Computer Faclities and Network:

Both research and teaching computing facilities are outstanding for a department of fewer than 100 grad students. These facilities are centered around a Windows XP client-server network. The research cluster has access to more than 12 terabytes of redundant networked storage based on a series of RAID servers, as well as diverse networked printers, large-format plotters, large-format digitizers, and scanners. The teaching cluster provides interactive computing resources for 125 students on networked Dell computers with privacy workstations. Classroom demonstration facilities are available in the teaching labs. The research cluster includes exclusively workstation-class machines with large-format displays. All resources are regularly-upgraded with a replacement period of 1-2 years. Clusters for the GEO workgroup are linked across the intranet to the WVGIS center and have gateway access to the University backbone. Ethernet cabling reaches every lab, office, and classroom in the building.

SOFTWARE RESOURCES: The Department maintains software for instructional and research usage. A full range of common applications software is available on all network machines. In addition, statistical packages (SAS, MiniTab, NTSYS) allow students to undertake detailed statistical analysis, whereas graphical analysis packages (Surface III, Mapping Contour System, TruFlite, Surfer) enable users to render both 2D and 3D surfaces. GIS licenses include ARC GIS, IDRISI, GRASS, and SPANS, all accessible to students for integration of complex geological and geophysical data. ERDAS IMAGINE provides a suite of image-processing tools for analyzing remotely sensed data. AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and other graphics design packages allow accurate rendering of technical diagrams. State-of-the-art geophysical modeling and processing software are available for instructional and research use. Landmark Geophysical's GeoGraphix and Seismic Micro Technology's Kingdom Suite 2D/3D Pak help in the analysis of seismic reflection data and well logs. Seismic processing is performed using Parallel Geoscience Corporation’s Seismic Processing Workbench. We use Sensors and Software’s EKKO View Deluxe software for processing and display of ground penetrating radar data. Interpex's IXID software is available for forward and inverse modeling of resistivity and terrain conductivity data. Northwest Geophysical Associates’ GM-SYS software is used in the forward and inverse modeling of gravity and magnetic data. Software for groundwater simulation includes aquifer characterization packages (AQTESOLV), finite-difference flow and particle-tracking codes (MODFLOW2000, MODPATH3), solute-transport codes (MT3D, MODFLOWT), and preprocessors (Groundwater Vistas). Streamflow-modeling capabilities includes RIVERMORPH, HEC-2 step-backwater and peak value flood frequency software. For structural geology studies we use 2Dmove (Midland Valley), in addition to standard structural analysis software. Basin modeling and evaluation of the generation of hydrocarbons are carried out with the GENEX (Beisip-Franlab) software.

LABORATORY AND FIELD INSTRUMENTATION

GEOLOGICAL: The department has a rock-crushing room equipped with jaw crusher and disk grinder as well as laboratories devoted to geological sample preparation which include standard mineral separation equipment (Frantz magnetic separator, Gemeni table, and heavy liquids set-up). For additional details contact Dr. Jaime Toro (jaime.toro@mail.wvu.edu).

GEOPHYSICAL: The department owns a Geonics very low frequency sensor and EM34 terrain conductivity meter and a Bison Instruments 12 Channel Seismograph. Through a working relationship with CONSOL Energy we have loan arrangements for use of an EM31 terrain conductivity meter and GeoMetrics magnetometer. The geophysics facility also offers large format plotting on 24-42 inch HP plotters. Additional survey equipment includes a Leitz Model 2100 Total Station Survey System and a 2-station GPS Traveler. For additional details contact Dr. Tom Wilson (tom.wilson@mail.wvu.edu).

GEOCHEMICAL: Department laboratories own a Philips PW1800 X-ray diffraction unit for solid-state mineral analyses and a Philips PW9550 energy dispersion spectrometer for elemental analyses. A complete suite of equipment is available for the analysis of organic-rich materials including a Leco sulfur analyzer, a Leco proximate analyzer for moisture, carbon, and ash content and a Leco CHN analyzer for coal and shale, a Leco calorimeter, and a Biorad FTIR with microscope attachment to do FTIR analysis of microscopic entities in rocks. Water analytical facilities include a Dionex 100 Ion Chromatograph and a Beckmen Autotitrator. Outside White Hall, Varian sequential ICP and Finnemat ICP-MS units for water analysis are available to geology faculty in the WV Water Research Institute. For additional details contact Dr. Jack Renton (john.renton@mail.wvu.edu) or Dr. Joe Donovan (joe.donovan@mail.wvu.edu).

HYDROGEOLOGICAL: Groundwater field equipment includes an array of Global Water vented pressure transducer/datalogger instruments, Grundfos 4” and Redi-Flo 2 pumps, Geotech peristaltic pumps and flow-through sampling cells, and analog well recorders, as well as a variety of generators, sampling pumps, flumes, pH and conductivity meters, bailers, and current meters. For additional details contact Dr. Joe Donovan (joe.donovan@mail.wvu.edu).

QUATERNARY GEOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY: Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology research is served by a particle-size analysis laboratory as well as field instrumentation such as Garmin and Timble GPS units and a Leica TC400 electronic distance meter. For additional details contact Dr. Steve Kite (jkite@wvu.edu).

REMOTE SENSING: The remote sensing laboratory has a comprehensive suite of computing and field equipment. The laboratory operates two portable full-range (0.4 to 2.5 micrometer) field spectroradiometers and an aerial small format photography system based on two Nikon cameras. The laboratory shares a digital ADAR infra-red aerial acquisition system with the Biology and Resource Management. The ADAR system can be deployed in both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Remote sensing software includes site licenses for ERDAS Imagine, ENVI/IDL, and ARC/INFO image analysis and GIS software.

GIS and Remote Sensing Laboratory

The GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote Sensing Laboratory is one of the few of its kind in the United States. Over 3 million dollars has been spent on the renovation of the rooms that house the lab, the hardware contained in the lab, and the software used.

GIS is the collection, storage, manipulation, and displaying of geographically referenced information (data identified by its location). GIS has come to include the hardware, software, and personnel involved in working with this information. The need for up to date data is essential in GIS and the collection and analyzing of remotely-sensed data (such as satellite imagery) is an important step.

Personal Computer Laboratories

The Personal Computer Laboratories (PC Labs) are located on the 4th floor of Brooks Hall in Rooms 415, 416, 419, and 420. The PC Labs provide an instructional environment supporting 24 students each. During times when the PC Labs are not in use by classes, students are free to use them for their Geology and Geography assignments, research, thesis work, etc.

The PC Labs consists of 96 PC systems running Windows XP. We use Windows Server 2003 based networking as a file, print, and web server for department users. There are various display options for multimedia presentations available to users as well as numerous plotters and printers for hard copy.