Chapter -5 Engineering Geological Mapping

• It is the type of geological map that provides

geological environment that has significance in land
use planning, design, construction and maintenance of
civil and mining engineering works
• The engineering geological map must be fulfill the
following requirements:
1. It must be provide the important information that use
to evaluate the engineering geological features that
suitable both for site selection and construction.
2. Foresee the possible geological changes by the
proposed project and suggest any preventive
measures.
3. The information it provide must be easy to
understand by non geologic professional users.
Engineering Geological Map Of Addis Ababa
Features Represented on Engineering
Geological Map
1. Rocks and Soil characteristics: based on this
• The boundary between rocks and soils strata can be
demarcated.
• Rocks and soils can be classified based on theirs
mineralogical composition, textures, structures, degree of
weathering and alteration, engineering and physical
properties and etc.
2. Hydrogeological conditions of the site:
• The hydrogeological condition of the site can affect the
land use planning, site selection, cost of the project,
durability and safety of the structure
• It also facilitate the dynamic activities of the site such as
rate of weathering, slope movement and others.
Engineering Geological Map of Ayat to Mexico Railway route
• Therefore the following information about the
hydrogeological condition of the site must be
mapped on the engineering geological map:
• The distribution of surface and subsurface water
• The infiltration and water content of the site
• The direction and velocity of ground water condition
• Spring, rivers and water bearing horizons of the site
are mapped
• Depth of groundwater table and its fluctuation
• Regions of confinement water and piezometric levels
are mapped
• Hydrochemical properties such as Ph, salinity and
corrosiveness are mapped.
3. Geomorphological condition of the site:
• It is helpful to determine the historical landscape
condition of the sit such as valley condition, slope
configuration and others.
• It also influence the hydrological and geodynamic
condition of the site.
4. Geodynamic phenomena of the site:
• It show the alteration and depositional condition
of the rocks and soils of the site.
• Slope movement, volumetric change of the soil,
Kahrastification condition, seismic and volcanic
condition of the site can be described.
 Equipments for mapping
• Normal equipment for mapping includes a
topographical map of the area, a map case, soft
pencils, compass, clinometer, pocket binoculars and
hammer.
• A hammer head weighing about 0.5 kg is usually
sufficient and is made from forged steel so as not to
splinter when breaking hard rock (suitable geological
hammers can be purchased).
• The clinometer is used for measuring the dip of
surfaces such as bedding and cleavage; it may be a
separate instrument, as shown in Fig. 12.8, or
incorporated in the compass (as in a Brunton
compass). In its simplest form it consists of a
plummet which hangs vertically against a scale,
Brunten compass
 Types of engineering geological Map
Engineering geological map can be classified in
different classes based on different criteria.
A. Based on their purpose
1. Special purpose map: it is the engineering
geological map that prepared for the specific
purpose
– E.g. -engineering geological map for dam site
– engineering geological map of slope stability
2. Multi purpose map: it is the engineering geological
map that use for the variety of engineering work
– E.G engineering geological map that show hydrological
condition or seismic condition of the site
Special purpose map
B. Based on theirs content
1. Analytical map: it evaluate the individual
geological environment.
• Theirs content expressed in the title
E.g. weathering grade map, jointing map, seismic
hazards map and etc
2. Comprehensive map:
• The map that show all principal engineering
geological components and the map that evaluate
engineering geological environment by classifying
them according to their uniformity.
3. Auxiliary map: it show about the actual
documentation of the site
Analytical Map
4. Complementary map: it show the geological
map, tectonic map, geomorphological map,
geophysical map and hydrogeological map.
C. Based on theirs scale
1. Large scale map: its scale must be 1:10,000 or
greater than this
2. Medium scale map: its scale must be less than
1:10,000 and greater than 1:100,000
3. Small scale map: its scale must be 1:100,000 or
less than this
• The content and detail information
needed on the engineering geological map
are determined by the purpose and the
scale of the map.
• Different scale of engineering geological
map is design to solve different kinds of
problems.
Engineering Geological Map Cross
Section
• It is one of the necessary feature of engineering
geological map.
• The methods to develop engineering geological
cross section is the same as other types geological
cross sections.
• The numbers and direction of cross section depend
on the geomorphology and geological structures of
the site.
• One of the best means to represent the engineering
geological map cross section is using the fence
diagram which show the 3-dimentional condition of
the subsurface of the site.
Typical Fence Diagram