Engineering Geology Where Civilization and Earth Meet Soil and rock as engineering materials Resource extraction and usage Environmental impacts Geologic Hazards Dr. James M. Martin-Hayden Associate Professor (419) Dr. James M. Martin-Hayden Associate Professor (419)

World Population Growth High Growth Medium Growth Low Growth Population Growth % per year 1% 2% Exponential Growth Actual Growth Kehew, Figure 1.4 and 1.5

Population in Crisis Pandemics and food shortages are beginning to decrease population growth Contamination and global warming will only exacerbate the problem

Overuse of Geologic Resources 1.7 billion are joining the “consumer class” and the environment can’t sustain this standard of living. (Worldwatch Institute, 2004) Emissions of Greenhouse gasses is accelerating global warming Climate change is accelerating melting of glaciers and driving mass extinctions (The Centre of Biodiversity and Conservation, Leeds University, UK) (Geology in the News)

Global Oil Production to Peak Once oil production peaks extraction will become increasingly expensive. Alternative sources Coal (emissions?) Nuclear (waste?) Renewable (lagging technology?) See Kehew Fig. 1.8

Greenhouse Gasses and Global Warming Global Warming lags CO 2 spikes CO 2 concentration is higher than all maximums during the past 500,000 years And still increasing! See Kehew Fig. 1.14

Effects on Engineering Geology Melting of Polar ice Opening of new arctic shipping routes in a few decades Melting Permafrost Increasingly severe storms Sea level rise (~6m in a few decades) Increased erosion Flooding Submerged infrastructure

Water Resources Use of fresh water from the water cycle Surface water Lakes Streams Groundwater Springs Aquifers (extracted by pumping wells)

Water Cycle Storage and Transfer Storage In 10 6 km 3 Transfer in 10 6 km 3 /yr

Fresh Water Withdrawal Trends

The Cradle of Civilization Sprung from geology of the region Tigris River, Iraq

World of Geology The Cradle of Civilization (Fertile Crescent) Development limited by availability, e.g., soil, water, energy Conflicts based on resources, e.g., water, minerals, oil, energy… Geological Resources

Geologic Resources Mineral Resources: metals, fertilizers, minerals, petroleum, construction

Geologic Resources Mineral Resources: metals, fertilizers, minerals, petroleum, construction Water resources: Lakes, Rivers, Springs, Groundwater

Geologic Resources Mineral Resources: e.g., Metals, fertilizers, minerals, petroleum, construction Water resources: e.g., Lakes, Rivers, Springs, Groundwater Energy: e.g., Oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, silicon, hydroelectric (dams), hydrothermal (Earth’s heat)

The Geologist’s Job Locating and Characterizing quantity and quality of geologic resources Extracting geologic resources efficiently Assessing environmental effects of extraction and use Geologic Resources

E.g., Misuse of Resources

Misuse of Resources Desiccation of the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan See Page Aral Sea Over Time

Environmental Geology Environmental Sciences: How we influence the earth Geologic Hazards: How geology influences us

Geology in the News Two die in 6.5 magnitude Earthquake near San Lois Obispo California Earthquake triggers mudslides Geologic Hazards San Andreas Fault

Assessing Risk “Major Quake Likely to Strike San Francisco Bay Region Between 2003 and 2032” Assessing Risks Avoiding Risks Preventing Damage Predicting Impact Geologic Hazards (

Earthquake Bam, Iran A Magnitude 6.5 Earthquake hits a stone- and mud- house city of 100,000 in Iran ,000 Dead 30,000 Refugees US sends aid and releases sanctions Relations improved Photos from AP

Geological Hazards Volcanoes (pg. 108) Landslides (see pg. 250) Earthquakes (pg. 202) Floods (see pgs., 284)

Geology in Engineering Slope Failure Risk Assessment and Control To prevent slope failure engineers must understand the geology that forms and controls the slope

Geology in Engineering

Committee member John Burland, an engineer, promoted soil extraction as the best way to save the tower. In Pisa the tilted one is back in business after an 11-year effort to keep it from collapsing The Leaning Tower Straightens Up Engineers use knowledge of geology to design, protect and correct structures