Proposal

          This proposal intends to expand the current pool of geophysical equipment for teaching and research purposes at the Geosciences department by incorporating electrical methods, currently not available in Geosciences or any other college or department at FAU. The Department of Geosciences at FAU currently owns instruments for data collection with electromagnetic and seismic methods, however electrical methods are not available. It is important to consider that electrical techniques are a critical part of the training of any exploration geophysicist. Exploration geophysics is a branch of geophysics that uses a variety of techniques at the surface of the Earth to measure the physical properties of the subsurface and any related anomalies in such properties. Techniques include seismic, electromagnetic, magnetic, electrical and gravitational methods. The use of one or another method depends on the nature of the intended target, ranging from the detection of economically useful geological deposits, such as ore minerals; the presence of fossil fuels and other hydrocarbons; or the position of geothermal and groundwater reservoirs. For that reason exposure to a variety of methods is critical to achieve proper training as a field geophysicist. According to the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. Department of Labor), employment of geoscientists and exploration geophysicists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations (estimated on 11 percent). This projection is based on the increased demand for geoscientists in the future due to the need for energy, environmental protection, and responsible land and resource management. For all these reasons, expanding FAU's current pool of geophysical equipment to include electrical methods will provide students with hands-on training on a geophysical technique that is part of the backbone of the education of an exploration geophysicist.

            Acquiring hands-on experience in this method may prove critical for FAU students at the time of graduation and when applying for job positions, particularly considering that the most common professional destinations for graduates in Geosciences are environmental consulting companies and the petroleum industry (Source: www.geology.com). Electrical methods have a very diverse range of applications in groundwater and mineral exploration, engineering studies or environmental studies. Some of these applications include: detection of geological faults and fractures, imaging aquifer structures or salt-water intrusion, detection of mineralized zones and limits of clay and marble deposits, imaging of subsurface voids and sinkholes, or permafrost and ice lenses, detection of leakage plumes from landfills and contaminant plumes, or archaeological applications. For all these reasons incorporating hands-on training on this method will improve and expand dramatically their job applications after graduation. Availability of electrical methods will also expand the current array of research applications for undergraduate studies and directed independent studies (DIS) at the Geosciences department and its Environmental Geophysics Lab, and thus critically expand undergraduate research in Geosciences in support of FAU's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Distinction through Discovery, as well as graduate student research.

            An OhmMapper is proposed here as the instrument for measuring electrical resistivity of the subsurface. Although a traditional multichannel resistivity meter complete with ground cables, electrode and other accessories may often range between $80-90K, the OhmMapper by  Geometrics is a rugged, portable and easy-to-use alternative that costs a fraction of that price and that can be used for measuring the electrical properties of rocks and soils many times faster than systems using conventional DC resistivity. A simple coaxial-cable array with transmitter and receiver sections is pulled along the ground either by a single person or attached to an all-terrain vehicle therefore improving dramatically the speed of data acquisition when compared to traditional resistivity surveys that use cumbersome galvanic electrodes inserted into the ground. The instrument is therefore ideally suited for teaching purposes due the speed, ease of deployment and operation, but also for applied field research due to its roughness and portability. For all these reasons, the OhmMapper by Geometrics represents an ideal instrument to be included in the current pool of equipment available at FAU. The purchase of this instrument will dramatically improve both the current teaching and research resources offered at the department of Geosciences in several ways, including:

a)  In-class undergraduate student training in the Geosciences curriculum:

            The purchase of the OhmMapper will allow data acquisition and processing of electrical datasets to be incorporated into the syllabus of several required courses for both the B.S. and B.A. in Geology offered by the department of Geosciences.  This instrument will allow students to better understand the basic principles of subsurface electrical resistivity while achieving invaluable hands-on training in acquisition and processing of resitivity data. Classes that will directly incorporate either data acquisition or processing using the OhmMapper into its syllabus (thus enhancing students to hands-on training in a geophysical method currently not available at FAU) include undergraduate classes such as: a) Solid Earth Geophysics (GLY4451), with an average enrollment of 20 students/semester; b) Stratigraphy-Sedimentation (GLY4500C), with an average enrollment of 20 students/semester; c) Field Methods (GLY4750C), with an average enrollment of 20 students/semester; d) Structural Geology (GLY4400), with an average enrollment of 20 students/semester; and e) Hydrogeology (GLY4822), with an average enrollment of 20 students/semester. To sum up, the overall potential number of undergraduate students directly benefited by the purchase of the OhmMapper would be about 100 students per semester. Other undergraduate courses that would benefit from the purchase of the OhmMapper in the form of direct local datasets to be displayed in the class and incorporated into homework and laboratory assignments include: Coastal and Marine Science (GLY3730), with an average enrollment of 50 students/semester; Junior and Senior Field Camp (GLY 4790), with an average enrollment of 20 students/semester each; Water Resources (GEO 4280), with an average enrollment of 30 students/semester; and Geomorphology (GLY 4700C), with an average enrollment of 30 students/semester. To sum up, another 130 students per semester will be also benefit from the purchase of the OhmMapper. 

            The purchase of the OhmMapper will also allow data acquisition and processing of geophysical datasets for undergraduate research. The instrument can be used for a wide array of environmental research applications for undergraduate studies and directed independent studies (DIS), and directly relate to current efforts from the Geosciences department to expand undergraduate research in Geosciences in support of FAU's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Distinction through Discovery. Since electrical methods represent one of the five basic pillars in exploration geophysics expanding the student's exposure to the acquisition and processing techniques beyond the classroom (through DIS and research) may result critical for them when pursuing jobs in the industry after graduation. Availability of the method also opens further options to pursue undergraduate funding through FAU's Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI) such as the Undergraduate Research Grants Program or the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). Furthermore this purchase may provide undergraduates with unique research opportunities to be presented in international conferences. It is important to note that Comas' Environmental Geophysics Lab has a tradition of providing support for undergraduate students often achieving support from these programs. For example, the lab has currently three undergraduate students being partially supported from external grants. Two of those students recently applied to the Undergraduate Research Grant (applications still pending), while the third one was awarded that same grant last year together with the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship during this the summer of 2015. All three students just presented their research as first authors at the Geological Society of America (GSA) annual conference in Baltimore. One of the students also presented at the Southern Section of GSA in March of 2015 becoming the Winner of the Undergraduate Poster Session. It is also important to note that all three students made lots of contacts in the industry and academia in support of their next steps in their professional careers. The purchase of the OhmMapper may therefore help expanding on these initiatives to other undergraduate students.  

c) Expanding current undergraduate research capabilities of the Environmental Geophysics Lab in the Geosciences department and involvement of undergraduates in externally funded projects at FAU:  

            The Environmental Geophysics Lab in the Department of Geosciences at FAU, led by Comas, focuses in the use of state-of-the-art near-surface hydrogeophysical methods to investigate a wide array of environmental issues at both the laboratory and field scales, with emphasis in peatlands and karst environments, and studies of the critical zone (see http://www.geosciences.fau.edu/geophysics-lab/index.php  for more details). The Lab currently includes 5 PhD students, one MSc student, and three undergraduate students, one from the Honors College. One of the priorities of the Environmental Research Lab for 2016 is to expand research opportunities for undergraduates in the field of applied geophysics. Although the Lab currently owns several electromagnetic instruments, having an OhmMapper (not available now) will help expanding dramatically the range of research applicability in applied Geosciences by including electrical methods, particularly for undergraduates and DIS projects. As mentioned earlier Comas is very active on undergraduate research and development of innovative DIS projects. For example, one of his current DIS students (Alex Garcia from the Honors College) received the Broward Undergraduate Research Award in support of his research last year. Alex has presented these data so far in three international conferences. Several faculty in Geosciences have also expressed a lot of interest in taking advantage of this purchase by developing DIS projects to collect information on currently ongoing projects.

            The OhmMapper will also be used in current ongoing research at the Environmental Geophysics Lab in the Department of Geosciences at FAU. For example, the Lab is currently part of an NSF funded project (Critical Zone Observatories, US NSF National Program, where Comas is a co-PI), that explores the use of near surface geophysics for better understanding the subsurface hydrogeology of a critical zone observatory in Luquillo (Puerto Rico). For example, last year's field campaign for the project incorporated two undergraduate students from underrepresented groups from one of the collaborating institutions (Rutgers University). Comas is currently exploring funding options through NSF to include a similar initiative for FAU students. The two students spent one week in the field learning how to deploy several geophysical techniques, however electrical methods were missing from the list of techniques. By acquiring the OhmMapper these type of initiatives can be expanded to a more complete list of geophysical methods therefore improving the student's training as a Field Geophysicist. For that reason incorporating electric data would represent a huge asset to current research and datasets, and enhance undergraduate training in the field while generating results for conference presentations, journal manuscripts and grant proposal renewals.

d) Improving in-class training and research capabilities for graduate students in the Geosciences department       

            Purchase of the OhmMapper will also benefit both teaching and research for graduate students in Geosciences. Following the approach described above and as related to teaching, the instrument will be directly used  in several graduate courses (as already requested by their instructors) including: Environmental Geophysics (GLY 5457); Coastal Environments (GLY 6737); Coastal Hazards (GLY 6888); or Comparative Carbonate Sedimentology (GLY 6934).

All hardware requirements are incorporated in the requested budget and relate to the OhmMapper. As shown in the official quote attached, this includes:

- Data acquisition console with LCD display

- RS32 data cable

- OhmMapper transmitter and receiver

- Fiber optic wand and array tow rope

- Terminating plugs for transmitter and receiver and protective drag shields

Also included in the official quote the instrument requires an operating software in order to invert the raw data.

            A small amount to support an undergraduate student is requested to quickstart instrument purchase, initial testing, usage coordination, and field assistance during Year 1. A total of an equivalent of 10 hours a week for a student assistant at a rate of $14/hour is requested. This represents a total of $140 per week or $2,100 per semester for one and a half semesters (half semester during the Spring of 2016 and a full semester during the Fall of 2016). Total of $3,150

February-March 2016: ordering and purchase of the OhmMapper.

March 2016: Company's training and initial testing and first steps to coordinate usage by undergraduate student/helper.

April 2016: usage schedule for Geosciences in place. An online schedule based on first come first serve basis will be placed under MyFAU website (following current calendars to reserve common Geoscience field equipment).

May 2016: a virtual storage space is developed to share datasets within the Geosciences department.

May-August 2016: field data acquisition and first DIS projects completed during the summer of 2016. the Environmental Geophysics Lab coordinates usage and covers undergraduate support during the summer.

           As explained in the narrative section the OhmMapper by Geometrics is ideally suited for teaching purposes due the ease of deployment and operation, but also for applied field research due to its roughness and portability. For all these reasons the instrument is highly sustainable. Data storage and processed files will follow the protocols for any other geophysical data routinely generated at the Environmental Geophysics Lab (i.e. storage under central computer and two security backups with storage up to 3 Tb). A virtual storage space  mainly designed for data sharing will also act as additional backup.

            As explained above the Environmental Geophysics Lab in Geosciences will provide support in several ways:

1)  by hosting the OhmMapper in the laboratory facilities located in Davie West.

2) by providing support for an undergraduate student during the summer of 2016 (for a minimum of 10 hours a week at $14 per hour and during 3 months).

3) by absorbing any expenses associated with maintenance and repair of the OhmMapper after 2016.