This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Postgraduate Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)
Module ARCH40430: FIELD SURVEYING
Department: Archaeology
ARCH40430: FIELD SURVEYING
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 4 | 30 | Not available in 2015/2016 | Durham |
Tied To
Pre-requisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- To introduce students to the theory and practice of topographic and geophysical surveying, and the properties of rocks and soils which are exploited in the detection of sub-surface structures.
Content
- Lectures:
- Instruments and basic field procedures
- Co-ordinate systems and control networks
- Theory of electrical and magnetic prospection (x2)
- Practicals:
- Introduction to processing topographic survey data
- Topographic survey in the field (4 hours)
- Processing field data
- Laboratory simulations of electrical and magnetic surveys
- Geophysical surveys in the field (eight hours)
- Processing and interpreting geophysical data.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- An understanding of the principles of topographic surveying
- An understanding of the principles of geophysical prospection
Subject-specific Skills
- The ability to carry out topographic surveys using modern surveying instruments (total stations and GPS equipment)
- The ability to carry out archaeological geophysical surveys using electrical and magnetic instruments
- The ability to use specialised IT methods to process the resulting data and produce archaeological interpretations.
Key Skills
- The ability to use electronic instruments to collect field data and merge the processed results with existing mapping (from the OD or other sources).
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Lectures introduce the core subject knowledge
- Practical classes introduce instruments and software applications
- Fieldwork allows students to develop skills in using the instruments and software in a real environment
- All learning outcomes are assessed by a portfolio of work.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 4 | 1 per fortnight | 1 hour | 4 | Yes |
| Tutorials | 0 | ||||
| Seminars | 0 | ||||
| Practicals | 4 | Approx 1 per week | 2 hours | 8 | |
| Fieldwork | 6 | Approx 1 per week | 2 hours | 12 | |
| Preparation & Reading | 276 | ||||
| Other: | 0 | ||||
| Total | 300 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% | Results of tolographic survey integrated with Ordnance Survey data | 40% | ||
| A laboratory report on the results of geophysical survey experiments | 20% | ||||
| A report of a magnetic and an electrical survey plus and archaeological interpretation | 40% |
Formative Assessment
An essay (max. 1500 words) on the principles of geophysical prospection.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.