SKAB 4753 1

School of
Civil Engineering

FINAL EXAMINATION
SEMESTER 2, SESSION 2021/2022
COURSE CODE : SKAB 4753

COURSE : ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

PROGRAMME : SKAW

DURATION : 2 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES

DATE : JULY 2022

INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES:
1. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
2. USE SEPARATE ANSWER SHEET (SEPARATE FILE) FOR QUESTION 1

WARNING!
Students caught copying/cheating during the examination will be liable for disciplinary
actions and the faculty may recommend the student to be expelled from the study.

This examination question consists of (4) printed pages only.

 SKAB 4753 2

PLEASE SAVE ANSWER SHEET FOR Q1 IN SEPARATE FILE.

Q1. You are assigned as a supervising engineer for a deep foundation work in a limestone
area. Propose steps and procedures you should employed right from soil investigation
stage until project completion. Answer the following questions.

a) Discuss various methods to identify the existence of cavities below ground surface.
Confine your discussion on two common methods, i.e. geophysical (seismic and
resistivity) survey and borehole exploration (substrata wash boring).
(6 marks)

b) Discuss the typical weathering profile in the limestone area.

(6 marks)

c) Discuss the potential engineering problems and issues.

(6 marks)

d) Methods to overcome the issues if arises.

(7 marks)

(25 marks)
 SKAB 4753 3

PLEASE SAVE ANSWER SHEET FOR Q2 UNTIL Q4 IN ONE FILE

Q2. You are assigned to undertake an earthwork project located 200 m from a housing area.
It is established that the area is underlaid by a bedded sedimentary rock of completely
to moderately weathered sandstone and shale. Based on this, answer the following
questions.
(a) Discuss on the excavation assessment that need to be taken for a safe and economic
excavation work to achieve the designed platform level for a housing project.
(8 marks)

(b) Explain the relevant rock mass parameter that would influence the excavation work.
(7 marks)

(c) If blasting work has to be carried out, discuss an appropriate blast design to be
employed with regards to

i) Geometry of drill hole (5marks)

ii) Powder factor (5 marks)

(25 marks)

Q3. Figure 1 below shows an aerial photograph of a river, flowing from south to north. A
housing area are developed at the marked location. Based on the given diagram, answer the
following question.
N

Housing area

Direction of river flow

Figure 1: An aerial photograph of a housing area

 SKAB 4753 4

a) Discuss the relevant geomorphologic process in the area.

(5 marks)

b) Forecast the future geomorphological changes and threat that might occur.
(7 marks)

c) If you are the engineer for this project, redesign the area to minimize the risk of potential
disaster during the planning stage.
(13 marks)
(25 marks)

Q4. A systematic approach to understand geomorphological features, type of bedrock and

geomechanical properties of the subsurface material is essential to locate potential rock
aquifer. Based on the statement, answer the following questions.

a) Explain various type of rock aquifer based on the weatherability and origin of bedrock.
(6 marks)

b) Discuss on how the geomorphological features could provide important information

during the early assessment?
(6 marks)

c) Discuss on systematic approach of ground investigation to locate potential and

sustainable rock aquifer.
(13 marks)
(25 marks)

- END OF QUESTIONS-