CE 211 Geology for Civil for Civil Engineering

Topic: Engineering Geology versus Geology

CHRISTINE L. TAGUINES
BSCE – II

ENGR. TANYA D. RIVAS

Instructor
What is Engineering Geology?

Engineering geology, also called Geological Engineering, the scientific discipline concerned
with the application of geological knowledge to engineering problems—e.g., to reservoir design
and location, determination of slope stability for construction purposes, and determination
of earthquake, flood, or subsidence danger in areas considered for roads, pipelines, or other
engineering works.

Engineering geology is the application of geological knowledge in engineering works. It has

wide applications in various engineering fields especially in urban planning and expansion. Site
investigation for major structures such as dams, factories, and heavy buildings is one of the main
parts of engineering applications. Others include earth material characterization, exploration and
assessment of construction materials and assessment of difficult grounds such as sabkha,
expansive and collapsible soils. The obtained information can be presented in a form of
engineering geological maps, which is essential in several projects.

SGS programs in Engineering Geology

Current SGS programs in the department focus on delivery of strategic information and solutions
to support planning, development and management of the environment in the Kingdom. The
main themes of the Department are:

 Engineering Geological mapping of the major cities in the Kingdom.

 Site investigations.
 Engineering properties analysis of construction materials.
 Community service.

Engineering Geological mapping of the major cities in the Kingdom:

An engineering geological map is defined by UNESCO, as a type of geological map, which

provides a general representation of all those components of a geological environment of design,
construction and maintenance as applied to civil and mining engineering. Engineering geological
maps are of different types depending on its scale, purpose and/or content. The Association of
Engineering Geologists started in the 1980’s to encourage the researchers to map the “Geology
of the Major Cities” and suggested a specific outline for the study. The Engineering Geology
Department adopted this outline and started to map the major cities of the Kingdom.
 An example of an engineering geological map for Al-Jubail Area

An example of an engineering geological map for a part of Makkah Al Mukrammah

Site investigations:

Engineering Geology Department was involved in the investigations of several sites that required
immediate remedial action. The Department was also involved in the selection and site
investigations for various structures such as (dams, tunnels, heavy building, factories and waste
disposal sites).

Sampling of undisturbed sample

Rotary drilling operations during the site investigation

Engineering properties analysis of construction materials:

As a part of the engineering geological mapping process, the evaluation of the construction
materials including the potential aggregate resources, building materials and ornamental stones,
is conducted. The Engineering Geology Department, in a previous project, was evaluating the
scoria deposits in Harrat Hutaymah. The evaluation covered the engineering properties of the
scoria and its possible utilization as lightweight aggregate, in manufacturing heat insulating
building blocks, and as an additive to the cement. A program to study the scoria’s capability to
decrease soil evaporation was suggested to investigate the utilization of scoria in saving
irrigation water.
 Stages of mix design on concrete cylinder

Community service

Construction on problematic soils or weak rocks is usually a reason for structural failures. The
use of unsuitable building materials is another reason for structural distress. Major engineering
structures such as dams, roads, ports, etc. may face similar problems. These problems sometimes
require immediate interaction and fast respond. The Engineering Geology Department is set to
respond rapidly to the emergency calls for geotechnical problems, investigate these problems and
suggest remedial solutions. Engineering Geology Department also trains students of Earth
Science from University yearly on the department projects and how to deal with the geotechnical
problems.

Appearance of vertical cracks on building walls in Al Mubaraz city – East of Saudi Arabia.
What is Geology?

Also known as ‘geoscience’ or ‘Earth science’, geology is the study of the structure, evolution
and dynamics of the Earth and its natural mineral and energy resources. Geology investigates the
processes that have shaped the Earth through its 4500 million (approximate!) year history and
uses the rock record to unravel that history. It is concerned with the real world beyond the
laboratory and has direct relevance to the needs of society.

Geology is an over-arching term for a diverse range of different fields of study. These fields
focus on a more specific aspect of the Earth or the solar system (such as volcanology or
sedimentology) and use aspects of mathematics and the other sciences. For example,
palaeontology overlaps extensively with biology and remote sensing uses physics to investigate
the Earth above and below ground.

Geology is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those
materials, and the processes acting upon them. It includes the study of organisms that have
inhabited our planet. An important part of geology is the study of how Earth's materials,
structures, processes and organisms have changed over time

What Does a Geologist Do?

Geologists work to understand the history of our planet. The better they can understand Earth’s
history, the better they can foresee how events and processes of the past might influence the
future. Here are some examples:

Geologists study Earth processes: Many processes such as landslides, earthquakes, floods,
and volcanic eruptions can be hazardous to people. Geologists work to understand these
processes well enough to avoid building important structures where they might be damaged. If
geologists can prepare maps of areas that have flooded in the past, they can prepare maps of
areas that might be flooded in the future. These maps can be used to guide the development of
communities and determine where flood protection or flood insurance is needed.

Geologists study Earth materials: People use Earth materials every day. They use oil that is
produced from wells, metals that are produced from mines and water that has been drawn from
streams or from underground. Geologists conduct studies that locate rocks that contain important
metals, plan the mines that produce them and the methods used to remove the metals from the
rocks. They do similar work to locate and produce oil, natural gas, and groundwater.

Geologists study Earth history: Today we are concerned about climate change. Many
geologists are working to learn about the past climates of Earth and how they have changed
across time. This historical geology news information is valuable to understand how our current
climate is changing and what the results might be.
Below is a list, with short descriptions, of some of the major fields of study within geoscience.

Engineering geology

A broad discipline encompassing the construction of buildings and dams, slope stability, mine
and quarry design, tunneling, roads, railways, coastal defenses and many other aspects of the
built environment.

Environmental geology

The application of geological principles to mediating or solving environmental problems of

water and land in or on which people, animals and plants live, that resulted from human
activities or natural processes.

Geochemistry

Explores the chemical composition of rocks and fluids and the chemical processes operating
within the Earth and on its surface.

Geochronology

The study of determining the age of rocks, fossils and sediments. Absolute geochronology uses
radioactive isotope systems, whereas relative geochronology uses palaeomagnetism and stable
isotope systems.
Geomorphology / Surface Processes

The scientific study of the origin and evolution of features formed by chemical and physical
processes on or close to the Earth's surface.
Geophysics

The study of the physics of the Earth, such as its internal structure, earthquakes, gravity and
geomagnetism. It can be deep (aiding understanding of the Earth’s core) or shallow, helping to
survey archaeological sites. Geophysics is used to search for oil and mineral deposits.

Hydrogeology

The branch of geology concerned with underground and surface water, its movement,
behaviour and quality.

Igneous Petrology

The study of igneous rocks that formed from magma or lava.

Metamorphic Petrology

How rocks are affected by heat and pressure to produce the range of metamorphic rocks and
minerals.

Natural hazards

The features and effects of phenomena such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, volcanoes etc.
and the importance of forecasting, resilience and minimization of damage.
Natural resources

The major sources of energy are oil, coal and natural gas, but uranium and alternative sources
such as geothermal energy are also areas of employment for geologists. Mining and quarrying
are used to extract metals and minerals with applications from agriculture to high-tech industry.

Oceanography

Includes ocean chemistry, ocean floor geology, meteorological oceanography and the study of
climate change, as well as ocean waves and currents.

Palaeontology

The study of fossils, from dinosaurs to microorganisms. How organisms are preserved in the
rock record, and their importance as indicators of past environmental change.
Planetary science

The study of the geology of other celestial bodies (such as planets and asteroids) in our solar
system and beyond.

Remote Sensing

The use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of
imaging from satellites or aircraft. This is useful in many fields, from exploration for resources
to geological mapping of the Earth or other planets or monitoring geological hazards.

Sedimentology

The study of sediments, how they accumulate, how they become sedimentary rocks,
information they provide about past environments and their significance to energy and other
resources.

Seismology

The study of seismic waves passing through the Earth from earthquakes, explosions or
controlled sources, which can be used to predict earthquake hazards, map planetary interiors or
explore for resources.

Stratigraphy

The study of the order, nature and rates of change of geological events and processes. This is
related to geological mapping of rocks exposed at the Earth's surface. Stratigraphy helps to
determine the ages and field relations of rocks to construct geological maps and databases.
Structural geology

Concerned with rock movement and deformation by folding and faulting, including the study
of plate tectonics. How rocks respond to stress, both natural and man-made.
Unconventional energy

This sector includes geothermal energy, wind power and tidal power. Sustainable energy
sources are a growing area.

Volcanology

The study of volcanoes, their location, formation and prediction, types of eruptions, and the
sorts of rocks produced, plus associated hazards/societal impact.
References:

https://www.sgs.org.sa/English/AppliedGeology/Pages/Engineering-Geology_en.aspx

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geology-Career-Pathways/What-is-Geology/Subject-Areas

https://geology.com/articles/what-is-geology.shtml