Geology for Engineers

Who should attend

The course is intended for geotechnical engineers involved in civil and mining engineering projects, who wish to expand their limited knowledge of geology.

Aims of the course

The aim of this course is to give students an appreciation and knowledge of geological principles and skills that can be used in day-to-day work in the geotechnical industry. The course will also provide a framework for students to keep learning about total geology principles so that they can make better engineering judgements and decisions in the future.

The course is focused around the development of engineering ground models, which are an essential element of any successful geotechnical design. The course will cover the importance of a sound understanding of the origin and nature of soil and rock materials and their defects, so that geotechnical conditions and hazards can be anticipated and communicated to other members of project teams.

Teaching is based largely around guided field exercises within an engineering context, supported by class lectures and workshops. The field exercises will take full advantage of the very broad range geological conditions exposed in the Adelaide area, which include very soft recently deposited soils; ancient sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks; tectonic deformation and glacial erosion.

Students who complete the course will enhance the knowledge and skills they need to undertake core geotechnical engineering tasks, including geotechnical desk top studies and geotechnical interpretive reporting. Some of the key learning outcomes are:

• How to approach observations on site and record observations as engineering geological maps.
• How to interpret geological maps for engineering purposes.
• How to use aerial imagery to classify terrain and identify geotechnical significant features.
• How to employ structure contour techniques to predict sub-surface conditions.
• How to use stereographic projection techniques to understand rock slope stability.
• How to recognise, measure and record geotechnically significant features in the field.
• How to build and develop ground models to communicate interpreted geotechnical conditions, hazards and uncertainty.
• To appreciate the engineering impact of the processes of formation of soil and rock masses.
• To understand the variability which results from the processes of formation and the limitations they impose on field descriptions, sampling, testing and subsequent analysis.
• How to communicate more successfully with other geotechnical professionals, designers and constructors involved in ground engineering.

Accreditation

The course is approved by the Australian Geomechanics Society and is recognized by Engineers Australia as equivalent to 80 hours of CPD.

Presenters

The course will be presented by Mark Eggers, Phil Flentje, Ian Shipway and Anthony Bowden on behalf of the AGS.

Course Fee

The course fee is $5950 inc. GST for AGS members and $6450 for non-members. The costs of travel to Adelaide and all costs associated with student accommodation and food during the course are an additional cost.

Cancellation policy

Refunds can only be provided if a replacement student can be identified.

Course numbers

The course numbers are limited to a maximum of 24 student.   Places on the course can only be reserved by registration payment.

Course transport accommodation and transport

Transport to field sites during the course will organised by the AGS at no expense to students.  The AGS will provide suggestions for suitable hotel accommodation during the course, but students will need to make their own reservations and payments.

Course outline

DAY 1: SATURDAY – ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY

Overview of the course, an introduction to total geology principles and an outline of the geological history of the Adelaide Region.
Evening welcome dinner

DAY 2: SUNDAY – COBBLERS CREEK AND PORT GAWLER

Field exercises to introduce the regional geological setting, rock defects identification and measurements, recording geological observations and terrain classification.

DAY 3: MONDAY – UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Exercises in interpreting geological maps, drawing geological sections, structure contours, air photo interpretation, rock and mineral identification and geological age relationships.

DAY 4: TUESDAY – MASLINS BEACH, BLANCH POINT AND HALLET COVE

Exercises in understanding stratigraphy, geological mapping and coastal processes.

DAY 5: WEDNESDAY – PORT WILLUNGA

Exercises in stratigraphy, faulting, rockfalls and other erosional processes.

DAY 6: THURSDAY – MARINO ROCKS

Exercises in metamorphic rocks and understanding folding, faulting and cleavage.

DAY 7: FRIDAY – PORT ELLIOT

Exercise in igneous rocks using field mapping of geological features to plan an underground development.

DAY 8: SATURDAY – UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Exercises in geological interpretation for mine planning and rock slope stability assessment.
Course conclusion and award of certificates.
Evening farewell dinner

Registration

Members are required to log in to access the AGS member price, which is not transferable. Members may only purchase a single ticket at the member price.

More information about logging in to this website can be found here.

Payment via credit card is available and processed by Stripe. The Australian Geomechanics Society will not store or have access to your credit card information, and Stripe adhere to strict security and PCI compliance for processing online transactions.

Upon purchase, an email and a tax invoice will be sent to the buyer. Attendees will also receive an email with their tickets attached, as well as a link to download the tickets if they are misplaced.