Engineering Geophysics: a Civil Engineer’s Viewpoint

This paper is in two parts. The first part sets out to give an overall impression of Engineering Geophysics from a Civil Engineer’s viewpoint. The second discusses in more detail the use of seismic refraction ‘P’ wave methods to estimate rippability of rock.

The paper is not intended to be a “state-of-the-art” review, and is not based on an exhaustive review of current practice or literature.

It is based on the author’s experience as a user of engineering geophysics in a wide range of civil engineering projects including dams, hydroelectric projects, roads, pipelines, landslides, building foundations and groundwater projects. It is also based on listening to the problems and successes of other users with whom the author has worked.

For a description of the various engineering geophysical techniques readers should refer to Whiteley (Ref 1).