Introduction to Engineering Geomorphology – Thinking in 4D

Course Goals

The goal of this training course is to showcase the value of engineering geomorphology in engineering projects, introducing what can be done and providing a toolkit for how it’s done. The outcome is for attendees to gain basic knowledge, skills and practical experience that will allow them to successfully implement foundational principles of engineering geomorphology into civil projects. Floodplains, coastal sediments, and slope deposits form the building foundations for most of the world’s cities and constitute the deposits that engineers must work and build in. Many other developments are situated on materials emplaced by marine, aeolian and glacial processes. Each of these geomorphic environments presents a unique set of engineering challenges. The role of engineering geomorphology and the goal of this course is to help explain the spatial distribution, properties and mechanical behaviour of these engineering materials.

The Engineering Geomorphology – Thinking in 4D course will provide an introduction to:

• A system understanding of Australia’s most common geomorphic settings – fluvial, coastal and hillslope environments and deposits,
• Basic background on other geomorphic settings encountered in particular Australian jurisdictions – glacial, ice-proximal, aeolian, fluvial, marine, and volcanic deposits,
• Key geomorphic principles and processes,
• Conceptual models and their predictive potential,
• Thinking in 4D – landscape evolution and implications for design works,
• A systematic approach – application to projects and a geomorphic toolkit.

Additional themes that will be addressed in this course include:

• Quaternary landscapes, deposits, and process rates,
• Sediment properties and mechanical behaviour,
• Geomorphic mapping and landscape interpretation,
• Relationships to subsurface investigation and stratigraphic interpretation, and
• Where to access datasets and information to assist in applied engineering geomorphology.

Course Structure and Program

The present course is intended as a foundations course to showcase the value of engineering geomorphology in engineering projects and provide a systematic approach to incorporating these principles into the full life cycle of civil projects. The course structure involves a series of short presenter-delivered seminars addressing key themes and an afternoon workshop.

The proposed program is provided below.

9:00-10:30am — Engineering Geomorphology

• Introduction and history of Engineering Geomorphology.
• Value of Engineering Geomorphology in civil projects.
• Case Study.

Morning Tea (10:30-11:00am)

11:00am-12:30pm — Geomorphic Principles & Processes

• Australia’s Quaternary landscapes and deposits.
• A system understanding of common geomorphic settings.
• Key geomorphic principles and processes.

Lunch (12:30-1:30pm)

1:30-3:00pm — Geomorphic Principles & Processes

• Conceptual models and their predictive potential.
• Thinking in 4D – landscape evolution and implications to design works.
• Applications in civil projects – a systematic approach.

Afternoon Tea (3:00-3:30pm)

3:30-5:00pm — Engineering Geomorphology in Practice

• Workshop & worked example.
• Available resources & geomorphic toolkit.
• Evaluation & feedback.

The afternoon workshop will be run as a worked example including in-class discussions and feedback. This 90-minute workshop draws on fundamental principles of engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, sedimentology, and fluid mechanics.

At completion of the program attendees will be provided with materials and resources developed during the course, forming the basis of the proposed geomorphic toolkit.

Course Outcomes and Skills Developed

Upon completion of the course, attendees will have been introduced to and gained basic experience in the following skills:

• Understanding of the fundamental principles of engineering geomorphology and a systematic approach to incorporating these principles into the full life cycle of civil projects (from desktop review to design works),
• Basic interpretation of fluvial, coastal, and hillslope landscapes, landforms and deposits (system understanding),
• Understanding typical causes, mechanisms, and consequences of landform change and then considering the implications for engineering works,
• Using conceptual models to increase system understanding and predictive potential of geohazards,
• Application of geomorphic principles in engineering works.

Course Compatibility

Engineering Geomorphology is a multi-disciplinary approach drawing on principles from geology, sedimentology, hydrogeology, fluid mechanics, and civil engineering to inform geotechnical investigations and civil projects. This course is intended to compliment existing courses offered by the AGS, with skills developed in this course directly relevant to the following AGS offerings:

• Geotechnical Mapping,
• Geology for Engineers,
• Engineering Geology, and
• Applied Landslide Risk Assessment.

Who should attend?

This course is intended to benefit those who wish to incorporate principles of engineering geomorphology into civil projects, from desktop review to design works. Those who will benefit the most from this course are geotechnical engineers, geologists, geo-technicians and civil engineers.

The course will be limited to 24 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. A teacher to student ratio of around 1 to 12 will be maintained throughout the course.

Please contact Dr Elysśa De Carli to discuss whether the Engineering Geomorphology Course is suitable for you via [email protected].

Course Presenter

The course has been developed by engineering geomorphologist Dr Elysśa De Carli in collaboration with members of the Engineering Geomorphology committee (Darren Paul, Anthony Miner and Nick Roberts). Dr Elysśa De Carli will deliver the course with the help of an assistant from the committee or an assistant from the local Chapter.

Dr Elysśa De Carli is an engineering geomorphologist with over nine years’ experience in the areas of fluvial and coastal geomorphology, engineering geology and geotechnical engineering. Elysśa’s key skills involve using geomorphic principles to inform geotechnical investigations and civil projects through landscape interpretation and subsurface investigation. Elysśa specializes in the interaction between hydrology, hydraulics, sediment transport processes and fluvial geomorphology.

Elysśa currently works as an engineering geomorphologist within SLR Consulting’s Geotechnics and Mine Waste Engineering (GMWE) team in Wollongong. Prior to her role at SLR, Elysśa was a lecturer at the University of Wollongong in the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS).