Engineering Geology CIVL 2207

Course description:

This course introduces students to geology and its importance to engineers, history of the Earth and its internal structure, minerals versus rocks, composition and structure of minerals, physical features of the Earth, composition and structure of rock, composing the Earth, Earth’s external processes, weathering and soils, geological maps and their engineering applications, ground water, earthquakes and Earth’s interior, plate tectonics, volcanoes and volcanic hazard. Analysis of the agents of weathering, erosion, diastrophism and their effects on engineering construction.

Course Aims:

The goals of this course are to:
  •  Present the history of earth and rock formations.
  •  Explain the processes that shape the surface of the Earth.
  •  Evaluate the potential for geologic hazards under specific circumstances. 
  •  Construct a personal philosophy integrating scientific knowledge of earth materials and the impact they have on the environment.
  •  Discuss fundamentals of the engineering properties of earth materials.

Course outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  •  Have development of research skills and presentation skills.
  •  Have an understanding to the importance of geology in civil engineering.
  •  Describe the three rock types and the processes involved in their formation.
  •  Have an understanding of basic plate tectonic theory, the processes involved, and the geologic features produced by plate tectonics.
  •  Understand the fundamental laws of geologic dating as they apply to determining the age of the earth, and the designation of geologic time periods.
  •  Have an appreciation for the processes that shape and sculpt our landscapes.