Geotechnical Engineering

Professors
Leena Korkiala-Tanttu
and
Wojciech Solowski
Content

• What is geotechnical engineering?

• Geotechnical courses in Geoengineering program
• Future career paths (urapolkuja)
• Work situation for geotechnical engineers
• Competences (pätevyydet)
• Summer job possibilities

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What is geotechnical engineering in
Finland?
• Geotechnical studies include courses on soil
mechanics and foundation engineering
• Soil mechanics consists of the mechanical, hydraulic
and thermal properties of soils and interaction between
soil and structures.
• Foundation engineering consists of foundation methods
(e.g. footings, rafts and piling), vast amount of ground
improvement methods and water – soil management
systems.

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Case Jätkäsaari many parallel
geotechnical works ongoing

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Geotechnical
studies

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Course descriptions 1 (Leena’s courses)
• Geotechnics (1. year 1. period) an introduction to
Geoengineering programme, fundamentals of geotechnical
engineering
• Foundation Engineering (FE) and ground improvement (GI)
(1.year 2. period) goes through different FE and GI methods
focusing on the Finnish practices
• Seminar (Juha’s course) writing a conference paper draft
• Special assignment in Geoengineering, a flexible course
tailored for each student, is often connected to your Master’s
thesis. For example laboratory tests, literature review,
analysis of data aso. 2. year
• Project course (2. year 3.-4. period) the aim is to learn to
work in a design project group
• Geo-EV Kiertotalous infrarakentamisessa (2. year 1.-2.
period) a Finnish course about the use of alternative
materials in infraconstruction.
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Done together with TTY.
Courses description

Wojciech Sołowski – responsible teacher in:

Finite Element Method Geo-E1050

Advanced Soil Mechanics Geo-E2010 L

Numerical Methods in Geotechnics Geo-E2020 L

Courses offer advanced knowledge (L courses suitable for PhD students)
necessary in modern design of geoengineering structures and gives you
an edge over graduates from other universities.

Aim – to teach you what you cannot learn in your future work

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Courses description

Finite Element Method GEO-E1050

the basis of the calculation method and its use in design

Advanced Soil Mechanics GEO-E2010 L

introduces basic soil models which are present in most software
used in geotechnical engineering design

Numerical Methods in Geotechnics GEO-E2020 L

Course bases on real case studies being solved step by step with the Finite
Element Method
The GEO-E2020 L course ends with real problems provided by
consultancies and companies to be solved independently. Those are then
assessed by the designers who designed the structures in reality. That
gives not only useful feedback but also contacts which often result in a job
offer.

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Courses description

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Different kind of background is an
advantage (Rakennuslehti 25.8.2017)

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Career paths
• Designing = suunnittelu (assistant, junior and senior or
responsible designer, project leader and management of
design)
• Data management = tietomallien hallinta, tiedon louhinta
(BIM managers,….)
• Contracting = urakointi (construction of buildings,
bridges, roads, railways, streets and other
infrastructures)
• Ground surveying / testing and quality controlling =
Pohjatutkimukset, testaus ja laaduntarkkailu
• Research / teaching
• Material producing / suppling = tavaran toimittaja
• Building information coordinator
• Entrepreneurship (yrittäjyys)
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 Summer job possibilities

• Assistant tasks at construction site

(haalariharjoittelu): Photo Turo Auvinen
– Foundation, road, street, railway
construction sites
– House construction sites
– Sometimes even assistant management
tasks
• Assistant geotechnical design in
consultancy companies
• Ground survey and measuring
tasks
– Site investigations and sampling
– Measuring of terrain and surfaces
• Maintenance works
(kunnossapitotehtävät)
• Others
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Employers 1
• Big contractors: YIT, Lemminkäinen, Skanska, Destia.
All these big companies have their own programs for
summer jobs
• Contractors medium size: VR-Track, Graniittirakennus
Kallio, E.M. Pekkinen, Niska & Nyyssönen, NCC
• Remember also small contractors and areas outside
Helsinki region
• Consultancy companies (Ramboll, WSP, Sito, Pöyry, A-
Insinöörit, Destia, VR-Track…)
• Administration (LVM, YM, Liikennevirasto, Trafi)
• Regional administration (ELY-keskukset, Maakuntaliitot)
• Communities and cities (e.g. Helsinki, Espoo, Turku,
Vantaa,…)
• Deliverers: Lohja Rudus, Kaitos, Viapipe
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 Employers 2
• Ground survey and measurements: Ramboll, GTK,
Suomen Malmi, Mittakolmio, Geo-Hydro Oy, Geotek,
Pöyry, Pohjatekniikka, big cities Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa
• Universities and Applied Universities, research centres
(e.g. Aalto, TUT, AMK, VTT)
• Nuclear Waste and Energy companies (Posiva,…)
• There are also many companies outside Helsinki region.
Besides, many big companies have offices around Finland.

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Work situation
• The work situation is extremely good. The biggest lack
is of geotechnical designers and especially those who
has structural studies too.
• This is partly true also outside Finland.
• This situation will continue, because the amount of
graduating engineers is too small compared to the
amount of retiring experts.

12.8.2016

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Competences defined by Finnish
construction decree and sector
• Geotechnical designer of buildings
– Three different levels from simple to specially demanding
• Geotechnical designer of infrastructures (streets, roads,
railways, bridges,…)
– Three different levels from simple to specially demanding
• Responsible foreman of foundation engineering works
– Three different levels from simple to specially demanding
• Separate competences for new buildings and structures
and for renovations

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Competences

• To achieve a compentence you need to have:

– suitable degree,
– suitable studies (courses) and
– enough work experience.

• Our curricula has been designed to fulfil the most

common design competence studies even for the most
demanding class.
• Your study plan can be taylored to fulfil also other
competences.

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Links for employers
• Contractors: http://www.rakennusteollisuus.fi/infra/ member
companies. Note also local searchs are possibile
• Consultancy companies: www.skolry.fi from member
companies
• Note also the www-pages of Finnish Geotechnical Society
www.sgy.fi members

Photo Miika Kostamo

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More links of career paths and
occupations
• http://www.mytech.fi/ Tek’s career paths (only in
Finnish)
• http://konsulttinuoret.fi/ Career paths for consultancy and
networking

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Geotechnical engineering is HIGH-TECH!
More information: leena.korkiala-tanttu@aalto.fi

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Material: Turo Auvinen