Laboratory for Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology

Laboratory for Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology

Lab activity

Laboratory for Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology is used for education and for research in the framework of scientifi c and professional projects.
Within the courses, the soil samples collected in the fi eld are identified and equipment for geotechnical investigations is presented to the students. Granulometric analysis and preparation of samples for testing of hydraulic conductivity in the permeameter, experiments determining the hydrogeologic parameters (porosity, specifi c provision, dispersion), and display of equipment and work with equipment for hydrogeological fi eld investigations are also performed within the courses.
In addition, for scientifi c research purposes as well as for cooperation with the industry, the laboratory engages in determining of the core drilling samples, sampling for the purpose of engineering geological testing, storage of hydrogeological equipment, preparation of the equipment for fi eld work and storage of samples taken in the fi eld, for further hydrogeological research in the Laboratory.

Head of the Lab: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Prof., PhD

Services:

  • The lab does not provide individual services; it is used for engineering geological and hydrogeological projects.
Analytical procedure and test method
Analytical procedure

Test method

 Groundwater level measurement

 

 Measurement of tracer concentration in boreholes

 

 Automated measurement of electrical conductivity and groundwater temperature in piezometers

 

 Automated measurement of groundwater levels in piezometers

 

Determination of hydraulic conductivity of low-permeable materials (K=10-5-10-9 m/s)

 

Sampling of soil water eluate

 

Measurement of electrical conductivity of soil

 

Measurement of soil matrix potential

 

Determination of point strength

 

Determination of strength of rocks and fracture walls

 

 

Small and medium sized equipment
Name inventory Tech.characteristics Application Image

Geological compass Brunton

 

Geological mapping

Geoloski kompas

Landrover Defender 110 TD5

2495 ccm; 90 KW; 122 PS

Transportation of people and equipment

Landrover

Portable press for soil

 

Soil clasification

Mala presa

Gauge the level of groundwater

 

Measuring the levels of groundwater

Mjerac RPV

Flourometar

Allows simultaneous use of three tracers and independent turbidity measurement.

Tracing experiments 

Flourometar

HOBO loger – electrical conductivity meter

Memory - 18,500 temperature and conductivity measurements
Sample rate - 1 second to 18 hrs
Calibrated Range - Conductivity: Low Range: 0 to 1,000 µS/cm; Full Range: 0 to 10,000 µS/cm - Temperature: 5 to 35C (41 to 95F)

Automated measurements of electrical conductivity and temperature of ground water in piezometers

Mjerac el vodljivosti

HOBO loger – gauge the level of groundwater

Operation Range - 0 to 207 kPa (0 to 30 psia); approximately 0 to 9 m (0 to 30 ft) of water depth at sea level, or 0 to 12 m (0 to 40 ft) of water at 3,000 m (10,000 ft) of altitude
Water Level Accuracy - Typical error: ±0.05% FS, 0.5 cm (0.015 ft) water
Maximum error: ±0.1% FS, 1.0 cm (0.03 ft) water

Automated measurements of ground water levels in piezometers

Mjerac razine podzemne vode

Permeameter with variable levels

Cell - Plated seamless tube 100 mm diameter x 130 mm height
Base -  Porous plate with three tie rods
Top plate - Machined to accept smaller tubes
Weight 3.4 kg

For materials with low permeability (K=10-5-10-9 m/s)

Permeametar

Set sampling aqueous soil porous plates

Dimension of plate: 50 x 50 cm
Membrane material: polyamide
Pore size: 0,45 μm

Field measurements
Leaching, transport
studies, model calibration
Ecological impact studies
Agricultural or forestal studies

Prozirne ploce

Probes for electro conductivity

Probes lenght: 45 cm
Measuring range: 0 μS/cm ... 20000 μS/cm

Field measurements
Leaching, transport
studies, model calibration
Ecological impact studies
Agricultural or forestal studies

Sonde za el vodljivost

Tenziometer T4

Measuring range: +100 kPa ... -85 kPa
Accuracy: ±0.5 kPa
Shaft: Ø 25 mm
Shaft lengths: 10 ... 200 cm
Porous ceramic: Ø 24 mm; length 60 mm

Field measurements
Water balance, leaching, transport
studies, model calibration
Ecological impact studies
Agricultural or forestal studies
In-situ retention curves

Tenziometar

Instrument for determining the strength of the point

 

Rock classification

Aparat za određivanje čvrstoće u točki

Polarizing microscope Leica DMLP with camera DFC280

Source of transmitted and reflected light, magnification up to 400×

Microscopic and petrographic recognition of minerals and rocks with camera for photomicrography

Polarizacijski mikroskop

Soil sampling kit

7,5 m

Soil sampling

Sampling kit

Schmidtov hammer

tip L 0,74 Nm

Schmidt strength rock for rocks classification and joint wall strenth

Schmidt

GeoCollector

Rugged handheld computer, GIS fiel mapping software, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver with professional-grade accuracy
416 MHz processor running the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 software
512 MB memory
802.11b wireless LAN connectivity
Bluetooth
Rechargeable battery for all-day useGeological mapping

Geološko kartiranje

GeoCollector

Trinocular loupe Optika SZ-T1

45x magnification, digital camera 5 Mpix

Stratigraphic determination of fossils and extraction of vulcanic ash and mineral in fine grained fraction

Trinokularna lupa Optika

Portable rock tester

120 000 kg

Rock classification

Velika presa

 

Teaching in the laboratory

Teaching in the laboratory (students' practical work)

Course title

ISVU CODE

Number of students per group

Dynamics of Groundwater Flow 1

270569

4

Hydrogeological Field and Laboratory Practicum

270576

12

Water Wells and Boreholes

270574

4

Regional Hydrogeology

270571

4

Project Design in Hydrogeology

270613 2

 

Teaching in the laboratory (Students scientifice research)

 Teaching in the laboratory (Students scientifice research)

Name and surname of student

Thesis title

PhD thesis

Bačani, Laura

Development of a numerical model of water flow through the unsaturated zone of the Zagreb aquifer in the area of Velika Gorica wellfield
/ Posavec, Kristijan; Čenčur Curk, Barbara (mentor). Zagreb, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2024. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/ocjenski-rad/849684

MSc thesis

       

Šegović, Filip

Šegović, Filip. Defining the relationship between Zagreb city lakes and the Sava river : master's thesis:.", Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2022. https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:169:853663

Majerić, Tea Determination of hydraulic conductivity using constant head permeability test method at the well field / Posavec, Kristijan (mentor). Zagreb, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2025. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/ocjenski-rad/900443

Bertetić, Korado

Analysis of pumping rates in active water pumping stations on samobor-zaprešić aquifer during hydrological droughts in 2003. and 2011./2012. / Posavec, Kristijan (mentor). Zagreb, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2025. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/ocjenski-rad/900439
Filipović, Vedrana

Water wells design at the Bregana well field/ Posavec, Kristijan (mentor).  Zagreb, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2024. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/ocjenski-rad/868079

Jovanović, Irina

Identification of rainfall and sea on the water level of Lake Vrana on the island of Cres using methods of correlation, regression and cross-correlation/ Posavec, Kristijan (mentor).  Zagreb, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2024. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/ocjenski-rad/868075

Lijić, Anđela

Identification of the influence of the water levels of the TE-TO supply channel on the groundwater levels of the Zagreb aquifer/ Posavec, Kristijan (mentor). Zagreb, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2023. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/ocjenski-rad/868085

Ribić, Krešimir

The construction of the well Z-2/1 in the Vinogradi well field, Osijek, master's thesis, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2024. https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:169:599549
Perović, Nicole

Revitalization of Z-3 and Z-4 wells at the Velimirovac well field : master's thesis, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet, 2024. https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:169:754123

Expert reports         

Croatian Waters, Zagreb: NATURAVITA PROJECT: Implementation of research works, establishment of a system and implementation of monitoring with interpretation of results (Activity 7.2.), Monitoring of water status, groundwater, recent sedimentation, habitats and fauna, group 3: groundwater monitoring, 2023

 

Report on the research works carried out at the planned location of the radioactive waste disposal center in the Čerkezovac area, 2022
Vodoopskrba i ovodnja d.o.o., Zagreb: Construction of piezometer fields at active water pumping stations. 2024.

 

Vodoopskrba i ovodnja d.o.o., Zagreb: Water research works at active springs. 2023.

 

Vodoopskrba i ovodnja d.o.o., Zagreb: Water research works of well yield. 2022.

 

Međimurske vode d.o.o. for public water supply and public drainage: Development of the Program of water investigation works for the permanent abandonment of the well at the source of Sveta Marija and development of amendments to the study on the sanitary protection zones of the sources of Nedelišće, Prelog and Sveta Marija. 2022.

 

Osijek Waterworks, Osijek: Monitoring of groundwater in the area of ​​the sanitary protection zones of the Vinogradi and Dalj pumping stations in 2024., 2024

 

Hrvatske vode, Zagreb: Implementation of groundwater monitoring in the Kopački rit Nature Reserve, 2025

 

Public institutions of the Agency for the Management of Protected Natural Values ​​in the Osijek-Baranja County, Osijek: Monitoring and research of biotic, hydrological, hydrogeological, sedimentological and geomorphological factors in the Special Ornithological Reserve "Podpanj", 2025

 

Projects in the laboratory

Projects in the laboratory

Scientific research (including University support)

DANSER - DANube SEdiment Restoration: towards the deployment and upscaling of sustainable management of the sediments across the Danube catchment basin

Development and Implementation of a Hydrogeological Geospatial Database to Support Integrated Water Management in Croatia’s River Basins

Estimation of nitrate origin in Zagreb aquifer system

Quantification of effective infiltration by establishing a research polygon

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