Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering in the Geological Engineering program focusses on the design of works constructed on, in and through soil and rock materials as well as the identification and remediation of natural hazards such as landslides and earthquakes.

Students specialize in site investigations for, and the design and construction of, various engineering structures and systems, such as dams, power plants, roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, and building foundations as well as site selection and design of water supply and waste disposal facilities. Our graduates are also engineering solutions related to natural hazards. Geological Engineering places particular emphasis on the critical influence of the geological history and inherent variability on the engineering properties, future engineering performance and engineering risk related to in-place geo-materials. In addition, interactions between rock, soil and water components are examined in detail.

This combination of skills has been sought after by construction, mining, and consulting companies worldwide.

For more information, please see the home pages of Dr. Mark Diederichs, and Dr. Jean Hutchinson. Please email Dr. Hutchinson if you have further questions.