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This course covers the principles and processes of landform evolution - tectonic, fluvial, mass movement, coastal, volcanic, glacial erosion and deposition: with application to site selection, field exercises, case studies.
This course provides an introduction to geomorphology applied to engineering design and decision-making. Students will be introduced to some of the general principles governing landform evolution in response to tectonic, gravitational, fluvial, glacial, base level change and other processes, so that the relevant geomorphic history and future of a site can be deduced and constraints on safe and sustainable development inferred. The importance of geomorphological investigations in determining the type of soil encountered and its engineering behaviour will be highlighted by a number of case histories. Students will be introduced to the concept of terrain units and how these are used to delineate the likely engineering behaviour of differing ground conditions along linear projects. The accompanying tutorial and lab sessions cover aspects of ground model development, geohazards analysis and mitigation for engineering design.
Students successfully completing this course will:1. Be able to analyse the geomorphology of a site and deduce its geomorphological evolution.2. Have a basic understanding of the drivers of and constraints on landform evolution.3. Be able to infer the likely geomorphological future of the site and report on the likely engineering implications of future geomorphic activity at the site 4. Understand the likely soils present and their expected engineering behaviour based on terrain analysis.5. Have an understanding of engineering geological investigations and analysis required for geohazards assessment.6. Develop detailed engineering ground models for a site based on terrain analysis.Recommended Preparation:Prior familiarity with conventional geomorphology will be useful but is not required. Acquaintance with physical geology (sedimentary systems, active tectonics etc.), or of analysis of geomorphic processes such as river flow or mass movement, is advised.
Approval from the Head of Department of Geological Sciences
ENGE 477; ENGE 486
Week One (19th-23rd February)The first week of the programme is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of Engineering Geology methods and practice, and to assess the background knowledge of the 2018 cohort. The over-riding assumption is that all students are enrolled in ENGE410 and ENGE415 concurrently: for the student only doing one of the two papers exceptions will be made in terms of assessment requirements. The Week One programme is as follows:Monday 19th February: 9:00-10.30am - Introduction to 2018 programme (MCV, CHF, DHB)11.00-12.00pm - Meeting & briefing with HoD and Technicians12.15-1.45pm - Group Lunch (Tandoori Palace, Ilam Road) 2.00-4.30pm - Guest lectures by two recent graduates Tuesday 20th February: 8.30-12.00pm - Ground models and their importance (CHF) 1.30-5.00pm - Geo-logic and the art of geotechnical practice (DHB)Wednesday 21st February: 8.30am-5.30pm - Field trip to Port Hills & Akaroa (CHF, DHB)Thursday 22nd February: 8.30-12.00pm - Field notebooks & site investigation overview (CHF)1.30-5.00pm - Canterbury earthquakes & site investigations (DHB)Friday 23rd February: 8.30-12.00pm - Mathematics, statistics & mechanics overview (MCV)1.30-4.30pm - Building structures on Christchurch ‘soft ground’ (DHB)General Note: Students are expected to take comprehensive notes in class, and record relevant field data in their notebooks for submission and review at end of Week One. Worth 5% for each course.Week Two (26th February to 2nd March):The second week of the programme is based at the Cass Field Station in inland Canterbury, and involve a mix of field mapping and site visits. The group is to meet at 8.30am on Monday 26th February for a full briefing, including health and safety issues. Students are expected to have PPE available (hi-vis, safety glasses, safety boots), and to take personal requirements including sleeping bag, pillow, towel and hygiene/medical requirements. Trip leaders are CHF and DHB, and following itinerary is scheduled subject to change depending on weather or other issues:Monday 26th February: Travel to Cass – technical stops Castle Hill Quarry & Broken River Bridge LandslideTuesday 27th February: Engineering geological/geomorphological map of Ribbonwood Fan, with brief reportWednesday 28th February: Midland Line to Slovens Creek Viaduct (am); Otira Gorge engineering works (pm)Thursday 1st March: Broken River highway re-alignment proposal & design memo to NZTA with diagramsFriday 2nd March: Completion of assignment work & submission (am); clean Field Station & depart (pm)General Note: Assessment for Week Two is assigned to ENGE410, and comprises 45% of the final mark for that course. Group presentations will be given for site visits that day in the evenings of Monday 26th and Wednesday 28th. The Ribbonwood Fan map and brief report is to be submitted on the morning of Wednesday 28th unless otherwise agreed, and the Broken River highway realignment exercise before departure on Friday 2nd. Notebooks are to be submitted for marking as required.Weeks Three to Five (5th – 23rd March):Weeks Three to Five consist of sessions relating to both courses (ENGE410 and ENGE415), together with a weekly field trip, as set out below but with the proviso of changes due to weather or other constraints. The full day (8.30am to 5.30pm) is allocated to the particular topic, and may include office, laboratory or field work. ENGE410 material will be taught by DHB and ENGE411 material by CHF, unless otherwise advised:Monday 5th March: Site investigation principles, methods, & case studies for dam and canal projects (DHB)Tuesday 6th March: Technical writing workshop (EL/CHF); weathering & soils (CHF); volcanic hazards (TW)Wednesday 7th March: Field Trip to Opuha Dam (South Canterbury) – rock foundations & materials (CHF/DHB)Thursday 8th March: Site investigation practice for corridor and residential development projects (DHB)Friday 9th March: Geohazard & soil mechanics considerations for ground models; group exercise (CHF)Monday 12th March: Engineering geophysics principles, methods and case studies – 1 (HJ/others)Tuesday 13th March: Engineering geophysics principles, methods and case studies – 2 (HJ/others)Wednesday 14th March: Field Trip to Kaikoura to inspect State Highway 1 & rail corridor damage (CHF/DHB)Thursday 15th March:ENGE416 Bi-cultural discussion – MCV & othersFriday 16th March: Slopes & landslides; remote sensing methods in geomorphic analysis (CHF/DHB/NK)Monday 19th March: Drilling methods, logging and data presentation (cores/trenches/faces) (DHB)Tuesday 20th March: Fluvial systems; lifeline corridor terrain analysis (CHF)Wednesday 21st March: Field Trip to Motunau, Hurunui and Gore Bay; mapping & core logging (DHB/CHF)Thursday 22nd March: Site investigation for underground projects; flow & piezometric monitoring (DHB)Friday 23rd March: Marine & glacial systems; geomorphic mapping techniques (CHF)General Note: Assessment exercises for Weeks Three to Five detailed below for ENGE410 and ENGE415.Week Six (26th – 29th March):Week Six involves a four-day field trip based at Hari Hari Field Station, South Westland, returning on the Thursday as Good Friday is a public holiday (30th March). The following is planned, subject to changes as required:Monday 26th March: Technical stops at Inchbonnie (Alpine Fault), Dillmans Hydro-electric Scheme, Alpine Fault and flooding/erosion (Wanganui River), Poerua River landslide damTuesday 27th March: Big Wainihinihi hydro-electric tunnel inspection & rebuild history (hosted by Trustpower)Wednesday 28th March: Alpine Fault and plate boundary – Hari Hari to Franz Josef township, including OkaritoThursday 29th March: Complete and submit Big Wainihinihi and Hari Hari exercises; return to ChristchurchGeneral Note: Assessment for Week Six is assigned to ENGE415, even though it includes ENGE410 material.
Clark Fenton
David Bell
Assessment for ENGE410 and ENGE415:ENGE410 Course• Week 1 Notebooks – due Friday 23rd February at end of final session (5%)• Week 2 Cass field trip – Exercises due as indicated; notebooks at end of Cass field trip (45%) • Weeks 3 to 5 – Geophysics exercises due end Week 4 (20%); Site investigation report due 22nd March (20%)• Week 6 – Notebooks to be submitted at end of Hari Hari field trip (10%)ENGE415 Course• Week 1 Notebooks – due Friday 23rd February at end of final session (5%)• Week 3 Group exercise – due Friday 9th March at end of session (15%)• Week 5 Terrain analysis laboratory – due Friday 23rd March (20%)• Week 6 Hari Hari field trip exercises – due during field trip as advised (30%)• Week 6 – Notebooks to be submitted at end of Hari Hari field trip (30%)
Burbank, Douglas West. , Anderson, Robert S; Tectonic geomorphology ; Blackwell Science, 2001.
Fookes, P. G. , Lee, E. Mark., Griffiths, James S.,Dr; Engineering geomorphology :theory and practice ; Whittles, 2007.
Fookes, P. G. , Lee, E. Mark., Milligan, George C; Geomorphology for engineers ; Whittles, 2005.
Schumm, Stanley Alfred,1927-; River variability and complexity ; Cambridge University Press, 2005.
BackgroundFor 2018 the teaching of ENGE 410 and ENGE 415 has been combined because of the close interrelationship between site investigation and an understanding of landscape evolution. Instead of block teaching, the courses have been extended to cover Term One of the academic year and allow more time for review of fundamentals. Two long field trips are included where field investigation techniques and geomorphological skills are developed. Each course is separately assessed and graded: details of the assessment schedule are given at the end. Students are advised that personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for field work and site visits. This includes safety footwear, hi-vis jacket, safety glasses, hard hat and gloves. Some of these items may be borrowed from the Department in the short-term, but as professionals students are expected to obtain requisite equipment promptly. Other field equipment (eg geological compasses) will be provided.
Domestic fee $1,013.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
This course will not be offered if fewer than 10 people apply to enrol.
For further information see Geological Sciences .