Geological Engineering

Geological Engineers play key roles in the exploration, protection, and responsible development of Earth’s water, mineral, and hydrocarbon resources. They also ensure that structures such as bridges, dams and buildings are designed for long term stability and safety, taking geological conditions and hazards into account. The profession is distinct amongst engineering disciplines for the opportunities it affords for travel and work in the natural environment, and for the atmosphere of adventure and discovery that accompanies geological exploration at all scales.

Geological engineers require skills and tools to “see” beneath the surface and predict the behaviour of highly variable earth materials. To this end, they draw on the field methods, powers of observation, analytical techniques, and remote sensing tools employed by geoscientists, and incorporate engineering approaches to materials testing, modelling, structural design and risk assessment. They must integrate a wide variety of data with knowledge of geological and geotechnical processes in order to make informed recommendations and decisions. As team players, frequently working with geologists or civil engineers, geological engineers also require good communication and people skills.

Examples of engineering works with significant geological engineering components include mines, dams, bridges, building foundations, highways, slope stabilization projects, landfill and wastewater treatment sites, waterways and port facilities. Geological engineers also conduct environmental impact assessments, develop and protect groundwater resources, and remediate contaminated sites. In the oil and gas and mining industries, they are responsible for locating and evaluating resources hidden far below the Earth’s surface and for developing hydrocarbon reservoirs and mineral deposits efficiently and responsibly.

Careers:

• Construction

Geological engineering services are in great demand by Canada`s construction industry. These geological engineers make sure that the rock and soil foundations for our highrises, bridges and tunnels are secure and stable. Their foundation designs must be able to withstand earthquakes which are likely in cities such as Vancouver and Montreal. Landslides in the mountains and permafrost and muskeg in our northern regions are some of the other problems faced by geological engineers. Often they interact with civil engineers in solving these geotechnical problems.

• Environmental Protection

Protection of the environment is one of the greatest challenges facing modern society. As new types of pollution are detected, engineers must develop new solutions to cure the problems. Geological engineers have a crucial role because of their knowledge of how the earth reacts to various engineering processes. With increasing value of land, demand for innovative solutions such as the use of underground space will grow steadily. Highly talented engineers are needed to design and construct excavations and tunnels and to safely dispose of garbage, sewage, and toxic chemicals.

• Transportation

Building and maintenance of roads, railways, airports, transmission lines and pipelines in the challenging terrain characteristic of many parts of Canada require an enormous amount of expert input from geological engineers. These needs are likely to become even stronger in the future, as transportation standards for safety, reliability and capacity increase. For example, recent building of high speed rail lines, in the European countries and Japan represents one of the greatest geological engineering challenges ever faced. In this country, we will be facing similar challenges in the near future.

• Energy

Energy - we have all become aware of Canada`s continuing struggle to meet its energy needs. Energy is essential for heating, transportation, manufacturing, and most other aspects of our life. We cannot afford to be complacent because we import as much energy in the form of oil, gas, and coal and uranium as we export. Hundreds of geological engineers are involved in multi-billion dollar exploration programmes to find more resources. These include: oil and gas in Western Canada, the Arctic and off the East Coast; uranium in Saskatchewan; tar sands in Alberta; coal in the Rocky Mountains and Maritimes; and geothermal energy in British Columbia. Geological engineers also work as reservoir engineers, pit engineers and mine geologists in the production of these resources. Other important issues connected with energy production are the the safety of facilities in the event of earthquakes and other natural disasters, and risk to the environment, connected with pollution from thermal energy plants and the disposal of waste from nuclear reactors. All of these issues require input from geological engineers.

• Water

Water is the most essential mineral commodity used by man. Thus groundwater is an important realm of geological engineering. In many parts of Canada such as the Prairies, the location of industry and the irrigation of farms depends on a reliable and abundant source of good water. This often requires dams for watershed management or drilling to tap underground aquifers. Some geological engineers regulate water supply for hydroelectric dams, or design dikes to protect against flooding, or plan to prevent erosion along our shorelines.

• Mining

Metal mining is one of Canada`s largest and oldest industries. Our most important source of export dollars comes from iron, nickel, copper, lead, zinc and the many other metallic mineral products. Geological engineers are integrally involved in the search for new ore deposits. They interact with mining engineers to facilitate the efficient extraction of the mineral deposits. Environmental issues connected with mining are also being addressed by geological engineers. Canadian mining industry enjoys leading status in the world-wide and many Canadian specialists work on mining projects overseas.

Industrial mineral deposits, such as potash for fertilizer and salt for roads, are essential to our society. Without sand and gravel, crushed stone, brick clay, and cement, we could not construct roads, hydro-electric power dams, skyscrapers, or even plaster our walls. As the present pits and quarries become depleted, many geological engineers discover and develop new sources of industrial minerals near our towns and cities.

• Natural hazards management

As population increases and suitable land becomes more scarce, difficult decisions need to be made regarding the risks of natural hazards in certain areas. Gelological engineers play a key role in quantifying such risks and devising suitable remedial strategies.

• Government

Many government agencies, both on Federal and Provincial levels, employ geological engineers to conduct research, and to develop and enforce environmental standards.