Major in Engineering Geology
The Major in Engineering Geology provides an advanced understanding, technical knowledge, and practical skills in engineering geology and geotechnics.
Specific learning goals are:
- Understand, characterise and predict the behaviour of rocks and soils in civil engineering constructions such as in surface excavations, tunnels, dams, roads and bridges
- Identify, characterise and cope with hazards from natural slope instabilities (e.g. landslides, rock falls, debris flows)
- Investigate host rock properties and contaminant transport processes for the geological disposal of chemical and radioactive wastes
- Identify, develop and protect groundwater and geothermal heat resources with targeted site investigation programmes
More specifically students gain the ability to characterise the site geology in the form of a comprehensive geological-geotechnical model. They learn how to design and execute a site investigation project and how to interpret and synthesise diverse and often highly-fragmented geological and technical data, and how to transfer such data into an appropriate and scientifically-valid model as required for engineering analysis and design.
Study advisor and programme manager
Larissa de Palézieux dit Falconnet is coordinating the teaching within the Major in Engineering Geology as programme manager. The programme will follow the Study Guide for the Master in Earth Sciences, but some changes may occur.
Professur für Ingenieurgeologie
Sonneggstrasse 5
8092
Zürich
Switzerland
Modules and courses
The four compulsory modules cover the core skills of engineering geology and provide the foundation knowledge and practical skills for the study of natural hazards, foundation engineering, underground construction, waste disposal, and groundwater protection.
One of the four modules is a supervised industrial internship, which consists of 10 weeks practical work in a company.
A large number of credits can be earned from elective courses (all earth science courses are available).
The Major in Engineering Geology is designed for students from both the Earth and Environmental Science as well as from Geological Engineering fields. You will learn the principles and application of engineering geology in a broad range of settings by using different learning methods (i.a. fieldwork, laboratory, site visits, case studies, group projects, computer based training).
Master's thesis
The Master's thesis is a project on a research topic, which allows you to apply and deepen your knowledge in a specific area, which is related to ongoing larger research projects in Engineering Geology:
- Formation mechanisms, hazards and early warning of large rock slope instabilities
- Monitoring, remote sensing and satellite based mapping of landslide activity on the earth and moon
- Hydro-mechanical properties and self-sealing of Opalinus Clay
- Groundwater recharge and flow in Alpine catchments
- Stimulation of deep geothermal reservoirs
- Creep, fatigue and crack growths under THM loading in brittle rocks
Topics of recent Master's theses
“Does the viscous ice of the Great Aletsch Glacier has indeed an influence on the adjacent Moosfluh landslide displacement rates?” – Monitoring and Analysis of Active Landslides with the Great Aletsch Glacier
“Is it possible to predict the impact area and velocity of a rock avalanche event before it occurs?” – Field Investigation and Back-Analysis of the Diablerets Rock Avalanches
“Is an unusually high rock surface temperature a driver of fracture propagation and a trigger for rock slope failures?” – Investigating the effect of high summer temperatures on hazardous rockfall in an Alpine setting (Gelmersee, Grimsel Pass)
