- Engineering geology
Engineering Geology is the application of the geologic sciences to engineering practice for the purpose of assuring that the geologic factors affecting the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of engineering works are recognized and adequately provided for. Engineering geologists investigate and provide geologic and geotechnical recommendations, analysis, and design. Engineering geologic studies may be performed during the planning,
environmental impact analysis ,civil engineering design ,value engineering and construction phases of public and private works projects, and during post-construction andforensic phases of projects. Works completed by engineering geologists include; geologic hazards, geotechnical, material properties, landslide and slope stability, erosion, flooding, dewatering, and seismic investigations, etc. Engineering geologic studies are performed by ageologist orengineering geologist educated, professionally trained and skilled at the recognition and analysis ofgeologic hazards and adverse geologic conditions. Their overall objective is the protection of life and property against damage and the solution of geologic problems.Engineering geologic studies may be performed:
*for residential, commercial and industrial developments;
*for governmental andmilitary installations;
*for public works such as apower plant ,wind turbine ,transmission line ,sewage treatment plant,water treatment plant, pipeline (aqueduct ,sewer ,outfall ),tunnel ,trenchless construction,canal ,dam , reservoir, building,railroad ,transit ,highway ,bridge ,seismic retrofit ,airport and park;
*for mine andquarry excavations,mine tailing dam ,mine reclamation and minetunneling ;
*forwetland andhabitat restoration programs;
*forcoastal engineering,sand replenishment ,bluff orsea cliff stability,harbor ,pier and waterfront development;
*for offshoreoutfall ,drilling platform andsub-sea pipeline , sub-sea cable; and
*for other types of facilities.Geohazards and adverse geo-conditions
Typical geohazards or other adverse conditions evaluated by an
engineering geologist include:
*fault rupture on seismically activefaults ;
*seismic andearthquake hazards (ground shaking,liquefaction ,lurching ,lateral spreading ,tsunami andseiche events);
*landslide ,mudflow ,rock fall andavalanche hazards ;
*unstable slopes andslope stability ;
*erosion ;
*slaking andheave of geologic formations;
*groundsubsidence (such as due toground water withdrawal,sinkhole collapse,cave collapse, decomposition of organic soils, andtectonic movement);
*volcanic hazards (volcanic eruption s,hot springs ,pyroclastic flows ,debris flows ,debris avalanche ,gas emissions , volcanicearthquakes );
*non-rippable ormarginally rippable rock requiring heavy ripping orblasting ;
*weak and collapsible soils;
*shallow ground water/seepage; and
*other types of geologic constraints.An engineering geologist or
geophysicist may be called upon to evaluate theexcavatability (i.e.rippability ) of earth (rock) materials to assess the need for pre-blasting during earthwork construction, as well as associated impacts due to vibration during blasting on projects.Methods and reporting
The methods used by
engineering geologist s in their studies include
*geologic fieldmapping of geologic structures, geologic formations, soil units and hazards;
*the review of geologic literature, geologic maps, geotechnical reports, engineering plans, environmental reports, stereoscopicaerial photograph s, remote sensing data,Global Positioning System (GPS) data, topographic maps andsatellite imagery;
*the excavation, sampling and logging of earth/rock materials in drilled borings, backhoe test pits and trenches, fault trenching, and bulldozer pits;
*geophysical surveys (such asseismic refraction traverses,resistivity surveys,ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys,magnetometer surveys,electromagnetic surveys, high-resolution sub-bottom profiling, and other geophysical methods);
*deformation monitoring as the systematic measurement and tracking of the alteration in the shape or dimensions of an object as a result of the application of stress to it manually or with an automatic deformation monitoring system; and
*other methods. The field work is typically culminated in analysis of the data and the preparation of an engineering geologic report, geotechnical report, fault hazard or seismic hazard report, geophysical report,ground water resource report or hydrogeologic report. The engineering geologic report is often prepared in conjunction with a geotechnical report, but commonly provide geotechnical analysis and design recommendations independent of a geotechnical report. An engineering geologic report describes the objectives, methodology, references cited, tests performed, findings and recommendations for development. Engineering geologists also provide geologic data on topograpic maps, aerial photographs, geologic maps, Geographic Information System (GIS) maps, or other map bases.ee also
*
Earthquake engineering
*Geotechnics
*Geotechnical engineering
*Geotechnical investigation
* Important publications in engineering geologyReferences
* Bates and Jackson, 1980, Glossary of Geology: American Geological Institute.
* The Heritage of Engineering Geology: The First Hundred Years: GSA Centennial Special Volume 3, 1991
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