Title
Code
Level
Credit rating
Pre-requisites
Type of module
Aims
Site Investigation
GFM12
7
10 CAT points
Basic understanding of geology
Delivered over one semester
• to introduce methods of site investigation appropriate to the ground
and the project
• to introduce and evaluate drilling methods
• to introduce and evaluate borehole geophysics

to introduce in situ testing

to introduce methods of evaluating the influence of surface and
ground water

to introduce and evaluate laboratory testing

to integrate data with field mapping and aerial and satellite imagery
and Geoframeworks
Learning
outcomes/
objectives
by the end of this module the students should be able to:
• select the appropriate method of investigation for the ground
conditions and the project
• recognise the influence of particular aspects of the ground on both
drilling and field testing
• select the appropriate borehole and/or surface geophysical
technique
• construct an appropriate test schedule

recognise the weaknesses in the techniques and be able to arrive
at appropriate decision based on field results.
Content
•
•
•


methods and practices of site investigation
standard, current UK, European and US techniques
suitability of techniques for assessing ground conditions and
providing information of soil and rock properties
analysing SI data in the context of geological and geotechnical
features
planning SI for various civil and environmental projects
Lectures, desk-top studies, computer graphic correlations and field
Teaching and
learning strategies excursions
30 hours formal contact student contact
70 hours private study
Learning support
indicative reading
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and British Standards, CIRIA
Clayton C R I, Simon, Matthew M, Site Investigation Granada 1982
computer packages
GEOCAL Software
ROCK ENGINEERING Software
additional resources
core store and case material
Assessment tasks
Coursework equivalent to 6000 words
Brief description
of module content
and/
or aims
In ground investigations for construction projects the first step is
evaluate the data required and plan an investigation to provide the
information. It is necessary to have a background knowledge of the
geology and to select appropriate methods of investigation. The aim of
this module is to enable students to appreciate the problems involved in
SI and to plan and select appropriate techniques to provide the requisite
engineering data.
Area examination
board to which
modules relates
Module
team/authors
co-ordinators
Semester offered,
where appropriate
Date of first
approval
Date of last
revision
Date of approval of
this version
Version number
Replacement for
previous module
Field for which
module is
acceptable and
status in that field
Course(s) for
which module is
acceptable and
status in course
School home
External examiner
MSc Applied Geology Course Examination Board
Dr Keith Elson
2
1997
n/a
1
n/a
n/a
Optional for MSc Applied Geology
Environment
Dr William Murphy, University of Leeds