CIVIL 726 : Engineering Geology
Engineering
2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course integrates quantitative and qualitative concepts in geology as applied to engineering projects. Basics of soil and rock mechanics, hydrology, and hydrogeology will be introduced. Case histories will be used as examples throughout the lectures and to demonstrate the importance and applications of geology to engineering projects. This course is good preparation for postgraduate study in engineering geology. The skills developed in this course are particularly useful for those wishing to embark on a career involving engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, civil infrastructure, and mining.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate and classify the engineering geological properties of rock, soil and defects. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Understand and critically evaluate the geotechnical properties and engineering significance of rock masses and soil masses. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Compare and contrast 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 1, 2 and 3)
- Demonstrate skills in the procedures of geotechnical data extraction and analysis from outcrops, drillhole cores, aerial photographs, maps and literature. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
- Apply ability and knowledge to make useful engineering geological maps and logs for a variety of rock and soil masses. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
- Critically appraise, critique, compare and contrast engineering geological models.
- Be able to read the ground – i.e. be able to interpret geomorphology in a way that contributes to geotechnical engineering and environmental assessment.
- Describe and discuss the sources of uncertainties in the engineering geology models and the concepts of representative volumes and scale effects. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratories | 50% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
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 c. 30 hours of lectures, c. 16 hours of laboratories, a half day field trip and readings that augment the lectures.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including lab components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. There is also a half day field trip that is compulsory.
Learning Resources
Health & Safety
The use of labs will follow established safety protocols. Hard hat and hi viz will be provided for the half day field trip.
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.
Digital 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.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
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.