Engineering Geology – an introductory course
Overall Course Objectives
– To achieve insight into engineering geological conditions in Denmark.
-To give the student insights into how the Earth and the various systems and spheres, the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere and biosphere work and and relate.
-To give to the students an insight of the processes and mechanisms that have generated the ground types in the danish subsurface and provide an understanding of how the different rock/ground types can be applied in an engineering geology framework.
See course description in Danish
Learning Objectives
- Explain basic geological and hydrogeological definitions: minerals, soil, rocks, porosity, hydraulic conductivity, etc.
- define commonly used laboratory methods for the characterization of sediments
- explain central aspects of the geological conditions in Denmark
- utilize the geological maps and relevant databases for bore holes and ground water quality in Denmark and be able to use them for engineering purpose
- identify the processes which created the Danish sediments and the Danish landscape
- define some geological processes that affect humans and infrastructure: landslides, coastal erosion, volcanism, earth quakes
- identify the environmental aspects of the use of geological raw materials in sedimentary areas
- identify geological raw materials, water, minerals
- explain the relationship between natural klimatic oscilations and geology
- define the most prominent Danish groundwater reservoirs, including their hydraulic properties
- understand the relationship between hydraulic properties and ground water flow, including know concepts as groundwater magasin and catchment area
- describe relationship between accumulation of groundwater, groundwater quality and land use.
Course Content
Introduction to the geological conditions in Denmark. Sediments and their formation. Weathering processes and erosion. Rivers, ice and wind as transport systems of sediment material and sedimentation from these. Coastal Geology. Glacial deposits in Denmark. Soil description. Geological raw materials (water, gravel, limestone, clay for brickworks, etc.). Geology and klimate. Hydrogeologi.
Teaching Method
Lectures, practicals, 2-day excursions in Denmark.
Faculty
Remarks
The course is introductory and provides a good basis for later immersion in several directions, including field studies with arctic technology, geotechnical assessment for building, construction, and road building, hydrology, hydrogeology, mapping of raw materials, pollution studies, coastal protection, hydropower, etc.