CIVIL 200 : Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering

Engineering

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The basic concepts and principles governing the mechanical behaviour of soil. Engineering geology, site investigation and soil classification. The principle of effective stress, permeability and seepage, and soil shear strength.

Course Overview

This course is intended to introduce the basic concepts and principles governing the mechanical behaviour of soil, and explains how these are used in geotechnical engineering design and assessment. These fundamental ideas form the basis of the subsequent geomechanics courses.
The key concepts presented in this course include:
  • The significance of geology, its relevance to engineering, and the importance of effective communication between engineers and engineering geologists; 
  • Laboratory and field methods for the classification of soils and the influence of the multi-phase nature of soils on behaviour;
  • Methods to determine stresses within soil deposits and the importance of the Principle of Effective Stress for understanding soil behaviour;
  • The mechanics of permeability and seepage within soil masses and concepts of soil shear strength, and how these relate to the other soil characteristics discussed throughout the course.

Course Requirements

Restriction: CIVIL 220, 221

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 7: Collaboration

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and describe common igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, explain how these rocks are formed, and understand how this relates to their engineering geological behaviour (Capability 3.1 and 7.1)
  2. Understand and describe the processes that form different soil deposits and how this relates to their engineering geological behaviour (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
  3. Describe the importance of different geological hazards in relation to engineering design and assessment (Capability 3.1)
  4. Describe the geotechnical site investigation methods that are used to understand geotechnical and geological conditions (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 7.1)
  5. Explain and apply methods of soil classification and how to apply the methods in an engineering context (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
  6. Explain the 3-phase nature of soil and apply phase relationships concepts to define soil properties (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of the principle of effective stress and the evaluation of stresses within a soil profile (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  8. Explain the concept of permeability and analyse the effects of seepage through soil deposits (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1)
  9. Evaluate the shear strength of soil and the laboratory tests to understand this behaviour (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Laboratories 9% Individual Coursework
Project 15% Group & Individual Coursework
Quizzes 6% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Laboratories
Project
Quizzes
Test
Final Exam
A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.
A minimum grade of 40% in the exam is required to pass the course.
Three compulsory 2 hour laboratory sessions are held. These are an integral part of the course. Completion of the laboratory requirements is necessary to pass the course - failure to complete the laboratory sessions will result in a Did Not Complete grade for the course.
Late submissions will not be accepted/allowed for the exam, tests, laboratories and online quizzes. It is possible to submit late for the project, and the late submission penalty schedule will be included in the project handouts.

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 150 hours involved in activities related to each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures/tutorials, 6 hours of laboratory sessions, 36 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 72 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs to complete and receive credit for components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings.

The course will not include live online events.

Attendance on campus is required for the test.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

A digital copy of the course notes will be provided through Canvas.
The recommended text books for this course, which are also useful for geotechnical engineering courses in subsequent years: 
Knappett, J. & Craig, R.F. Craig’s Soil Mechanics, Taylor and Francis.
Holtz, Kovacs and Sheahan, An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, International Edition, Pearson.

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook. 
Health and safety inductions will be carried out as part of the course laboratory sessions.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Lecture notes and laboratory session material has been updated.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.