING.

Overview

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Visualize and interpret subsurface conditions using geological and geophysical data
• Design and evaluate subsurface investigations for decision-making
• Integrate drill hole data, geophysical surveys, and spatial data into geological models
• Infer strata, structures, and properties while accounting for uncertainty and heterogeneity
• Apply models to risk‑informed decisions for engineering, resources, and the environment 

Description

Subsurface conditions influence the performance and cost of engineering, environmental, and resource projects, yet they are rarely observable and often poorly constrained. As a technical professional, you are often required to make decisions about foundations, underground space, groundwater, and resource potential using incomplete and uncertain geological information.

This course addresses the challenge of clarifying geology from diverse data. You will explore how drill hole data, geophysical surveys, and geological mapping are designed, integrated, and interpreted to support defensible engineering and geoscience decisions. Emphasis is placed on how material properties, heterogeneity, and uncertainty affect risk in subsurface projects.

Through structured approaches, real‑world examples, and applied frameworks, this course equips you with practical skills to build, evaluate, and communicate subsurface geological models that support groundwater modelling, underground construction, resource development, and environmental applications.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for: 

• Geological, civil, geotechnical, and environmental engineers
• Geoscientists and hydrogeologists involved in subsurface investigations
• Technical professionals working with underground structures, foundations, or slopes
• Practitioners in groundwater, geothermal, mineral, energy, or waste‑management projects
• Managers responsible for interpreting and managing subsurface risk

Please note: You can check other time zones here.

Syllabus

Day I

Introduction to Geology, Geological Surveys, and Subsurface Geology

• Rationale, geological surveys, geological site investigations, international coordination
• Geology, stratigraphy, soil

Mapping

• Information, spatial infrastructure
• 2D geological mapping, soil mapping
• 3D geological mapping
• Law and economics of geological mapping
• History of geological mapping and soil mapping

Land Surface Surveys

• Elevation and bathymetry
• Imagery and remote sensing

Geophysical and Geochemical Surveys

• Magnetic and gravity surveys
• Geophysical soundings
• Geochemistry and geochronology’

Data Compilation and Acquisition

• Public databases and drill hole databases
• Field geology, drilling, and offshore surveys

Day II

Inferences

• Implicit and explicit subsurface interpretations, geostatistics
• Properties, heterogeneity, uncertainty

Low-Resolution Geological Mapping

• Lithospheric mapping, global resolution, paleogeography
• Continental and national resolution

High-Resolution Geological Mapping

• Regional resolution, seamless assessment
• Urban resolution, underground structures

Information Products

• Site reports, publications, standards, evergreen databases, stratigraphic databases
• Evergreen databases 3D and digital twins

Applications in resources, engineering, and research

• Oil and gas, geothermal, minerals, and groundwater
• Hazards, engineering, underground space
• Research applications

Summary

• Synthesis

Instructor

Harvey Thorleifson, Ph.D., P.Geo., D.Sc.,

Dr. Thorleifson is a University of Minnesota Professor. He holds geology degrees from the Universities of Manitoba and Colorado.

He was a Geological Survey of Canada research scientist for over a decade, and State Geologist of Minnesota for two decades. He was President of the Geological Association of Canada, the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences, and the Association of American State Geologists. He was a member of Canada’s National Advisory Board on Earth Sciences and the US National Geospatial Advisory Committee.

He is Chair of the International Union of Geological Sciences Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information.