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
Landrover Defender 110 TD5	2495 ccm; 90 KW; 122 PS	Transportation of people and equipment
Portable press for soil		Soil clasification
Gauge the level of groundwater		Measuring the levels of groundwater
Flourometar	Allows simultaneous use of three tracers and independent turbidity measurement.	Tracing experiments
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
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
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)
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
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
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
Instrument for determining the strength of the point		Rock classification
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
Soil sampling kit	7,5 m	Soil sampling
Schmidtov hammer	tip L 0,74 Nm	Schmidt strength rock for rocks classification and joint wall strenth
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
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
Portable rock tester	120 000 kg	Rock classification

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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