Engineering Geological Characterization and Mapping
Objectives
At the end of this course unit, the student will have acquired knowledge, skills and competences that allow him/her:
- To develop engineering geological, geoenvironmental and geoscientific mapping work for supporting site studies of civil engineering design.
- To be part of multidisciplinary teams specialized in risk analysis and regional and urban planning.
- To gather enough knowledge on the application of several techniques of in situ geotechnical tests, as well as their advantages and limitations, since it is of paramount importance for geological engineers to select and validate the geotechnical parameters obtained in field tests, required for the development of the geomechanical modeling of the ground.
- To apply those parameters in the context of geotechnical terrain zonation
General characterization
Code
13252
Credits
3.0
Responsible teacher
Pedro Calé da Cunha Lamas
Hours
Weekly - 2
Total - 36
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
No special requirements, but the previous knowledge of mechanical exploration techniques, and of soil mechanics and engineering geology classes are advisable.
The presence of the students on, at least, two thirds of the classes is required, unless they are registered under a special status.
Bibliography
[1] IAEG/UNESCO, 1976. Engineering Geological Maps - a Guide to their Preparation. The Unesco Press, Paris, Earth Sciences, n.15
[2] ZUQUETTE L.V. & GANDOLFI, N, 2004. Engineering Geological Mapping. São Paulo: Oficina de textos (in Portuguese)
[3] NP EN 1997-1. 2010, Eurocode 7 – Geotechnical Design Part 1: General Rules; Part 2: Geotechnical characterization – Ground investigation and testing
[4] GONZÁLEZ DE VALLEJO, L.I., FERRER, M, 2011. Geological Engineering. CRC Press, Balkema
[5] JAY AMERATUNA, J; SIVAKUGAN, N; DAS BM, 2016, Correlations of Soil and Rock Properties in Geotechnical Engineering. In Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Springer
[6] U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. 2017. Geotechnical Site Characterization. NHI Course n.132031. Geotechnical Engineering Circular n.5
Teaching method
Theoretical classes with audiovisual media support (Powerpoint) that students can access from the Clip platform. Students must check the references provided for additional information. Practical classes will include the observation and discussion of several methodologies of engineering geological mapping and solving problems involving data took from different in situ tests. Engineering geological field mapping using large-scale topographic bases and data processing using computer scanning and mapping software.
Evaluation method
Evaluation will include continuous assessment of knowledge by 1 test (50% of the final grade), as well as know-how through problem solving, extra-class and autonomously (20% of the final grade) and 1 report of fieldwork, including engineering geological cartography (30% of the final grade).
Subject matter
Geotechnical, Geoscientific and Geoenvironmental mapping: its sources, evolution and contents; cartographic units. Classification; procedural examples and information provided. IAEG recommendations. Geological hazards and geological risks; its mapping and study methods. Practical application in the field and in the office.
Ground geotechnical characterization - in situ versus laboratory tests to establish engineering properties. Eurocode 7 and its recommendations for the selection of geotechnical parameters.
Preparation of a site engineering geological zonation based on data provided by a borehole exploration campaign complemented by different in situ tests normally used in maps of suitability for construction.