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Engineering Geology
Engineering geology is defined in the statutes of the
IAEG as the science devoted to the investigation,
study and solution of engineering and
Engineering Geology environmental problems which may arise as the
result of the interaction between geology and the
works or activities of man, as well as of the
prediction of and development of measures for the
prevention or remediation of geological hazards.

Engineering Geology Engineering Geology

• Where to site a civil engineering facility or industrial plant
Engineering geology embraces: so that it will be geologically secure and economically
• the applications/implications of the geomorphology, feasible.
structural geology, and hydrogeological conditions of • How to select the alignment for communication or
geological formations; transportation infrastructure to ensure favorable geological
condition.
• the characterization of the mineralogical, physico-
geomechanical, chemical and hydraulic properties of all • How to assess that building foundations are geologically
and geotechnically safe and economically feasible.
earth materials involved in construction, resource recovery
and environmental change; • How to excavate a slope that is both stable and
economically feasible.
• the assessment of the mechanical and hydrological behavior • How to excavate a tunnel or underground facility so that it
of soil and rock masses; is stable.
• the prediction of changes to the above properties with time; • How to locate geological materials for dams, embankments
• the determination of the parameters to be considered in the and road construction.
stability analysis of engineering works and earth masses;

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Engineering Geology Engineering Geology

• The remedial measures and ground treatments Fookes (1997) defined engineering geology as being
needed to improve ground conditions and control
instability, seepages, settlement and collapse. “more than geology that is simply useful for civil
• The geological and geotechnical conditions engineers. It differs from geology for engineers in
required to store urban, toxic and radioactive that its practitioners have training and experience in
wastes. ground problems that arise in civil engineering and
in the investigation, classification and performance
• How to prevent or mitigate geological hazards. of soils and rocks related to civil engineering
• What geological and geotechnical criteria must situations; and a working knowledge of basic soil
be taken into account in land use and urban mechanics, rock mechanics and hydrogeology. Such
planning and to mitigate environmental impact. practitioners provide engineering geology.”

Models in
Engineering
Geology

Source: Stapledon, D. H. 1982. 'Subsurface engineering - in search of a rational approach'. Australian

Geomechanics News, 4, 26-33

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Models in Engineering Geology Models in Engineering Geology

According to Baynes et al. (2005): there are two
models:
– The conceptual approach, which is based on
understanding the relationships between engineering
geological units, their likely geometry, and anticipated
distribution.
– The conceptual model has been built up by looking at
geological maps, reading relevant geological memoirs,
incorporating local geological knowledge and adding
general geological knowledge and experience of what
might be anticipated in these circumstances.
Importantly, the model is largely based on
consideration of geological concepts such as age,
stratigraphy, rock type, unconformity and weathering.

Models in Engineering Geology Models in Engineering Geology

– The observational approach, which is based on the
observed and measured distribution of engineering
geological units and processes.

– The geological concepts have not changed markedly

however the distribution of the geological units is
now known reasonably well and the specific
engineering implications of those observations can
now be considered.

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Models in What does a geological engineer do?

Engineering
Geology • Investigate the engineering feasibility of planned
new developments involving soil, rock and
groundwater
• Plan and undertake site investigations for
proposed major engineering works such as
bridge, dams and tunnels
• Design measures to correct land contamination
• Design major structures in rock such as tunnels,
basements and shafts

Geological factors and geotechnical

What does a geological engineer do?
problems
• Supervise construction and performance of major Lithology Characteristic factors Geotechnical problems

engineering works involving the ground Hard rock Hard and abrasive minerals Abrasivity
Excavation difficulties
• Work out strategies to control landslides and
Soft Rock Medium to low strength Slope failures
major engineering works involving the ground Alterable minerals Deformability in tunnels
• Work out strategies to control landslides and Change of properties over time
areas of potential instability Hard soil Medium to high strength Problems in foundations with
• Coordinate of multidisplinary study teams expansive days and collapsible soils

• Perform computer analyses, use computer Soft soil Low to very low strength Settlements of foundations
databases and generate computer-aided designs Slope failures

Organic and High compressibility Subsidence and collapse

biogenic soil

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Geological Structures and geotechnical Influence of geological processes on

problems engineering and the environment
Geological processes Effects on the physical environment Geo-environmental problems
and actions
Geological Structures Characteristic factors Geotechnical problems
Seismicity Earthquake, tsunamis Damage to population and
Fault and fractures Very continues surfaces, Failures, instabilities, Ground movements and failures, infrastructure
variable thickness seepages, and alterations landslide, liquefaction Anti-seismic design
Bedding plane Medium-highly persistent Failures, instabilities and Preventive measures
surface; little separation seepages Emergency plans
Discontinuities Small-medium persistence; Failures, instabilities, Volcanism Volcanic eruptions Damage to population and
closed or open seepages and weathering Changes in relief infrastructure
Folds Surfaces with high continuity or Instabilities and seepages Tsunamis and earthquakes Monitoring systems
persistence Collapse and large scale slope Preventive measures
movements Evacuations plans
Foliation, Schistosity Surfaces with low continuity; Anisotropic behavior
closed features dependent on the Uplift and Long term morphological changes Monitoring and control
orientation subsidence Long term changes in coastal dynamics measures
and sea levels
Erosion- Medium term morphological changes Increased risk of flooding and
sedimentation Short term hydrological changes landslides
Protection measures for river
beds and coast

Engineering geological system (EGS)

Engineering Geological System
The lithology of the intact rock, tectonics of the area, Engineering geological system (EGS) includes
structural geological information, mechanical following description:
properties of rock mass, mechanical behavior of the • Rock and soil
ground mass, seismicity and hydrological condition • Geological structures
of the area are the important parameters for the • Geomorphology
evaluation of engineering geological system. • Hydrology
• Weathering
• Earthquakes and seismicity

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Engineering geological system (EGS) in Discussion with scenarios

different phases
• Planning
• Design
• Construction
• Maintenance
• The building is unlikely to be affected by the palaeo-channel due to the channel's
position at a depth greater than the influence of stresses created by the building
foundations; although, if the palaeo-channel were to be dewatered by a separate
project, associated settlement could affect the building performance.
• The organic-rich, high-plasticity clay infilling the abandoned floodplain channels
could present the hazard of differential settlement to the building because of its
low strength and modulus (stiffness). Geo-environmental hazards, such as methane
and carbon dioxide production and migration, may also be problematic. The
building is also exposed to the hazard of flooding.

Discussion with scenarios Discussion with scenarios

• The road bridge will be supported on end-bearing piles that may be affected • The tunnel will encounter two types of bedrock and the fault zone.
by negative skin friction from secondary compression associated with The fault zone will have different support requirements for the
settlement of the organic materials in the abandoned river channels. tunnel and could result in high groundwater inflows from the
• The presence of the fault and the palaeo-channels could result in variable palaeo-channel with associated settlement at surface.
pile depths. Flooding associated with the discharges up to the design flood
will have a lesser effect on the bridge but would be a potential hazard • Face collapse and groundwater inundation, potentially
during construction and scour is a potential hazard during operation. contaminated with methane and carbon dioxide are potential
hazards.

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Discussion with scenarios Different between engineering geology

• Material Properties: Two types of high strength bedrock,
and geotechnical engineering.
• Engineering Geology is the 'application' • Geotechnical engineering is the'
moderate strength sheared rock in fault zone, moderate- of the geologic sciences to engineering branch of civil engineering
strength weathered bedrock, permeable gravel (palaeo- practice for the purpose of assuring that 'concerned with the engineering
channel infill), low strength clay (floodplain), compressible, the geologic factors affecting the behavior of earth materials.
organic-rich soils (infilled channels). location, design, construction,
• Geotechnical engineering includes
operation and maintenance of
• Mass Properties: Two types of jointed bedrock, major fault engineering works are recognized and
investigating existing subsurface
conditions and materials; assessing
through bedrock. adequately provided for.
risks posed by site conditions;
• Environmental Processes: Chemical and mechanical • Engineering geologists investigate and designing earthworks and structure
provide geologic and geotechnical
weathering of bedrock (variable depth to rock), flooding, recommendations, analysis, and design.
foundations; and monitoring site
erosion, deposition and channel realignment associated conditions, earthwork and
Engineering geologic studies may be foundation construction.
with fluvial processes, groundwater flow generally parallel performed during the planning,
to ground surface. environmental impact analysis, civil
engineering design, value engineering
• Geological Hazards: Natural consolidation and subsidence of and construction phases of public and
organic-rich soils, acid sulphate soils, methane and carbon private works projects, and during post-
dioxide generation. construction.