Memorandum 162
Submission from the Engineering Group
of the Geological Society of London
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
"Engineering Geology is the science
devoted to the investigation, study and solution of the engineering
and environmental problems which may arise as the result of the
interaction between geology and the works and activities of man
as well as to the prediction and of the development of measures
for prevention or remediation of geological hazards."
(IAEG statutes, 1992).
SUMMARY
- An understanding of the ground is fundamental
to nearly all engineering projects and to ensuring safety against
natural geohazards (landslides, karst collapse, subsidence and
heave).
- Engineering Geologists are at the forefront
of understanding the "ground model" and hence the assessment
of a range of activities that impact on, or are affected by, climate
change.
- A reliable ground model is needed for projects
for the use of renewable energy including wave, tide and wind,
for landfill sites, carbon storage schemes and nuclear power stations
and for assessing the risk from geohazards.
- The ground models is a key element in remediation
of contaminated land and the use of brownfield sites.
- Engineering Geologists are prominent in
optimising use of natural resources and maximising the use of
alternative materials, including reuse of "waste products",
for example as fill for embankments (road, rail and flood defences)
and aggregates for concrete.
- Engineering Geology is experiencing a severe
skills shortage which is due to a combination of shortage of students
and closure of geology departments and MSc courses, largely as
result of due removal of government funding.
THE ENGINEERING
GROUP OF
THE GEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY OF
LONDON (EGGS)
1. The Engineering Group is a specialist
group of the Geological Society, founded in 1807. Since its formation
in 1964 the Group has been the main focus in the UK for geologists
concerned with the study and practice of geology within the engineering
industry. The Group's currently has some 2,500 members, more than
a quarter of the Society's membership.
2. The Group is the UK Chapter of the International
Association of Engineering Geology (IAEG) and represents the Geological
Society on the Ground Forum and The Hazards Forum. It is member
of the Geotechnical Training Co-ordination Committee and has firm
links with a number of associated organisations.
THE ROLE
OF THE
ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST
3. The role of the Engineering Geologist
is broadly the establishment of the ground model and the prediction
of the changes that will affect the model as a result of proposed
man made activities or likely natural occurrences. Engineering
Geologists commonly carry out desk studies, devise and supervise
ground investigations, interpret the results, write reports detailing
the existing ground and groundwater conditions, produce designs
and advise during the life of the project. These projects include
construction on a green or brownfield site, landfill, offshore
works, remediation of contaminated land, or stability of existing
or proposed man-made or natural slopes.
I. THE
CURRENT AND
POTENTIAL ROLES
OF ENGINEERING
GEOLOGISTS IN
GEO-ENGINEERING
SOLUTIONS TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
4. Virtually all construction or engineering
impacts on the earth in some way. The behaviour of the ground
is therefore fundamental to most, if not all, engineering endeavours.
Unlike man-made materials soils and rocks vary in the their physical
and chemical properties in both time and space, as a result of
their intrinsic nature (constituent particles and mode of formation)
and their long history of chemical and physical change. The effects
of the proposed man-induced changes must be superimposed on this
already complex model.
5. Engineering Geology involves the investigation
of ground conditions based on knowledge of the geological setting,
the land use history, inspection of the ground surface for signs
and effects of geological, geomorphological or anthropomorphic
activity. An intrusive investigation is then required to confirm
and refine the model and to obtain design parameters. If these
investigations are appropriately conceived and managed then this
will reduce the risk of unforeseen ground conditions and enhance
the sustainability, reduce waste and CO2 emissions and be protected
from the effects of climate change.
FUTURE STRUCTURAL
STABILITY
6. The Engineering Geologist identifies
natural and man-made geohazards such as landslides, karstic ground
and subsidence and hence, assesses the effects of potential climate
changes on the behaviour of the ground. This knowledge is used
to inform planners, developers and the public and to advise on
mitigation and avoidance measures. For example, high rainfall
increases the risk of landslides, embankment failures, erosion,
heave in clays and ground collapse due to sink holes and caves
which can lead to destruction and death. Lower rainfall and higher
temperatures causes ground shrinkage due to drying of clay while
increased abstraction of ground water in times of drought may
cause ground lowering, resulting in subsidence and hence damage
to buildings and infrastructure. Construction materials must remain
stable throughout the life of the project.
7. Specific activities associated with climate
change that require Engineering Geology input include:
- Assessment and repair of rail, road and
marine infrastructure
- Design, maintenance and enlarging (raising)
of flood relief structures
- Design and monitoring of slope stability
to reduce landslide risk
- Site assessments and design for new reservoirs
and dams and continued efficiency and safety of existing structures
EFFICIENT USE
OF NATURAL
RESOURCES INCLUDING
LAND
8. The Engineering Geologist is at the forefront
of the use of materials in construction such as:
- Identification and characterisation of
natural resources and planning their exploitation
- Identification of suitable local resources
to reduce haulage
- Optimising earthworks design, including
reinforced earth and ground improvement to reduce the volume of
imported materials
- Use of alternative materials such as crushed
glass, shredded tyres, pulverised fuel ash (PFA), furnace bottom
waste, tyre bales, crushed concrete, construction waste and spoil
from quarries and mines
- Reuse of old foundations
- Carbon storage and sequestration
- Assessment of the carbon footprint
9. The Engineering Geologist is a key professional
in the rehabilitation of brownfield sites, thereby reducing the
need for the use of greenfield sites. Key activities include:
- Land quality assessment by desk study,
walk over and investigation.
- Establishing a ground model and identifying
pollutants, linkages and receptors for predicting the risks arising
from contamination.
- Assessing the risk of groundwater becoming
contaminated and spreading contamination
- Producing options for remediation or containment
and appropriate design and implementation
RENEWABLE AND
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
SOURCES
10. Site assessment, investigation and design
for:
- Foundations and earthworks for wind turbines,
tidal, wave, hydro and other alternative sources of energy, including
site characterisation for nuclear power stations.
- Investigation for shallow and deep ground
source heat pumps
- Development of deep seated "hot rocks"
geothermal energy sources
- Design and management of landfill sites
including methane collection as a source of energy.
II. NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL
RESEARCH ACTIVITY,
AND RESEARCH
FUNDING RELATING
TO GEO-ENGINEERING,
AND THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN,
AND INTERFACE
WITH, THIS
FIELD AND
RESEARCH CONDUCTED
TO REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS
11. The research work that that formed the
basis for the discipline of Engineering Geology was largely carried
out in the 1960s to the 1990s at universities and government funded
research establishments such as the British Geological Survey
(BGS), CIRIA, the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the
Transport Research Laboratory (TRL then the TRRL). The UK was
at the forefront of Engineering Geology and the MSc courses at
Imperial College and the universities of Leeds, Durham and Newcastle
attracted students from all over the world. Undergraduate options
were offered at some universities and the then Portsmouth Polytechnic
(now the University of Portsmouth) introduced the first (and only)
undergraduate Engineering Geology course. Pioneering research
was done into the behaviour of soils and rocks and of methods
of testing. Literature from that time forms the basis for the
industry to this day, including the publications of the aforementioned
institutions and of the Geological Society (Engineering Group
Special Publications and the Quarterly Journal of Engineering
Geology and Hydrogeology (QJEGH)).
12. The situation is somewhat different
today. Geotechnical work at the BRE has ceased while TRL and BGS
operate largely as commercial consultancies with research in a
more minor role where external funding is available. Research
at universities is mainly for PhD programmes and on a very much
smaller scale. There have been developments in investigative techniques
but few recent advances in the understanding of the behaviour
of soil and rocks.
III. THE
PROVISION OF
UNIVERSITY COURSES
AND OTHER
FORMS OF
TRAINING RELEVANT
TO GEO-ENGINEERING
IN THE
UK
13. The traditional route for training Engineering
Geologists is a three year undergraduate degree in Geology and
an MSc in Engineering Geology, soil mechanics or rock mechanics.
Today both three year and four year degrees are available for
geologists but, with the exception of the undergraduate programmes
at the University of Portsmouth, Engineering Geologists still
require an MSc. A PhD is not necessary to practice Engineering
Geology but in some circumstances can be an advantage.
14. The Geological Society is licensed to
confer the titles of Chartered Geologist (CGeol), Chartered Scientist
and EurGeol. With suitable support and training a graduate in
geology can attain chartered status within about five years. It
is intended that CGeol should be the professional standard.
15. The Engineering Group provides a training
guide for graduates in progressing to chartered status and for
their continuing professional development thereafter. The Geological
Society endorses selected CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
courses.
16. The Engineering Group publishes the
Quarterly Journal (QJEGH) and a range of "Special Publications".
The Group runs working parties whose reports have formed a valuable
range of publications on subjects such as weathering, clay minerals,
and aggregates.
17. In recent years there has been a reduction
in the number of MSc courses for Engineering Geologists and those
remaining are under threat because of a shortage of students and
of funded places. At the same time industry is experiencing a
severe shortage of experienced professionals. Engineering Geologists
are have been on the Government Shortage Occupation List for work
permit purposes since 2005.
18. The industry has had to provide training
for those recruited with less than the full range of skills required,
and for further development of existing staff. Short courses are
run by employers and by universities and commercial organisations.
Industry has found that even well qualified graduates can lack
basic skills in numeracy, problem solving, report writing and
understanding of fundamental principles that were once taken as
read. Within their training budgets companies also provide courses
in health and safety, quality assurance and environmental management
some many also support research and students at universities.
IV. THE
STATUS OF
GEO-ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGIES IN
GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY
AND ACADEMIA
PROFESSIONAL STATUS
19. In common with other ground specialists,
Engineering Geologists are active in the earliest stages of a
project, far removed from prestigious opening ceremonies and their
endeavours are buried and forgotten-provided they perform adequately.
There have been many unsung Engineering Geologists on projects
such as the Channel Tunnel, Jubilee Line Extension, the Greenwich
Peninsula and the 2012 Olympic site.
20. Ground engineers suffer from a long
standing difficulty in persuading clients and others within the
engineering profession of the need for comprehensive and robust
ground investigation. If anything this situation is worsening
with more "fast track" projects putting further pressure
on the investigations which are relatively time consuming.
21. It seems that Engineering Geology is
still not well understood even within the construction industry.
Furthermore, the importance of ground engineering is questioned
despite the fact that the majority of construction claims are
ground related ("unforeseen conditions"). The potential
for appropriate geological assessment to save time and money is
overlooked. This is perhaps reflected in the removal of government
funding from degree courses particularly the vital MSc courses.
22. Foundation and slope designs are not
regulated in the UK-except in Scotland where structural engineers
are required to sign-off building designs, including the foundations,
for which they almost certainly lack the expertise. The Engineering
Group is contributing to the formation of a register of geological
and engineering professions who are competent to advise on ground
engineering. Support of government agencies such as the HA and
EA in specifying membership of the register for certain roles
will be critical to the success of the register and the support
of infrastructure owners such as local authorities, Network Rail,
London Underground, BAA and ABP will also be invaluable.
23. There has been a steady decrease in
the number of MSc courses in Engineering Geology in the UK. A
number of geology departments have closed and in some universities
Engineering Geology is taught in geography, civil engineering
or other departments, removing it from its principles in pure
geology.
24. The industry faces a skills shortfall,
especially in the mid-career range, but increasingly affected
by the reducing number of students. The situation is likely to
worsen in the next 10 years as senior professionals retire because
a reduced number of graduates entered the profession during the
recession years of the 1980s when opportunities were limited.
In addition, a demographic downturn in 18 year olds is due in
2010-11. The result is a need to recruit Engineering Geologists
from overseas. Although this need is likely to continue for the
foreseeable future, it can only be seen as a short term fix. Recruitment
is currently being affected by a shortage of applied geologists
in countries such as Australia and New Zealand which encourages
their nationals to stay at home, or return home, and has seen
companies from these countries recruiting from the UK.
STATUS OF
TECHNOLOGY AND
PRACTICE
25. Engineering Geology practice has seen
a number of technological advances in recent years including:
- improved field and laboratory testing procedures,
for example in data loggers and the transfer of digital data
- development of more mobile and flexible
drilling equipment, primarily driven by the rail industry
- development of insitu testing such as Cone
Penetrometer Testing, for example the piezo-, seismic- and contamination
detection cones
- downhole logging tools and other geophysical
techniques
- developments in instrumentation and remote
data retrieval
- electronic data bases and GIS for data
storage, manipulation, interpretation and presentation
- increased use quality drilling techniques,
such as triple tube core barrels advanced bits and polymer mud;
- use of geo-textiles, marginal materials
and recycled or `waste' materials
- the use of satellite and land based remote
sensing imagery, notably for asset management
26. Areas in which Government can assist:
- Planning would be improved if Planning
and Policy Guidance (PPG) was applied by equally by all local
authorities to avoid inappropriate development which is prone
to climate change-related geohazards such as flooding, landslides,
subsidence and collapse (in karstic areas)
- Resolution of the uncertainties surrounding
Soil Guideline Values for contaminants, which are hampering progress
in the industry
- The autonomy of Area Planning Officers
and Environment Agency Officers results in inconsistencies that
cannot be referred to a central authority.
- Area Planning Officers and Environment
Agency Officers commonly refuse to provide clear requirements
at the early stages of projects which results in wasted time and
effort.
- The industry as well as the nation would
benefit from a mandatory requirement for an adequate site investigation
as part of applications for detailed planning approval.
- Support for the proposed Register of Ground
Engineering Professionals to ensure that ground engineering is
carried out by those with appropriate qualifications and experience.
V. GEO-ENGINEERING
AND ENGAGING
YOUNG PEOPLE
IN THE
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
PROFESSION
27. The Schools Outreach sub-committee of the
Engineering Group is developing a series of presentations which
tie into the current Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) and
Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) curricula for A and
A2 level geology courses. These presentations are aimed at presenting
applied geoscience as an attractive higher education opportunity
and an exciting career prospect. The presentations are based on
four key themes, slope stability, transport, water and mining
and energy resources. Each theme is supported and illustrated
by case studies.
28. This programme will be extended to GCSE
level to reach students aged 14 to 19 years. The sub-committee
is planning to recruit young Engineering Geologists to make these
presentations in schools, adding case studies based on their own
academic and industrial experience as their career develops.
29. One of the Group's members had recently
published articles about her work experiences in two magazines
aimed at school children, NCEinsite and Rockwatch.
30. In its work to promote Geology, Engineering
Geology and Applied Geoscience as educational and career opportunities
the Engineering Group is seeking to cooperate with other organisations
including: BGS, Earth Science Education Unit, Earth Science Teachers'
Association, Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining, OCR,
Science and Engineering Ambassadors Scheme (SETNET) branch of
ICE Ambassadors in Schools, The Geologist's Association, WJEC
and the Young Geoscientists Group of the Geological Society
VI. THE
ROLE OF
ENGINEERING GEOLOGISTS
IN INFORMING
POLICY-MAKERS
AND THE
PUBLIC REGARDING
THE POTENTIAL
COSTS, BENEFITS
AND RESEARCH
STATUS OF
DIFFERENT GEO-ENGINEERING
SCHEMES
31. The Geological Society speaks for the
geological profession on appropriate issues such as geothermal
energy. The Engineering Group is represented on the Ground Forum
which informs policy makers on geo-engineering issues through
the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and government via the
Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and responses to consultation
documents.
32. Despite increasing awareness of the
need to do so, the construction industry probably still fails
to advertise its successes outside its own media. Little is made
of the significant achievement of projects such as the Channel
Tunnel while rare "failures", such as the excessive
movement of the Millennium Bridge, are widely publicised, as are
the activities of those opposed to new schemes. High profile projects
such as the 2012 Olympic development, Crossrail, the Thames Tideway
Tunnel and the Severn Barrage provide opportunities to promote
the industry's role in regeneration, energy efficiency and the
strategy for dealing with climate change.
September 2008
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