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Aquifer Tests - Data Acquisition

Ming-Kuo Lee
Initial Publication Date: May 29, 2007

Summary

Perform field aquifer tests to measure hydrologic properties such as transmissivity and storativity. Impose a change in stress on an aquifer and measure changes in hydraulic head of the water table over time in observation wells.


Learning Goals

  • Obtain hands-on, practical experience of field data acquisition using appropriate instrumentation.
  • Experience the ground-water investigation process from field data collection to hand and computational data analysis and final interpretation.
  • Become better prepared for environmental employment.

Context for Use

This is the sixth of nine one-week exercises designed for a senior-level undergraduate lecture/lab hydrogeology course.

Description and Teaching Materials

The following equipment is required:

  • Pressure transducers
  • Levelhead water level indicators
  • Integrated data logger (optional)
  • Steel tapes (optional)

Teaching Notes and Tips

This activity is originally conducted on an aquifer in fractured metamorphic schist, but it can be adapted to aquifer bedrock types in your area.


Assessment

The author is seeking feedback from companies that hire students that have gone through the course that this activity is from to see if this training provides a positive impact on job performance.

References and Resources

The activity is from the following article:
See the other eight related activities derived from this article: