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ENGINEERING TRIPOS PART IIA - 2012/2013

Project GD5 - Engineering Geology and Surveying

Leaders: Dr M Kuo email: myhk2, and Dr I Brilakis email: IB340

Project Type: Group
Project Category: Field
Prerequisites: Part IIA Surveying Engineering Area Activity
Timing: Wednesdays 9-1pm and 2-6pm, Mondays 2-6pm and Thursdays 2-6pm

SUMMARY

This project is intended for students interested in civil engineering, who have already done the Surveying Engineering Area Activity in Part IIA. It covers the fundamentals of engineering geology, basic structural geology analysis and their application to geotechnical design, the fundamentals of environmental impact assessments for offshore and onshore oil and gas projects. This will be followed by some more advanced surveying than was offered in the EAA.

AIMS

To introduce the principal elements of engineering geology and develop understanding of its importance to onshore and offshore geotechnical design.
To introduce the use of stereonets in structural geology.
To outline the principals of environmental impact assessments and its application for different aspects of the oil and gas industry.
Further to familiarise students with the use of the principal surveying instruments: theodolites, levels, EDM's (Electromagnetic Distance Measurement) and GPS (Global Positioning System).
To develop the main techniques of field survey (traversing, levelling, resectioning, detail collection and setting-out) and of survey management (planning, adjustment, projection and mapping).

FORMAT

In Exercise 1, students will undertake stereonet calculations for a range of structural geology problems.

In Exercise 2, students will prepare a short discussion piece on the role of environmental impact assessments in the oil and gas industry.

ACTIVITIES

Week 1: Introduction to onshore and offshore engineering geology and relevance to geotechnical design decisions;introduction to structural geology.

Week 2: Introduction to environmental impact assessments for the offshore oil and gas industry.

Week 3: Traverse, detailing, point fixing and levelling (end exercise 2).

Week 4: Adjustment, mapping, setting out and final report.

ASSESSMENT

Format: Submission Date - Marks

Exercise 1: Wednesday 22 May 2013 - 10 marks (all individual)

Exercise 2: Wednesday 29 May 2013 - 10 marks (all individual)

Final report: 4pm Friday 7 June 2013 - 45 marks (20 for group work, 25 for individual work)

Last updated: December 2012

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