GEO101 – Week 1 SCIENTIFIC METHOD/S

DEFINITIONS • Geological problem to be solved.

Geology – study of earth, its composition,
structure, and history and the processes
that shaped the earth of the past and those
that would continue to mold the earth of
the present.
The scientific method – a process of
investigation in which a problem is
identified, data are collected and analyzed,
and a hypothesis is formulated and tested.
• Development of hypothesis or
multiple hypotheses.
• Collection and analysis of data in
field and laboratory.
• Publication of research in scientific
journals.
• Evaluation, debate, and further
testing of the hypothesis by the
scientific community.

Hypothesis- a tentative explanation of Geosciences Specialties

phenomena that is tested for validity by
• Geophysics
repeated observations and experiments.
• Geochemistry
Model – hypothesis expressed as a visual or • Petroleum Geology
statistical simulation or as a description by • Economic Geology
analogy of phenomena or processes that • Hydrogeology and Hydrology
are difficult to observe and describe directly. • Engineering Geology
Multiple working hypotheses – several • Environmental Geology
possible explanations of a phenomena are • Seismology
developed and evaluated simultaneously • Geochronology
and impartially. • Geomorphology
• Planetary Geology or Cosmogeology
Theory – the widely accepted explanation
• Glaciology
for a group of known facts. A theory is a
• Marine Geology
hypothesis that has been elevated to a high
• Minerology
level of confidence by repeated
• Paleontology
confirmation through testing and
• Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
experimentation; serendipity – finding
something of a value purely by chance. • Structural Geology
• Volcanology
The geological study: a.) data and sample
collection in the field, b.) geological map Geological Timescale
preparation, c.) analysis of data samples.
 Civil Engineers
Geologists
Plate tectonics – the model or theory that
has been used for the past 60 years to
understand and explain how the Earth work-
more specifically the origins of continents
and oceans, of folded rocks and mountain
ranges, of earthquakes and volcanoes, and
of continental drift.
Plate Tectonics
Geotechnical Engineers
GEOLOGY INTRODUCTION FOR CIVIL
ENGINEERS
• They direct construction, operations,
and maintenance activities at the
project site.
• They plan and design transportation
or hydraulic systems and structures,
following construction and
government standards, using design
software and drawing tools.
▪ Geologists are involved in a range of
widely varying occupations with one
thing in common: the privilege and
responsibility of studying this
fascinating planet.
▪ Geologists work in the resource
industries, including mineral
exploration and mining and energy
exploration and extraction.
▪ Other major areas where geologist
work include hazard assessment and
mitigation (e.g., assessment of risk
from slope failures, earthquakes,
and volcanic eruptions); water
supply planning, development, and
management; waste management,
and assessment of geological issues
in the forest industry, and on
construction projects such as
highways, tunnels, and bridges.
❖ They collect soil samples from the
project’s intended site, using bores
and test pits where analysis will
 determine the ground’s stress
bearing capability and stability.
❖ They determine whether issues like
erosion, settlement and slope will
pose a safety risk to the proposed
project.
GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS
Geology
• The study of the Earth, the materials
of which it is made, the structure of
those materials, and processes
acting upon them.
• The Scottish naturalist James Hutton
(1726 – 1797) is known as the Father
of Modern Geology.
Importance of Geology
• Geology provides necessary
information about the site of
construction materials used in the
construction materials used in the
construction of buildings, dams,
tunnels, tanks, reservoirs, highways,
and bridges.
• Geological information is most
important in the planning phase
(stage), design phase and
construction phase of an
engineering project.
Why geology is important to civil
engineers?
• Geology provides a systematic
knowledge of construction
materials, their structure, and
properties.
• The knowledge of Erosion,
Transportation and Deposition (ETD)
by surface water helps in soil
conservation, river control, coastal
and harbor works.
• The knowledge about the nature of
the rocks is very necessary in
tunnelling, construction roads and in
determining the stability of cuts and
slopes. Thus, geology helps in civil
engineering.
• The foundation problems of dams,
bridges and buildings are directly
related with geology of the area
where they are to be built.
• The knowledge of ground water is
necessary in connection with
excavation works, water supply,
irrigation, and many other purposes.
• Geological maps and sections help
considerably in planning many
engineering projects.
• If the geological features like faults,
joints, beds, folds, solution channels
are found, they have to be suitably
treated. Hence, the stability of the
structure is greatly increased.
• Pre-geological survey of the area
concerned reduces the cost of
engineering work.
Branches of Geology
What do you think are the top 3 branches of physically, chemically, and
geology that concern the civil engineering mechanically.
profession?
Mineralogy
Physical Geology – as a branch of geology, it
The study of mineralogy is most
deals with the “various processes of
important:
physical agents such as wind, water,
glaciers, and sea waves”, run on these a.) For a civil engineering student to
agents go on modifying the surface of the identify the rocks.
Earth continuously. b.) In industries such as cement, iron
and steel, fertilizers, glass industry,
Minerology – as a branch of geology, it
etc.
deals with “the study of minerals”. A
c.) In the production of atomic energy.
mineral may be defined as a naturally
occurring, homogenous solid, inorganically Petrology
formed, having a definite chemical
The study of petrology is most
composition, and ordered atomic
important for civil engineers’ point of view:
arrangement.
a.) In the selection of suitable rocks for
Petrology – as a branch of geology, it deals
building stones, road metals, etc.
with “the study of rocks”. A rock is defined
b.) It provides a proper concept and
as “the aggregation of minerals found in the
logical basis for interpreting physical
Earth’s crust.
properties of rocks. Thus, the study
Physical Geology of texture, structure, mineral
composition, chemical composition,
• Physical geology includes the study
etc.
of Erosion, Transportation, and
Deposition (ETD).

The study of physical geology plays a PLATE TECTONICS

vital role in civil engineering thus:
The lithosphere is broken into pieces.
a.) It reveals constructive and
destructive processes of physical
agents at a particular site.
b.) It helps in selecting a suitable site for
different types of projects to be
undertaken after studying the effects
of physical agents which go on
modifying the surface of the Earth
These plates float on the asthenosphere
beneath.

Convection currents in the asthenosphere

Convergent Boundaries
drive plate motion.

Divergent Boundaries
Plate Boundaries

Transform Boundaries
Hot Spots