هندسة الجيولوجيا: مقدمة

Study Notes

Engineering geology is a discipline that studies the impact of geological factors on engineering activities.
It combines geological knowledge and civil engineering to understand the geological behavior of the earth, rocks, and soil, and how they affect engineering projects like buildings, roads, tunnels, dams, bridges, and other structures.
This field addresses various project-related issues, including soil stability, seismic risk assessment, and landslides.
Engineering geologists provide accurate data to help engineers make sustainable and safe decisions in project design and construction.
A thorough understanding of geological conditions is crucial to avoid project collapse or high costs for environmental damage repair.

Engineering geology emerged as a distinct field in the 19th century, driven by the growing need for massive infrastructure during the industrial revolution.
Governments and companies started recognizing the importance of geological understanding to prevent engineering disasters, like bridge collapses or tunnel damage.
The reliance on geologists in large-scale engineering projects increased, and technological advancements led to more precise and effective engineering geological applications.

Engineering geology is essential for understanding natural hazards that might impact engineering projects.
It analyzes geological layers in the project area, determines soil and rock properties, and assesses geological hazards related to earthquakes, landslides, or floods.
It plays a crucial role in selecting construction sites by avoiding areas with poor or unstable soil that could cause foundation problems.
Engineering geology helps in designing infrastructure solutions for mountainous or rugged terrain where landslide or rockfall risks are high.

Urban planning and city development: Engineering geology is critical for ensuring the sustainability of large-scale urban projects, allowing the identification of suitable building locations and avoidance of areas prone to natural hazards like landslides or earthquakes.
Construction of buildings and large structures: Engineering geology plays a vital role throughout the entire project lifecycle, helping understand the nature of soil and rock at the construction site and how they interact with the structural loads of buildings and large structures.
Seismic risk assessment and active faults: Studying tectonic plates and seismic activity helps engineering geologists provide accurate assessments of earthquake risks and recommend measures to strengthen structures against seismic events. Avoidance of building on active faults is essential.

Geological surveys: Mapping geological formations and structures.
Aerial photography and geophysical surveys: Collecting subsurface data without excavation.
Drilling and core sampling: Obtaining soil and rock samples for laboratory analysis.
Field tests: Conducting compression and permeability tests to determine material properties.