Undergraduate Calendar 1998-1999

Geological Engineering is an interdisciplinary program involving the Faculties of Engineering and Science, in particular, the Departments of Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences. The program is administered by the Geological Engineering Board which consists of faculty from both departments.

Geological Engineers study the origins and properties of earth materials, and learn how to predict the behaviour of these materials. This information is used to design structures in or on soil and rock, design mineral extraction processes in mining and petroleum engineering, explore for and protect groundwater sources, plan and design transportation routes, and so on.

Employment opportunities for Geological Engineers are available in the areas of petroleum geology and engineering, mining geology and mine design, foundations engineering, water supply, geophysics, surveying, highway and airport construction, hydrology, coastal engineering and granular materials supply. Geological Engineering graduates with strength in the geotechnical area find their employment activities most closely associated with public works such as site investigation and design studies for tunnels, roads, railroads, buildings, air-strips, shorelines, ports, underground storage, and waste disposal facilities. An increasing amount of activity lies in groundwater studies and environmental impact studies, including hydrologic and geotechnical investigations associated with mining development, and geomechanical aspects of petroleum recovery, both conventional and unconventional such as tar sands development and in-situ heavy oil extraction.

The demand for the expertise offered by geological engineers is expanding into many of the resource-development areas that will continue to play a major role in the Canadian economy for many decades. Also, the geological engineer is in increasing demand for works of a civil nature, such as tunnels, dams, landfills, and aspects of environmental engineering.

Students must declare which Technical Theme they intend to pursue at the beginning of Term 3B. If the Management Sciences Option is chosen, the declaration must be at the beginning of Term 2B.

Geological Engineering with Geomechanics Theme
This Theme is for students interested in a professional career in areas concerned with the mechanical behaviour of soils and rocks, and construction on, in, or with these materials. For example, such careers may involve rock mechanics in mining, civil and petroleum applications; geotechnical aspects of tailings dams, dikes, hydro dams, and impoundments; landfill and waste repository design; foundation exploration and design for bridges, buildings and large dams; geotechnical and shallow geophysical site investigation; aggregate exploration, beneficiation and use; slope stability in mines and along transportation routes; and, design and construction of tunnels, shafts, trenches, and other underground structures.

Geological Engineering with Hydrogeology Theme
This Theme is for students interested in a professional career related to water supply and quality, fluid flow through soil and rocks, and environmental protection and monitoring related to these areas. Such careers could involve groundwater exploration, supply and recharge; surface and subsurface hydrology of lakes and river systems; flow of multiphase fluids (oil, water, gas) in shallow aquifers or deep sedimentary basins (petroleum development); landfill integrity and interaction with rainfall and groundwater; well testing in hydrogeology and petroleum production; and, geochemistry of groundwater, treated effluents, tailings pond seepage waters, waste site leachates, and deep basin fluids.

Faculty Options

Geological Engineering with an Option in Water Resources

This is a designated Engineering Faculty Option available through Civil Engineering. Students interested in the Option should see the Co-ordinator for approval and the complete list of approved courses. The Option is described earlier in this chapter within the 'Complementary Studies Requirements, Options and Electives' section.

Geological Engineering with an Option in Management Sciences

This Option provides an understanding of the issues, concepts and techniques related to the management of technology. This Option consists of a sequence of seven courses. Students interested in this Option should see the Co-ordinator for approval.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

Term 1A (Fall)
CH E 102 Chemistry for Engineers
ENV E 100 Environmental Engineering Concepts 1
MATH 115 Linear Algebra for Engineering
MATH 117 Calculus 1 (for Engineering)
PHYS 115 Mechanics

Geomechanics Theme
     CIV E 422 Finite Element Analysis
     CIV E 442 Pavement Strutural Design   
     EARTH 332 Metamorphic Petrology
     EARTH 342 Applied Geomorphology
     EARTH 433 Applied Sedimentology
     EARTH 440 Quaternary Geology
     EARTH 460 Applied Geophysics 2
     ENV E 477 Engineering for Solid Waste Management
     M E 559 Finite Element Methods

Hydrogeology Theme
     CH E 514 Fundamentals of Petroleum Production
     CIV E 483 Design of Urban Water System
     CIV E 486 Hydrology
     EARTH 433 Applied Sedimentology
     EARTH 456 Groundwater Modelling
     EARTH 461 Applied Geophysics 3
     ENV E 472 Wastewater Treatment
     ENV E 473 Contaminant Transport
     ENV E 477 Engineering for Solid Waste Management.

+   After term
++ Before term

Notes

1. The availability of some elective courses is contingent upon sufficient demand, scheduling constraints, and teaching resources.
   
2. Each proposed program of study should be reviewed by the faculty advisor to ensure that it (a) satisfies prescribed minimum requirements with respect to Mathematics, Science, Engineering Science, Engineering Design and Complementary Studies, and (b) satisfies prerequisite requirements.

The Undergraduate Calendar is published by the
Office of the Registrar, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada
Inquiries: infoucal@www.adm.uwaterloo.ca
Revised February 1998