BACKGROUND
While it is well established that collaboration of engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers is vital for most ground engineering practice, each profession has its own particular education needs, skills, and responsibilities that are not interchangeable.
Commission C26 started in 2009, with the objective of identifying or developing guidelines for the systematic post-university training of professional engineering geology practitioners; its Terms of Reference are attached. Such guidelines are intended to provide a readily usable framework for ensuring high standards of practice by engineering geologists as a group so that they are appropriately recognized as full professionals in their own right, alongside engineers, architects, and the like.
The guidelines will have regard to the specific responsibilities that distinguish engineering geologists from related professions, including:
- development of geological models
- definition of geological uncertainty
- translation of geological information for engineering use.
To obtain an appreciation of current thinking on the status of engineering geology requires all current and aspiring professionals to familiarise themselves with the paper by the late Sir John Knill:
“Core values: the first Hans Cloos lecture”
which is included on this site.
Other relevant opinion is provided in the paper by Dr Fred J Baynes (current IAEG President) entitled:
“Generic responsibilities of engineering geologists in general practice”
also included on the site.
PROPOSED ACTIVITY
The first task of C 26 is to report on professional practice guidelines now available world-wide.
Please provide any relevant information to either Bruce Riddolls, David Burns or Guy Grocott. Suggestions on possible future priorities are also welcomed, as are offers to help with the work of the Commission.
October 2009