Geological Survey For Tunneling

 A geological survey is the systematic investigation

of the subsurface and surface of a given piece of
ground for the purpose of creating a geological map
,model and feasibility studies.
 A geological survey employs techniques from the
traditional walk-over survey, studying outcrops and
landforms, to intrusive methods, such as hand
auguring and machine driven boreholes, use of
geophysical techniques and remote sensing
methods, such as aerial photography and satellite
imagery etc.
 Types Of Geological Survey
 Mainly geological surveys are classified into two
types:
 Surface Geological Survey
 Subsurface Geological Survey
 Surface Geological Survey: includes on land
geology and geological structures, landforms,
hydrology, outcrop pattern ,engineering
properties etc.
 Subsurface Geological Survey: : includes
underground geology and geological structures,
Geo-hydrogeology, subsurface rock or soil
pattern etc.
 Surface Geological Survey
Geological profile is prepared along line of tunnel.
Geological observations are done along this profile
like engineering properties of rock/soil, geological
structures like fold,faults,joints,spring,stream,river
alignment and any seepage etc
Trial boring plan is prepared along the tunnel line.
 Subsurface Geological Survey
Trial boring is done along the tunnel line.
Different rock and soil samples are collected
from subsurface and their physical and
chemical properties are observed.
Some samples are sent to laboratory for
determination of engineering properties like
shearing,strenght,permeability,porosity,compre
ssive strenght,and other test are performed.
 Surface Geological Survey
 Remote sensing: is the small- or large-
scale acquisition of information of an
object or phenomenon, by the use of
either recording or real-time sensing
device that are wireless, or not in physical
or intimate contact with the object (such
as by way of aircraft, spacecraft, satellite,
buoy, or ship.
Earth observation or weather satellite collection
platforms, ocean and atmospheric observing
weather buoy platforms, the monitoring of a
parolee via an ultrasound identification system,
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron
Emission Tomography (PET), X-radiation (X-
RAY),Radars and other space probes are all
examples of remote sensing.
Its common types includes aerial photography in
geology called, Photo-geology and Satellite
Imaginary system.
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs
of the ground from an elevated position. The term
usually refers to images in which the camera is not
supported by a ground-based structure.
Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing
aircraft, helicopters, balloons, blimps and dirigibles,
rockets, kites, poles, parachutes, vehicle mounted
poles .
Aerial photography is used in cartography
(particularly in photogrammetric surveys, which are
often the basis for topographic maps), land-use
planning, archaeology, movie production,
environmental studies, surveillance, commercial
advertising, convincing, and artistic projects.
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth
or some other planets made by means of artificial
satellites like LANDSAT,BADR etc
These Images show visible colors and color bands
in some other spectra.
Satellite images have many applications in
agriculture, geology, forestry, biodiversity
conservation, regional planning, education,
intelligence and warfare.
Interpretation and analysis of satellite imagery is
conducted using different software packages e-g
ERDAS Imagine or ENVI.
What is a map?
It is a representation of
something (Earth, stars, solar
system, a building, etc…
It is presentation of 3D
features on 2D paper.
Uses of Maps
To determine where you are going.
To act as a model of Earth’s surface.
Used to locate various places
To show the distribution of various features or types of
materials.

Geological maps. These are distribution of geological

features on the ground.
 if they had been observed from above then
Concealed features by cover of vegetation?
Distinction made between seen features and those
inferred.
Geological maps
They are supplemented with margin symbols,
stratigraphical column, explanatory /geological
notations referring to other information noted in the
field such as
 Thickness, anisotropy, grading of materials,

Colour code etc are noted.

 It defines stratigraphical boundaries along with

physical character.
 Further details can be seen in memoir.
Quick Review of Latitude and Longitude
Latitude
Measured in degrees North and South of the Equator.
Lines drawn parallel to each other running west to east.
Quick Review of Latitude and Longitude
Longitude
Measured in degrees East or West of the
prime meridian.
Lines drawn running North and South.
Topography
The lay of the land.
Shows relief using contour lines.
Relief- highs and lows of Earth’s surface.
Relief can be calculated
 Take the difference between the highest point and the
lowest.
 Example: Mountain peak 2000 ft

 The relief is measured with respect to sea level.

Reading a topographic map- Contour Lines
Lines on topographic maps.
Connect points of equal elevation.
Everything connected to that line has the same
elevation.
Elevation- the distance something is above sea level.
Sea level= m or ft.
Reading a topographic map- Contour
Intervals
Contour interval- gives the difference in elevation
between 2 contour lines.
Another indicator of height.
Shown on maps as C.I.= 10ft.
Used to count contour lines.

How it will look on a map

C.I.= 1000ft
Reading a topographic map- Index
Contours
A index contour is a contour line that is
accentuated in thickness and is labeled with the
appropriate measure of elevation.
Index contours occur every fifth contour line.
Help the map user read elevations on a map.

Red arrows indicate location

of index contours.
Reading a topographic map- Streams
The direction a streams is flowing
is shown on a topographic map by
the way a contour line crosses the
stream.
Streams are shown as a blue line
on maps.
When contour lines cross a stream
it looks like an upside down V.
The point in the V points
upstream. It opens in the
direction the water is flowing.
Reading a topographic map-
Depression Contours
Depression contours show
areas of lower elevation.
Drawn like contour lines with
marks on the inside.
Hachure marks- tick marks on
inside of closed circle.
Reading a topographic map- Hills
Hills are represented on a topographic map by a
series of concentric contour lines in a rough circle
Reading a topographic map- Slope
Closely spaced contour lines represent steep
slopes.
Widely spaced contour lines represent gentle
slopes.
Reading a topographic map-
Benchmarks
A benchmark is a place where exact elevation is
known.
Shown by a B.M. on map
Ex: BM 60
Reading a topographic map- Colors
The colors on a topographic map are symbolic of
different map features.
Blue = water
Green = forest
Brown = contour lines
Black = cultural features (buildings, place names,
boundary lines, roads, etc.)
Red = principal roads
Pink = urban areas
Purple = revisions to an older map, compiled from aerial
photos. If an area has become urbanized, this may be
shown as purple shading on the new, revised map.
Reading a topographic map- Map Scale
Map scale indicates your distance
along the ground, or the amount of
ground covered by the map.
Bar scale-indicated by a line or bar
with distances marked in miles,
feet, or kilometers.
 Base Map 1:10,000, used for detailed
field mapping, geological maps used
by engineers.
Larger scales used when considerable
details required. E.g. Mines
exploration areas
Reading a topographic map-
Map Scale
Smaller Scale 1:50,000
 Forassessing general geology of region.
 For mining, under ground water exploration.

 Mineral reserves, quarry sites

Appreciably Smaller, 1:500,000 or 1: one million,

regional tectonic patterns and general geology, not for
engineers.
Reading a topographic map- Map Scale
Reading a topographic map- Profiles
A topographic profile is a cross-sectional view
along a line drawn through a portion of a
topographic map. 
It is like taking a slice out of a portion of the Earth and
looking at it from the side.
Geologic Maps
Geologic Maps
Geologic Maps
 Maps of Surface Geology --- Solid and Drift
Edition Maps
 Solid edition, show general character and
position of rocks closer to ground
 Drift edition, In addition also show overlying
material e.g. glacial drift, alluvium, mud flow
etc
 One map is possible if there is no or thin drift.

 When no drift, no difference between the two.

contd
 Frequently Used Maps

Maps of Surface
Geology --- Exposure
and Outcrops
 Rocks occurring at
ground level are ‘exposed’
 Geographical position of
geological units
regardless whether
exposed or not are
‘Outcrops’
 Surface geology map
tells overall geology and
geological structures.
 Maps of Surface Geology
--- Thickness of strata
 Thickness varies with
usage
 Stratigraphic thickness,
ts , measured at 900 to
bedding
 How related with tx and

tv ?
 Thickness of strata can
be estimated from the contd
width of outcrop.
 Maps of Subsurface Geology
 Thickness of underground distribution of rocks and soil
are shown.
 Information from boreholes, tunnels. Wells, geophysical
surveys are used for preparation of these maps.
 Some of maps are introduced as follows:
 Isochors Maps
 Lines joining points of equal
vertical thickness.
 Readily produced using
bore hole data.
 Depth of over burden,
mineral deposit, confined
aquifer etc are determined.
 Isopachyte Maps
 Isopachyte lines join points of equal stratigraphical
thickness.
 More interest to geologist.

 Not easy to interpret.

 Related as Ts=tv cos α

 Dip decreases vertical thickness decreases.

 Eventually becomes Isochors Maps
 Horizontal Plane Maps
 Record the geology as it occurs on a horizontal plane at
some level below the surface.
 Useful for engineers involved in underground excavation
 Structural Contour
Maps
 Record shape of
structural surfaces.
 Spacing between
contours is a function
of dip.
 Contour spacing /
Contour Interval = Cot
d , where ‘d’ is the dip
measured in the
direction in which
contour spacing is
measured.
 Equipment
 You need a Topographic map with case.

 Clinometer /Burronton for measuring dip- in simplest form

plummet against protector on thin plate mounted on base
plate.
 Compass for
measuring strike
 Binoculars

 Survey book and

pencil/stationery
etc.
 Geologist hammer
0.5 kg contd
 Equipment
 Mapping
 Pains taking job

 First step is information collection.

 Recording boundaries and exposures.

 Recording various rocks dips and strikes.

 In difficult terrain follow traverse line perpendicular to

general strike direction.
 In simple terrain follow geological features.
 Transverse Survey
 Measurement of
Dip and Strike
 True dip of the
surface is max
angle of
inclination from
the horizontal.
 Angle lies in the
direction of
greatest dip
 In other directions
dips are apparent
dips
 Dip
 Dip measured to
one degree with
clinometer.
 Direction of dip
with compass
with respect to
north.
 Predicting
height example
Strike: Direction of
strike, on planner
surface like
structural contours.
 Subsurface Geological Survey

Trial boring is done along the tunnel line.

Geotechnical investigations are performed
by geotechnical engineers or engineering
geologists to obtain information on the physical
properties of soil and rock around a site to
design earthworks and foundations for
proposed structures and for repair of distress to
earthworks and structures caused by subsurface
conditions.
Different rock and soil samples are collected from
subsurface and their physical and chemical properties
are observed.
Some samples are sent to laboratory for determination
of engineering properties like
shearing,strenght,permeability,porosity,compressive
strenght,and other test are performed.
GWT(Ground Water Table) is noted and water bearing
strata is marked in geological profile.
In situ testing like Packer-testing, hydro fracturing,
load-testing etc are performed.
Laboratory tests like Atterberg limits, California
bearing ratio, Expansion Index test , Particle-size
analysis, Soil compaction tests, Triaxial shear tests,
Unconfined compression test, Water content,
chemical tests, permeability tests etc are
performed.
Different geophysical surveys like
refraction,reflection (seismic survey),resistivity,
GPR(Ground Penetrating Radar) and bore hole
logging etc are also done.
Subsurface
Profiling/3 D
modelling
A geological/feasibility report comprising all
information ,photographs, profile and others
necessary data are presented for final tunnel design
and construction