ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST AND ITS RESPONSIBILITIES

An engineering geologist is defined as an individual who applies geologic data, principles, and interpretation so that geologic factors affecting planning, design, construction, and maintenance of civil engineering works are properly recognized and utilized (Geologist and Geophysicist Act, 1986).

In some areas of the United States, there may be minimal involvement of engineering geologists except for projects involving such items as rock slopes or earthquake fault studies. In other areas of the country, such as California, the geotechnical engineer and engineering geologist usually performs the geotechnical investigations jointly.

The majority of geotechnical reports include both engineering and geologic aspects of the project and both the geotechnical engineer and engineering geologist both sign the report. For example, a geotechnical engineering report will usually include an opinion by the geotechnical engineer and engineering geologist on the engineering and geologic adequacy of the site for the proposed development.

Responsibilities of the Engineering Geologist

1. Description of the geologic environment pertaining to the engineering project
2. Description of earth materials, such as their distribution and general physical and chemical characteristics
3. Deduction of the history of pertinent events affecting the earth materials
4. Forecast of future events and conditions that may develop
5. Recommendation of materials for representative sampling and testing