Engineering geology (part 1)

obligatory courses

Student should have the basic knowledge of:

- classification of rocks,

- rocks stratigraphy,

- tectonics,

- geodynamic processes,

- fundamentals of hydrogeology,

- lithology and origin of tertiary and quaternary deposits,

- fundamentals of physical and mechanical properties of soils (methodology of their research),

- fundamentals of geology mapping.

The knowledge mentioned above is presented during following lectures:

- Dynamic Geology,

- Tectonics,

- Applied Geology I, Applied Geology II, Applied Geology III,

- Geomorhology and Quarternary Geology.

Engineering geology is the division of geological and engineering knowledge. Engineering geology deals with problems which can occur as a result of interaction of subsoil and structures or land development, as well as methods used for forecasting and preventing of geological hazards.

Models of engineering-geological environments. Basics of documentation of engineering-geological environment. Projects, enginnering-geological documentations and maps to determine of engineering-geological environment for various types of structures and land development. Evaluation of suitability of laboratory and field tests for documentation of engineering-geological environment. Basics of forecasting of changes in time of engineering-geological environment.

The lecture is designed to acquaint a student with:

• defining the role of engineering geology as a science,

• the history and origins of engineering geology in the world and in Poland,

• the scientific and professional organizations in the field of engineering geology in the world and in Poland,

• statute of the International Association of Engineering Geology and Environment, and the Polish Committee Engineering Geology and the Environment PKGIŚ,

• relationship between engineering geology and geotechnics and geo-engineering,

• basic definitions in engineering geology,

• the rules for determining the complexity of engineering-geological environment,

• fundamentals of engineering-geological mapping and spatial data presentation and analysis of engineering-geological environment,

• basics of using GIS in engineering geology,

• types of constructions and land development based on the Polish legal regulation,

• types of building engineering,

• the rules for determining geotechnical category of buildings.

• the basics legal regulations in documenting the engineering-geological conditions,

• documenting the principles of engineering-geological environment for various contructions: buildings, industrial, water and waste management,

• assessment of natural and forced variability of physical and mechanical properties of soils,

• criteria for separation of homogeneous engineering-geological layers,

• assessment of the suitability of various laboratory and field tests to determine the engineering-geological environment condition.

The classes are concentrated on the methodology of engineering-geological mapping. The result of the activities in the summer semester is the Engineering-Geological Atlas, made in teams of two, consisting of several analytical maps: documentary, geological, surface gradient, morphogenetic, the thickness of Quaternary sediments, hydroisobaths, hydroisohyps, land development and allowable bearing capacity of soils; synthetic map: engineering-geological conditions and engineering-geological cross-section. The Atlas is made on the basis of archival materials, using both traditional techniques and GIS software.

After completing the course (lectures and exercises) a student:

- is able to separate out engineering-geological environment of the construction or land development system,

- can determine the complexity of the engineering-geological environment,

- is able to separate homogeneous engineering-geological layers,

- knows and understands the relationship between engineering geology and geotechnics and geo-engineering,

- has the ability to develop and analyze engineering-geological atlas of selected area,

- can identify geohazards in the engineering-geological environment,

- know the rules for documenting the geological environment of various engineering works and land development,

- can select and design the appropriate laboratory tests and field tests to evaluate the engineering-geological environment in relation to the type of construction and land development.

The classes: a grade. Student has to complete all the maps required by classes instructor. Final grade of the classes is the average of all the maps with the contribution to the team work and individual involvement.

The lecture continues in the winter semester in the next academic year. Final exam in the winter semester.