Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To provide an understanding of Engineering Geology Field techniques, their applicability and their relationship to construction processes. To provide an opportunity to apply geological techniques to pre-construction site assessment and forensic analysis of geohazards. To provide an understanding of the field process from site assessment through gathering of appropriate data, to presentation and ultimately interpretation of that data.

Summary:
This module comprises a number of classroom based sessions, followed by field visits and culminates in a residential field trip† (typically to the Alpes de Haute Provence in the South of France). Basic field skills will be taught in class before being demonstrated and practiced in field settings. During the residential trip, a series of Engineering Geological exercises are carried out by the students to teach various field skills, assessment and analysis techniques.

[† Please note that students are required to contribute to a small part of the cost for meals during the residential field trip. Transport, accommodation and some meals are arranged and provided by the School.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module teaches and practices a number of field skills and site appraisal techniques:
•       Identification and classification of soils
•       Identification and classification of rocks
•       Classification of rock masses
•       Measurement and recording of structural features
•       Gathering and recording of data in the field
•       Engineering geology mapping
•       On site, dynamic risk assessment

Initially skills and theory are taught in classroom sessions. These are then demonstrated and practised in the field and through online resources.

The field work comprises a series of field exercises designed to expose students to a variety of environments and engineering applications including soil and rock cuttings, different types of dam construction, tunnels, landslides and coastal engineering. Hands-on engineering geology field based site appraisal techniques (different techniques appropriate to different sites) with an emphasis on identification of geo-hazards, pre-construction reporting and initial analysis of recorded data are taught and practised by the students and related back to theory taught in classroom and in previous modules.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

-By the end of this module, students will be able to:
-evaluate geological sites in the context of a specific application and select relevant and appropriate data types to be measured and recorded (M2)
-select and employ appropriate field measurement and recording techniques (M2, M3, M13)
-select and employ appropriate techniques to collate and present field data associated with different geological environments and applications (M3, M13)
-appraise, interpret and evaluate field data in the context of different geological environments and applications (M2, M3)
-appraise geological sites at different scales and make judgements in relation to immediate risks and potential geohazards (M2, M3)
-select and formulate appropriate solutions to meet design challenges in different geological environments and applications (M1, M5)

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- carry out a dynamic risk assessment
-measure and record a variety of geological field data (M12)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The focus of the module is to teach practical field skills and their appropriate application for the gathering of relevant data. Initially skills and theory are taught in classroom sessions. These are then demonstrated and practised in the field.

The field work comprises a series of field exercises designed to expose students to a variety of environments and engineering applications including soil and rock cuttings, different types of dam construction, tunnels, landslides and coastal engineering. Hands-on engineering geology field based site appraisal techniques (different techniques appropriate to different sites) with an emphasis on identification of geo-hazards, pre- construction reporting and initial analysis of recorded data are taught and practised by the students and related back to theory taught in classroom and in previous modules.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Individual oral assessment allows the examiners to very quickly determine a student's ability to evaluate geological sites in the context of specific applications, choosing and applying appropriate techniques and drawing initial assessment and interpretation from their in field work, which is key to the module and the course to which it belongs.
To these ends the oral assessment may involve small practical tests as well as discussion of the student's field notes and interpretive exercises (stability assessments, mapping exercises etc.) that students will be required to bring to the assessment in order to assess their site appraisal techniques including the collection, analysis and interpretation of data in the context of the relationship between geology and the construction process.

General Notes

Original Handbook text: