Queen’s Geological EngineeringThe Earth is Our Classroom and Our Responsibility

Geological Engineering Program

Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering Faculty

Geological Engineering is a broad and creative field of engineering combining practical application of geological principles, concepts and techniques with engineering investigation, modelling, analysis and design, providing sustainable engineered solutions to human needs.

Geological Engineering at Queen’s prepares you for creative problem solving, analysis, interpretation & decision making necessary to tackle engineering challenges related to:

• Design and application of advanced surface and subsurface investigation, 4D geo-data interpretation, advanced analysis and geological modelling in aid of engineering design;

• Environmental engineering including subsurface water-resource protection and management, ground contaminant remediation, sustainable mine/urban/industrial waste solutions;

• Geotechnical engineering and construction on, with or through earth materials (rock and soil) including tunnelling (for water, power, transportation, resource transport, mine access, etc), mine stability, cavern construction, transportation infrastructure, foundations, dams, energy, and long-term secure waste storage;

• Geo-hazard assessment and risk mitigation including rockfalls, landslides, subsidence, volcanoes, earthquakes and floods;

• Engineering geology for mineral and energy resource exploration, economic evaluation, sustainable development and management, including environmental protection and remediation;

• Applied geophysics (seismics, electro-magnetics, gravity, laser, radar) for remote probing (from ground, water or space) to visualize the subsurface environment to facilitate geotechnical, geo-hazard, geo-environmental or geo-resource engineering.

• And much much more! Contact diederim@queensu.ca for more info

Earth Systems

CREATIVITY PROFESSIONALISM

JUDGEMENT

TEAMWORK

SKILLS

CONFIDENCE

PEng PEngEIT

PEng

PEng PGeoPh PEng

PEngPGeo

EIT

Queen’s Geological EngineeringThe Earth is Our Classroom and Our Responsibility

Natural Hazard Engineering

Mineral and Energy Exploration Engineering

Team Work, Real-World Skills, Confidence

Applied Geophysics

Groundwater Management, Remediation and Environmental Engineering

Tunnelling and Underground Engineering

Advanced Modelling

Surface Geotechnical Engineering

Mineral Resource Engineering

Site Investigation

Engineering Geology

Underground GeoRisk

Geodata Analysis

Underground Mine Stability

Mine Environmental Engineeringand Sustainability

Underground Storage and Repository Engineering

Industry Standard Analysis Tools

Urban Subsurface Engineering

Mineral Economics and Resource Evaluation

Infrastructure Engineering

Infrastructure GeoRisk

A modified description of GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING from "Engineers Canada" Discipline Description

Geological Engineers connect earth science with engineering—they apply geoscience, mathematics, physics and chemistry to solve engineering challenges in fields such as civil engineering and construction, mining and energy resource exploration and development, environmental engineering, forensic engineering and forestry, amongst others.

The work of Geological Engineers often supports and directs the work of other engineering disciplines. For example, geological engineers will conduct geological and geotechnical studies to assess the suitability of locations for civil engineering, environmental engineering, mining operations and oil and gas projects. They will be a part of impact studies for facilities and operations that impact the surface environment and subsurface. The recommendations of Geological Engineers will often impact the construction and operation of these projects. Any engineering project that interacts with the Earth or Earth materials in any way requires the input of Geological Engineers.

Geological Engineers will plan, design and implement geotechnical, geological, geophysical or hydrogeological, environmental data acquisition from manual ground-based methods, shallow and deep drilling, geochemical sampling, advanced geophysical techniques and satellite surveys.

Geological Engineers are also involved in analysis of past and future ground behaviour, creating geological models (maps, sections, 3D and 4D virtual models) at all scales and ground characterisation programs for specific engineering requirements. These analyses lead geological engineers to prepare recommendations and reports on factors that could affect the foundations of construction, mining, and civil engineering projects, such as rock excavation, pressure grouting, hydraulic channel erosion control, the settlement of buildings, the stability of slopes and fills, the probable effects of landslides and earthquakes, groundwater flow, as well as assessment and remediation of contamination.

The Geological Engineer also part of the design team developing underground and surface excavation projects, solutions to surface hazards, surface and subsurface storage of resources and waste, and groundwater remediation or resource management. Geological Engineers also conduct resource exploration campaigns, mine evaluation and feasibility studies, and contribute to the ongoing safety, efficiency and sustainability of an active mining project. Likewise, they inform the environmentally sound and sustainable extraction of mineral and energy resources from sub-surface deposits.

Geological Engineers play a critical role in the site investigations for, the designs of, and the monitoring to confirm Earth-System solutions that improve our quality of life.

Geological Engineers perform some or all of the following:

• Plan, develop and co-ordinate programs of geotechnical, geological, geophysical or hydrogeological data acquisition, analysis and mapping to assist in the development of engineering, mining, petroleum, groundwater and waste management projects or for regional development

• Analyze and prepare recommendations and reports for construction or improvements to foundations of civil engineering projects such as rock excavation, pressure grouting and hydraulic channel erosion control

• Design means to safely excavate and stabilize the surrounding rock or soil in underground excavations and surface construction, in addition to managing water flow within and from these excavations.

• Perform a critical role in all aspects of investigation, design, construction and monitoring for all forms of underground infrastructure including tunnelling, mining, hydropower projects, shafts, deep repositories and caverns for power, storage, industrial activities and recreation.

• Design monitoring systems, analyze ground response (natural and induced) and prepare recommendations and reports on settlement of buildings, stability of slopes and fills, and probable effects of landslides and earthquakes to support construction and civil engineering projects

• Conduct theoretical and applied study of groundwater flow and contamination and develop prescriptions for site selection, treatment and construction

• Design means to manage and protect groundwater or surface water resources and remediation solutions in the event of contamination.

• Plan, develop, co-ordinate and conduct theoretical and experimental studies in mining exploration, mine evaluation and feasibility studies relative to the mining industry

• Conduct surveys and studies of ore deposits, ore reserve calculations and mine design.

• Contribute mineral resource expertise, geotechnical and geomechanical design and monitoring expertise and environmental management to a developing or ongoing mining operation.

• Design and execute geophysical investigations from surface, in boreholes or from space to analyze ground conditions, composition and structure at all scales.

• Design, develop and implement computer applications for geophysics, geochemistry, geology, mapping and related fields to support other geological engineering work.

• Supervise technologists, technicians and other engineers and scientists.

• Move up into management positions where their open-ended problem solving skills are essential.

• Engineering law or finance (with additional training but with a firm foundation of open ended decision making, creative thinking and logic).