Diploma in Geology and Geotechnical Engineering

What you'll learn

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Explain the role of engineering geology in civil, mining, geotechnical, and infrastructure projects.
Understand the principles of geological and geotechnical site investigation.
Describe major surface geophysical investigation methods.
Explain seismic refraction, seismic reflection, shear-wave, and surface-wave investigation techniques.
Understand electrical resistivity profiling and sounding methods.
Explain electromagnetic conductivity surveys and ground-penetrating radar.
Understand magnetic, gravity, and self-potential geophysical methods.
Explain the principles and applications of borehole geophysical logging.
Understand electrical, spontaneous-potential, resistivity, nuclear, and acoustic borehole logs.
Interpret the purpose of borehole imaging and wireline investigation systems.
Explain the role of remote sensing in engineering geology.
Understand aerial photography, multispectral imagery, thermal imagery, radar, and satellite-based geological investigation.
Understand the geological principles behind burden, spacing, stemming, subdrilling, and blast-hole patterns.
Develop a basic engineering-geological investigation program for an engineering project.
Understand foundation preparation and geological treatment of soil and rock foundations.
Requirements

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Students do not need advanced geological knowledge before starting the course.
Basic knowledge of engineering, geology, mining, construction, or earth science will be helpful but is not compulsory.
An interest in engineering geology or geotechnical engineering.
Basic understanding of mathematics and physical science.
Description

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This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.
Engineering geology plays a critical role in the safe planning, investigation, design, construction, and maintenance of engineering projects.
Whether you are working on a dam, tunnel, road, foundation, mine, excavation, water-control structure, or other major infrastructure project, understanding the geological conditions beneath and around the project site is essential.
ThisDiploma in Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Field Investigation course provides a practical introduction to the major investigation methods used by engineering geologists, geotechnical professionals, engineers, technicians, and field personnel.
The course is developed around the principles and procedures presented in theEngineering Geology Field Manual, Second Edition, Volume II , published by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The manual emphasizes consistent collection, documentation, evaluation, and presentation of geological and geotechnical information needed for engineering work.
You will begin with engineering-geological investigation and then progress intosurface geophysics, including seismic, electrical resistivity, electromagnetic, ground-penetrating radar, gravity, magnetic, and self-potential techniques.
The course then exploresborehole geophysics and wireline logging, where you will study electrical logging, spontaneous potential, resistivity logs, nuclear logging, acoustic methods, borehole imaging, flowmeters, and related techniques. Wireline surveys can provide information about subsurface geological conditions and engineering characteristics by measuring physical properties within and beyond the wall of a borehole.
You will also studyremote sensing techniques, including aerial photography, spectral imaging, thermal infrared imagery, satellite data, radar, and geological applications of remotely sensed information. The manual particularly highlights aerial photography as a valuable engineering-geology tool because of its resolution and information content.
A major part of the course focuses ongroundwater, permeability, and grouting investigations. You will learn about seepage evaluation, permeability testing, packer tests, gravity tests, falling-head tests, slug tests, piezometer tests, and the geological factors that influence groundwater behaviour.
The course also introducesriprap evaluation, rock-mass characterization, geological considerations in blast design, water control and dewatering, foundation preparation, Standard Penetration Testing, Cone Penetration Testing, Becker Penetration Testing, geological sample handling, and GPS applications.
By the end of the course, you should have a much stronger understanding of how geological information is obtained in the field and how it supports engineering decision-making.
Who this course is for

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Geology students
Geotechnical engineering students
Mining engineering students
Geological technicians
Surveying professionals
Drilling and exploration personnel
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