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Geological Engineering FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Geological Engineering?
2. What do geological engineers do?
3. What is the nature of geological engineer's work?
4. How is the geological engineering profession
affected by technological changes?
5. What happens when you get old?
6. Is the program difficult?
7. Is the program suitable for women?
8. What about graduate school?
9. Where can I get more information?
| What is Geological Engineering? |
|---|
| It is an interdisciplinary field, in which principles of geoscience are used to solve engineering and environmental problems. It connects geology, civil engineering and other fields (e.g. mining, geography, forestry) to provide a versatile set of skills applicable to a wide range of contemporary problems. The UBC program is an accredited engineering program, so our graduates hold full responsibilities as registered engineering professionals. The qualifications of a geological engineer are similar to those of a civil engineer with geotechnical or environmental specialization. However, our graduates have the advantage of better understanding of geological processes. |
| What do geological engineers do? |
| The field of geological engineering has a wide scope and is relevant almost to all parts of the economy. Most of our graduates work for consulting engineering or environmental firms as specialists. Many are also employed by government agencies such as Ministries of Highways, Environment and Forests and large corporations such as BC Hydro. They carry out site investigations for dams, plants, roads, railways, housing projects, mines and quarries, pipelines, petroleum production, forestry operations and a variety of other things. They interact with civil engineers to design essential parts of projects. They are responsible for environmental assessments, or clean-up activities where pollution has occurred. They prospect for minerals, building material resources and drinking water. They carry out hazard and risk assessments and mapping for landslides and earthquakes. No wonder that, with this wide variety of applications, our graduates are rarely out of work. |
| What is the nature of geological engineer's work? |
|
The work of a geological engineer is quite varied. He
or she begins a typical project in the office by searching
existing information about the site, maps, geological
reports and airphotos. Fieldwork involves ground traverses
of the terrain, helicopter reconnaissance, and supervision
of drilling contractors. A variety of laboratory tests
is carried out. The data is then compiled and interpreted
in the office, usually with the use of software such as
GIS, mapping and logging programs and AutoCad. Where necessary,
analysis of slope stability, stress and deformation, groundwater
flow and other aspects is carried out. A report is than
issued to the client. During project construction, the
geological engineer visits the site periodically to ensure
all the recommendations are followed. The construction
phase often involves installation and monitoring of field
instruments. Geological engineering assignments widely vary in scope. Some may be only a daỳs long field inspection, followed by a brief letter report. Others may involve the effort of a team of professionals and technicians, stretching over a year or more. Many projects are situated locally, others in various parts of Canada (including the North). Many Canadian consulting firms work extensively overseas and their employees travel regularly. As a geological engineer, you have a possibility to choose the character of your work. Some prefer to do analytical work in the office or laboratory, others like to spend much of their time in the field. Some concentrate on local work, others travel all the time. Geological engineering work deals with natural materials and is thus much less subject to standardization and coding than other engineering disciplines. Almost every assignment brings you a new, interesting challenge. Geological engineers tend to work for small or medium size firms and a large proportion end up becoming partners or owning shares in their companies. |
| How is the geological engineering profession affected by technological changes? |
| Surely, the profession is changing as the society turns from resource industries to new technology-based endeavours. It is changing, but demand for geological engineers is likely to increase. As population grows and the technological power of the society becomes more formidable, we must pay much more attention to environmental problems and natural hazards. This requires large amount of high quality geological engineering work. Inevitable changes such as high density housing, increased use of underground space, high speed ground transport, better production and distribution of energy and more efficient waste disposal will create enormous challenges for geological engineers in the future. At the same time, productivity of geological engineers is not as much affected by computers and automation as it is in other engineering disciplines. Much of our work requires human judgment, which cannot easily be supplanted by computers. Our work cannot be farmed out to other countries, as it has to take place here. |
| What happens when you get old? |
| Senior geological engineers, having accumulated many years of experience on a wide variety of projects, often become highly valued specialists. Many continue practicing their profession well past the retirement age, working as specialty consultants, or expert witnesses. |
| Is the program difficult? |
| Yes, it is demanding, but not in a one-sided way. You need some math, physics and chemistry, but that is not all. You need to have good memory and sound judgment. Above all, you need to be interested in the natural world around you. Geological engineering careers involve lifelong learning. |
| Is the program suitable for women? |
| Around 25 to 33 % of our graduates are women. Many are among our best students and occupy highly responsible jobs after graduation. |
| What about graduate school? |
| Most geological engineering professionals eventually end up getting an M.Eng. or M.A.Sc. degree, even though others choose to build their careers on a bachelors degree. Some get involved in management of consulting firms or other companies. |
| Where can I get more information? |
Contact:
Roger Beckie, Ph.D. |
Degree Programs
- BSc Majors
- BSc Honours
- BASc Geological Engineering
- BSc Majors in Atmospheric Science
- BSc Majors in Environmental Science
- Double Major and Minors
- Co-op
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