Is geological engineering equal to geotechnical engineering?

(1) engineering geology (geological engineering)

In China, engineering geology is a traditional specialty, which involves and permeates a series of industries such as water conservancy, energy, transportation, construction, marine ports and coasts, agricultural irrigation, ecological protection and so on. It can be said that professional development and technical level are closely related to the development of national economy. The Three Gorges Dam is a testing ground. It is estimated that a number of experts in survey, landslide, structure, hydrogeology, environmental geology and earthquake have emerged from this project. It can be said that the engineering geologists of large-scale design, survey and construction units have long relied on the units. Address all impacts of interaction with soil, groundwater, rocks and environment around the project area. It can be said that the burden is on the shoulders.

(2) Geotechnical engineering

Geotechnical engineering is an independent specialty that has only emerged in recent years. In the past, it was a small branch of engineering geology, and some engineering geologists were changed to specialize in urban building foundation investigation, and cooperated with geophysical exploration for pile foundation monitoring and testing. The investigation content and scope of work are relatively simple. It can be said that an excellent engineering geologist can become a competent geotechnical engineering survey technician.

However, in the process of professional development in recent years, especially the opening of civil engineering specialty, it has laid a solid foundation for geotechnical engineering to become an independent specialty. Now there are very popular registered geotechnical engineers. In addition to the basic knowledge of soil mechanics, rock mechanics and experiments, elastic mechanics, structural mechanics, material mechanics and basic engineering design are required in the discipline, which is obviously difficult for the previous engineering geology specialty to accommodate. Although some engineering geology majors also study the three major mechanics, they are not the key points, and they are only superficial without combining engineering design. Geotechnical engineers should have more design knowledge and be able to design simple structures than engineering geologists.

The current situation in China is that geotechnical engineering is mainly concentrated in the construction industry, while engineering geology occupies most other industries except construction. It has not yet formed a direct threat to engineering geology, but it has formed a strong impact. Especially the qualification examination system for registered geotechnical engineers.

(3) the difference between rock and soil and geology

Domestic differences:

Division of labor: Rock and soil are mainly concentrated in the construction industry or soft foundation, taking root in cities; Geology covers a wide range, involving almost all industries, such as water conservancy, railways and highways, ports and coasts, environmental management, groundwater, construction, electric power, agriculture, forestry and so on. At present, the two majors permeate each other.

Difference in number of people: the number of people engaged in engineering geology is dozens or hundreds of times that of geotechnical engineering. . . Many geotechnical engineers are transferred by geological engineers.

Title status: the status is equivalent, which is related to the specific professional settings of each unit.

Foreign differences

In foreign countries, it is relatively simple. If there is no geological engineer, it is called a geologist [,and of course surveying and mapping is also called a surveyor [. It has no professional title and its status is very low. For example, a survey company has geologists and geotechnical engineers. What is the difference?

Geologists are engaged in the collection and cataloging of field geotechnical data, not participating in data analysis and report writing, but directly responsible to the geotechnical engineer in charge of the project. Geotechnical personnel carry out survey organization planning, data analysis, parameter extraction, report writing and direct contact design. Obviously, the salary and grade are different, and my personal experience is not wrong.

Of course, this has something to do with the division of labor and professional structure. Foreign geologists generally study rocks and minerals, not engineering geology. No wonder! Similarly, if you study engineering geology, you can get the qualification of geotechnical engineer after practice and examination. I also have many such friends and experts. Of course, there are also geotechnical engineering majors now, and it is straightforward to directly participate in geotechnical engineering survey and design after graduation.