ERB332 Geophysics and Geodynamics

Knowledge of the subsurface is essential for groundwater management, critical mineral exploration, natural hazard assessment, environmental studies, and civil engineering projects - including large-scale renewable resources like hydropower. Geophysics and geospatial science provides geoscientists and engineers with the tools to investigate the generally inaccessible subsurface. These tools enable us to detect temporal and spatial changes in the physical properties of the Earth, such as groundwater motion and seepage, contaminant plumes, mineralisation, or the strength and integrity of rockmasses. This unit covers the foundations of geophysics, seismology and geospatial data, with applications to the exploration, environmental and geotechnical sectors, including its importance to natural disaster risk management, such as landslide risk and seismic hazard assessment.

Unit information

Unit code: ERB332
Faculty: Faculty of Science
School/Discipline: School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Study area: Science
Credit points: 12

Dates and locations

Teaching period	Dates	Locations
Semester 1, 2026	23 February 2026 - 20 June 2026	Gardens Point

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Previous study requirements

Prerequisites: ERB204 or ERB223 or admission to ST20 or ((SEB113 or MXB105 or MZB125 or (MZB103 and MZB104) or (MZB103 and MZB105)) and admission to (SE20 or SE50 or SE80 or SE90 or IX80 or ID42 or IX23 or ID11 or SE07))
Equivalents: NQB513, ERB302

Guide to previous study requirements

Prerequisites: To enrol in this unit, you must have completed these prerequisite units (or have credit, advanced standing or exemption for them), or be able to demonstrate that you have equivalent background knowledge.
Anti-requisites: You can’t enrol in this unit if you have completed any of these anti-requisite units.
Co-requisites: To enrol in this unit, you must have already completed these co-requisite units, or you must enrol in them at the same time.
Equivalents: You can’t enrol in this unit if you have completed any of these equivalent units.
Assumed knowledge: We assume that you have a minimum level of knowledge in certain areas before you start this unit.

Unit outlines

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