1. Accueil
  2. EN
  3. Studying at ULB
  4. Find your course
  5. UE
CNST-H312

Geology and engineering geology

academic year
2024-2025
2025-2026

Course teacher(s)

Pierre GERARD (Coordinator)

ECTS credits

5

Language(s) of instruction

english

Course content

Part 1 - Introduction to geology

  • The Earth System
  • The rock cycle
  • Types of minerals and rocks
  • Processes of weathering, transport and diagenesis
  • Stratigraphy
  • Basic principles of structural geology
  • Interpretation of geological maps

Part 2 - Engineering geology

  • Basic principles of hydrogeology
  • Problematic soils: alluvial plains, subsidence, karstification, swelling and shrinking soils, post-mining issues, etc.
  • Introduction to the main geophysical methods for subsurface characterization (seismic refraction, electrical prospecting, micro-gravimetry, ground penetrating radar)
  • Engineering geology associated with civil engineering projects (dams, tunnels, etc.)
All those concepts will be illustrated during a one-day field trip.

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

  • describe the basic geological processes
  • identify the main minerals and rocks encountered on Earth surface
  • describe the basic principles of geophysical methods and their contributions in geotechnical engineering
  • explain how the geological conditions, the heterogeneity of the subsurface and the behaviour of geological materials can influence some civil engineering applications
  • analyse and interpret geological, geotechnical, hydrogeological and geophysical data and reports to identify the geotechnical properties of the subsurface and their consequences for a civil engineering project

Teaching methods and learning activities

  • Lectures for theoretical aspects (slides available on UV)

  • Exercises (rocks and minerals identification, stratigraphy, interpretation of geological maps, interpretation of in-situ tests campaign, interpretation of geophysical data, etc.)
  • A mandatory site visit will be organized to illustrate the theoretical concepts

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Additional details and explanations about the content of the course can be found in the following references:

  • Understanding Earth. Grotzinger J., Jordan T., Press F. and Siever R. 2007. Ed. Freeman
  • Geology - Basics for engineers. Parriaux A. 2009. CRC Press/Balkema
  • Geological engineering. Gonzalez de Vallejo L. 2011. CRC Press

Course notes

  • Université virtuelle

Contribution to the teaching profile

This teaching unit contributes to the following competences:

  • In-depth knowledge and understanding of exact sciences with the specificity of their application to engineering

  • Think critically about and evaluate projects, systems and processes, particularly when based on incomplete, contradictory and/or redundant information

  • A critical attitude towards one’s own results and those of others

  • An attitude of life-long learning as needed for the future development of his/her career

  • Design (conceptually and quantitatively) geotechnical structures by applying the fundamental concepts of soil mechanics

  • Integrate the behaviour of geomaterial as a construction or a geological material in complex civil engineering problems

Other information

Additional information

Course taught in English

Contacts

Prof. Pierre Gerard  - Solbosch campus - Building C - Level 4 - Laboratory of GeoMechanics - gerard.pierre@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

  • written examination
  • Oral examination
  • Written report

written examination

  • Open question with developed answer

Oral examination

  • Examination with preparation
  • Open question with long development

Written report

The final mark is based on :

  • a written report (by group of 2 students) related to a project of analysis and interpretation of in-situ tests (3 sessions of 2h are planned in the schedule to work on this project, under the supervision of the titular)
  • a written examination related to exercises
  • an oral examination related to the theory and rocks/minerals identification

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

The final mark is obtained with the following weighing:

  • written report (20%)
  • written examination (40%)
  • oral examination (40%)
A penalty of −1/20 will be applied to the final mark (both first and second sessions) for each mandatory activity (e.g. field trip) missed without a medical certificate or other valid justification.

In case of failure in first session, only the mark corresponding to the written report can be kept for the second session. The oral exam and the written exam have always to be taken in second session.

Language(s) of evaluation

  • english

Programmes