Geological Engineering

Education objectives

Geological Engineering is an engineering specialty that applies principles, concepts, and techniques of the Geological Sciences in solving engineering problems that involve the Earth and its functioning as a geodynamic system.

The Earth Sciences and Engineering are considered as major areas of knowledge in many of the most developed countries of the World. They constitute a fundamental basis for the development of society and the welfare of Man. Raw-materials, water, energy (oil, natural gas, coal, geothermal), construction and public works are essential and indispensable to today''''s society. The search and exploitation of natural resources, the issues associated with appropriate regional and urban planning and the resolution and mitigation of environmental problems resulting therefrom, are some of the core activities of the Geological Engineer.

The Geological Engineering First Cycle Programme at NOVA School of Science & Technology (FCT-NOVA), aims to prepare graduates with solid basic training in the areas of the Geosciences and Engineering Sciences which, together with Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Sciences and Informatics, may be able to work in numerous fields of applied and technological nature.

Career opportunities

The major intervention areas for the future graduates in Geological Engineering are related to the research and exploitation of natural resources, civil construction and public works, and to the mitigation of environmental problems, sustainability and land management and planning. This training area covers fields of action and / or specialization, which establish a link, not only between other engineering specialties (civil, mining, and environmental), but also between engineering and geology.

The Geological Engineering Programme at FCT-NOVA, thus provides comprehensive training that allows access to several areas of specialty, to be further developed in the Second Cycle Degree (Master in Geological Engineering), with professional opportunities (among others) for:

• Exploration and exploitation of mineral raw materials (geological resources):

• Metallic and non-metallic minerals
• Ornamental and industrial stones for the construction industry

• Groundwater exploration and management

• Oil and gas exploration and exploitation

• Geological and geotechnical mapping

• Geological and geotechnical mapping

• Geoenvironmental engineering

• Regional and urban planning

• Waste management and valorisation

• Assessment, characterization, and mitigation of geological and anthropogenic risks