Geology

Geology is an earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Geology can also include the study of the solid features of any terrestrial planet or natural satellite such as Mars or the Moon.

It is not a basic science like mathematics, physics, chemistry or biology, but is an application of these basic sciences to the problems presented by the earth.

Applications of Engineering Geology

Engineering geology may be defined as the branch of applied science which deals with the application of geology for a safe and economic design and construction of a civil engineering projects.

Applications of Engineering Geology

The basic objective of engineering geology are two

fold:

• It enables a civil engineer to understand engineering

application of certain conditions related to the area of

construction, which are essentially geological in nature.

• It enables a geologists to understand the nature of

geological information that is absolutely essential for

the safe design and construction of a civil engineering

project.

Geology & Civil Engineering

The scope of engineering geology is best studied with reference to major activities of the profession of civil engineer which are: Construction, water resource development, town and regional planning.

Geology & Civil Engineering

Geology in Construction Jobs-

In all types of heavy construction jobs such as

buildings, towers, tanks, dams and

reservoir, highway bridges, traffic and

hydropower tunnels etc. full geological

information about the site of construction (or Excavation) and about the natural materials of

construction is paramount importance. The aspect of geology has full relevance in all the three aspects of each construction i.e. planning, designing and execution.

Geology & Civil Engineering

Planning-

• Following geological information is greatly useful in planning an engineering project.

• Topographical maps Such maps give details of relief features and are essential to understand relative merit and demerit of all the possible sites.

• Hydrological Maps. These maps give broad details about the distribution and geometry of the surface water channels and also the occurrence and depth contour of groundwater.

• Geological Maps. Petrological characters and structural

disposition of rock types as developed in the proposed area depicted in geological maps.

Geology & Civil Engineering

Design-

• Some of the geological characters that have a direct or indirect

bearing upon the design of a proposed project are:

• (i) the existence of hard bed rocks and their depth from and

inclination.

• (ii) The mechanical properties along and across the site of the

proposed project;

• (iii) Presence, nature and distribution pattern of planes of

structural weakness

• (iv) The position of ground water table in totality.

• (v) Seismic character of the area as deciphered from the

seismic history and prediction about future seismicity.

Geology & Civil Engineering

Construction-

• The engineer responsible for the quality control of

construction materials will derive enormous benefit from his

geological background of the nature material such as

sand, gravel, crushed rocks.

• Similarly for construction in geologically sensitive areas as

those of coastal belts, seismic zones and permafrost

regions, knowledge of geological history of the area is of great

importance.

• Construction of underground projects like tunnels cannot at all

be undertaken without a through knowledge of the geological

characters and setting of the rocks and their relevance to the

loads imposed.

Geology & Civil Engineering

Geology in Water Resource Development

• Exploration and development of water resources have become very important areas of activities for scientists, technologists and engineers in all parts of the world.

• The water resource engineers has to understand the water cycle in all essential details. Study of water cycle is an essential prerequisite for effective planning and execution of major water resource development programmers on national and regional level.