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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.
Students successfully completing this course will:1. Have an understanding of engineering geologic investigations and analysis/simulation of landslide initiation (including rockfalls). 2. Have a basic understanding of the mechanics and simulation of moving landslides.3. Have a basic knowledge of the various methods for mitigating landslide hazards.4. Understand concepts of subsidence and settlement, with emphasis on the causes and analysis of earthquake-induced liquefaction.5. Have a basic understanding of the drivers of and constraints on landform evolution.6. Be able to analyse the present geomorphology of a site and deduce its geomorphic history.7. Be able to infer the likely geomorphic future of the site8. Be able to report on the likely practical implications of future geomorphic activity at the site
Approval from the Head of Department of Geological Sciences
ENGE 477; ENGE 486
Tim Davies
David Bell , Jarg Pettinga and Marlene Villeneuve
Brunsden, Denys. , Prior, David B; Slope instability ; Wiley, 1984.
Cornforth, Derek; Landslides in practice : investigations, analysis, and remedial/preventive options in soils ; J. Wiley, 2005.
Schumm, Stanley Alfred; The fluvial system ; Wiley, 1977.
Turner, A. Keith , Schuster, Robert L; Landslides : investigation and mitigation ; National Academy Press, 1996.
There is no specified textbook for this course. However many textbooks are relevant to aspects of the course, for example: Brunsden, D. and Prior, D., eds. 1984. Slope Instability. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 620p.Burbank, D.W. and Anderson, R.S. 2001. Tectonic Geomorphology. Blackwell Science, 274p.Cornforth, D H (2005) Landslides in Practice. John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey, 596p.Panizza, M. 1996. Environmenta Geomorphology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 268p.Schumm, S.A. 1973. The Fluvial System. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 338p.Turner, A K; Schuster, R L (1996) Landslides – Investigation and Mitigation. TRB Special Publication 247, Transportation Research Board, 673p.
This course has two parts: Part 1 covers aspects of ground failure hazards, including investigation, analysis, remediation and mitigation of landslide hazards, with limited treatment of ground subsidence and settlement problems. Part 2 is an introduction to dynamic geomorphology applied to engineering decision-making. This introduces students 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 sustainable development inferred. This course comprises one 2-hour seminar session per week, and two tutorials. The breakdown of course content is as follows:A field exercise will involve mapping an active geomorphic site in Canterbury, and associated data interpretation and analyses (details & costs to be advised).
Domestic fee $874.00
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 .