ZD - Geology and Subsurface
How is the subsurface structured, and how does it influence spatial issues? In the course “Geology and the Subsurface: Fundamentals,” you’ll learn to understand the key geological processes, soil and rock layers, and properties of the Dutch subsurface. You’ll work with geological maps, drilling data, and subsurface data, and learn to apply this information to issues related to groundwater, infrastructure, energy, and spatial development, among other topics.
Geology and the subsurface are all about understanding the structure, properties, and development of the Earth beneath our feet. Rocks, sediments, groundwater, and geological layers help determine what is possible above and below ground level. With Geo-ICT, subsurface data can be spatially examined, combined, and analyzed.
In this course, you’ll learn about the structure of the Dutch subsurface and the geological processes involved. You’ll work with QGIS and various types of subsurface data, such as boreholes, soil investigations, geological maps, elevation data, groundwater data, and subsurface models.
An important component is learning to read and interpret the subsurface. You will explore how information from boreholes and other observations can be used to gain insight into geological layers, sediments, stratigraphy, and spatial variations in the subsurface. You will learn to visualize this information in maps, profiles, and cross-sections.
Current applications such as groundwater, land subsidence, infrastructure, land development, geothermal energy, and underground energy storage are also covered. You’ll learn how different data sources and models can be combined to better understand the subsurface and provide information for spatial issues.
The Basic Geology and Subsurface Course thus combines the fundamental principles of geology with practical Geo-ICT skills. QGIS is used throughout the course as a tool for working with real and open subsurface data and performing analyses.
If you are not yet familiar with QGIS, we recommend that you take the 3-day QGIS Basics course.
Geology begins with an understanding of the structure and geological history of the subsurface. Over millions of years, geological processes have formed various layers of sand, clay, peat, gravel, and rock. These layers differ in age, composition, thickness, and properties and can vary significantly from place to place.
With GIS, observations and models of the subsurface can be spatially linked. Drilling data, borehole surveys, geological maps, groundwater data, elevation data, and 3D subsurface models can be combined in QGIS to reveal patterns and relationships.
During the course, you will learn not only how to plot this data on a map but also how to use it to analyze and interpret the structure of the subsurface. This provides insight into where different geological units occur, how deep the layers lie, and the significance of the subsurface for spatial issues.
A solid foundation in geology begins with an understanding of the processes that have shaped the Earth and the landscape. You’ll be introduced to topics such as rocks, minerals, sedimentation, erosion, tectonics, stratigraphy, and geological time.
We’ll pay specific attention to the Dutch subsurface. A large part of it consists of sediments deposited by rivers, the sea, wind, and ice. You’ll learn how to recognize these processes in the current structure of the subsurface.
The course also explores the relationship between geology and groundwater, soil, landscape, and human activities. This provides a broad foundation that will allow you to delve deeper later into topics such as geohydrology, subsurface modeling, land subsidence, and geothermal energy.
A wide variety of geographic data is available for subsurface research. Examples include drilling data, borehole surveys, geological maps, groundwater data, elevation data, and digital subsurface models. During the course, you’ll learn how to view, combine, visualize, and analyze this data in QGIS.
You’ll work as much as possible with real and open datasets, including data from the Basic Subsurface Registry (BRO) and other Dutch subsurface sources. This will familiarize you with data actually used in practice by government agencies, engineering firms, research institutions, energy companies, and other organizations that work with the subsurface.
Combining different data sources creates an increasingly comprehensive picture of the subsurface. You’ll also learn to critically assess the origin, scale, accuracy, and uncertainty of subsurface information.
Information about the subsurface is often collected at individual locations, for example through drilling and probing. The challenge is to use these observations to understand how the subsurface is structured between these locations.
You’ll learn to analyze borehole data spatially and compare different layers and properties. You’ll then explore how data can be translated into geological maps, profiles, and cross-sections.
You’ll also be introduced to 3D subsurface models. These reveal how geological layers extend not only horizontally but also vertically. You’ll learn what such a model represents, how it’s created, and what uncertainties arise when interpreting information between observation points.
Knowledge of the subsurface is crucial for many societal and spatial issues. Examples include infrastructure development, groundwater management, land subsidence, housing construction, cables and pipelines, geothermal energy, and other forms of subsurface use.
During the course, you will explore how geological information can help you better understand such issues. What layers are present beneath a given location? How deep are they? Where are the aquifers located? What spatial variations exist? And what additional data is needed before reliable conclusions can be drawn?
At the end of the course, you’ll combine various data sets in a practical subsurface case study. In doing so, you’ll not only learn to work with geological data but, more importantly, how to use Geo-ICT to understand, analyze, and assess the subsurface.
The Basic Geology and Subsurface Course offers a broad introduction to geology and the Dutch subsurface, directly linking theory, data, and practice. You’ll learn how the subsurface is structured and apply this knowledge using geographic data and QGIS.
Upon completion, you will have a broad foundation in geology, the subsurface, and Geo-ICT, and you will understand how geological data, subsurface models, and QGIS can be used to investigate the Dutch subsurface and analyze spatial issues.
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Contact usThe first day is all about understanding the subsurface. You’ll learn about the key geological processes that have shaped the Earth and the Dutch landscape. Topics such as rocks, minerals, sedimentation, erosion, stratigraphy, and geological time will be covered. Throughout the course, we’ll draw connections to the Dutch context, and you’ll learn how rivers, the sea, wind, and glacial ice have left their mark on the subsurface.
You’ll learn to read geological maps and discover how boreholes and other observations provide information about what lies beneath the ground surface. The course also explores the relationship between geological structure, landscape, soil, and groundwater. By the end of the day, you’ll be able to identify the main components of the Dutch subsurface and explain how they formed.
On the second day, the focus is on working with real subsurface data. You’ll be introduced to the Basic Subsurface Registry (BRO) and other Dutch sources of geological and geotechnical data. You’ll work with boreholes, soil investigations, groundwater data, geological maps, and digital subsurface models, among other things.
In QGIS, you’ll combine and visualize these various data sources. You’ll learn to spatially interpret information from individual measurement points and translate data into maps, profiles, and geological cross-sections. You’ll also be introduced to 3D subsurface models and learn how they are constructed based on observations and geological knowledge. In doing so, we’ll focus on scale, accuracy, and uncertainty: what do we actually know about the subsurface, and where does interpretation begin?
The third day focuses on practical application. You’ll use the knowledge and data from the first two days to investigate various issues related to the subsurface. These include groundwater and geohydrology, land subsidence, infrastructure and land development, geothermal energy, and other forms of subsurface use.
You’ll determine what geological information is needed for a specific issue and combine various data sets to arrive at a well-founded analysis. As part of this, you’ll work on a real-world case study in which you’ll examine the geology of an area, identify relevant subsurface layers and properties, and assess their significance for spatial development or application.
The course concludes with an outlook on future developments in the field, such as 3D subsurface modeling, monitoring, predictive models, and GeoAI. As such, this course provides a broad foundation for further specialization within the field of Geology and the Subsurface.
Do you have questions about the course content? Or are you unsure whether the course aligns with your learning goals or preferences? Would you prefer an in-house or private course? We’d be happy to help.
The European subsurface is extremely diverse and has been shaped by hundreds of millions of years of tectonics, sedimentation, erosion, volcanism, glaciation, and other geological processes. As a result, the young sedimentary bedrock of the Netherlands, the rocks of Scandinavia, the Alps, and other European mountain ranges, and the large sedimentary basins differ greatly from one another. During the course, you will learn to interpret geological maps and subsurface data and to investigate how geological history and processes explain the current structure of various European regions.
In the Netherlands, the Basic Subsurface Registry (BRO), BROloket, DINOloket, and PDOK are important sources for, among other things, boreholes, borehole logs, soil maps, groundwater data, and subsurface models. For research outside the Netherlands, many countries have their own national geological services and data portals. At the European level, the European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI) provides access to harmonized geological maps and datasets from various European countries. During the course, you’ll learn how to find suitable data sources, view and download data, and combine it in QGIS. You’ll also learn to account for differences in scale, classification, timeliness, and accuracy when using data from different countries.
The subsurface cannot be directly observed everywhere. Geologists therefore combine data from sources such as boreholes, soundings, geophysical measurements, and geological maps to determine how layers and structures likely extend between measurement locations. This information can be incorporated into geological profiles, cross-sections, and 3D subsurface models. During the course, you will learn to interpret such data and models and to assess which parts are based directly on measurements and where modeling and uncertainty come into play.
Geological information plays an important role throughout Europe in housing construction, infrastructure, tunnels, groundwater management, land subsidence, geothermal energy, energy storage, raw materials, and underground storage. The relevant issues vary by region: low-lying sedimentary areas face different challenges than mountainous areas, coastal zones, or areas with tectonic activity. During the course, you will learn to combine geological and spatial data to assess which subsurface characteristics are relevant to a specific area and issue.
