CIVIL 726 : Engineering Geology
Engineering
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
An integration of quantitative and qualitative concepts in geology as applied to engineering projects. Fundamentals of soil and rock mechanics will be introduced. Topics covered in the course include landslides, dewatering schemes, contaminant transport, foundations, mines (open-pit and underground), dams, tunnels, urban geology, and transportation infrastructures. Case studies are used in lectures to demonstrate the importance of geology and water to engineering projects.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a very good understanding of the engineering geological properties of rock, soil and defects. (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
- Describe the geotechnical properties and engineering significance of rock masses and soil masses. (Capability 3.1, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of of the design requirements of dams, canals, tunnels, large underground openings, large buildings and viaducts so as to be able to assess the engineering geological requirements of these engineering structures (Capability 2.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the procedures of geotechnical data extraction and analysis from outcrops, drillhole cores, aerial photographs, maps and literature (Capability 3.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Demonstrate sufficient ability and knowledge to make useful engineering geological maps and logs for a variety of rock and soil masses. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the application of engineering geological models. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Read the ground – i.e. be able to interpret geomorphology in a way that contributes to geotechnical engineering and environmental assessment. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Discuss the sources of uncertainties in the engineering geology models and the concepts of representative volumes and scale effects. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.2, 4.2 and 5.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| Laboratories | 50% | Individual Coursework |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy
Late submissions will not be accepted/allowed for the exam, tests, and online quizzes. It is possible to submit late for the assignments and projects, and the late submission penalty schedule will be included in the assignment and project handouts
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect an average weekly workload comprising 3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to complete/receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars will be available as recordings.
The course may include live online events including tutorials.
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.
Students will be provided with references to publications downloadable from the UoA library website. These include books, book chapters, conference proceedings and journal articles.
Health & Safety
Labs and a half day fieldtrip will proceed and follow any prevailing Covid-19 requirements at that time (e.g., the use of face mask, disinfectant, sanitiser etc). Hi viz vest is supplied by the University for the half day field trip. Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
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.
No changes or improvements to the course were identified in the student feedback.
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.