An engineering geologist studies the geological characteristics of an area before any alterations are made, ensuring that planned developments do not negatively impact the environment or structural soundness. They hold a bachelor’s degree in geology and specialize in protecting land and people by solving complex problems.
An engineering geologist is someone who studied geology and is now applying that education to ensure that natural geological factors are considered when planning a new building or developed site. This is important work as it ensures that the planned building will not have an excessively negative impact on the surrounding area. At the same time, the engineering geologist also decides if there are any geological concerns in the building area that could affect the structural soundness of the building itself.
The most common degree for an engineering geologist is a bachelor’s degree in geology. This four-year program prepares a geologist for their future career, often giving them a lot of practical work at the same time. Upon graduation, an engineering geologist can work in any number of specialties.
To understand what an engineering geologist is, it is important to understand what an engineering geologist does. One of the most important tasks is to carry out studies on the geological characteristics of an area before any of them are altered, both for a building and for the development of a site. These changes could include mining, the introduction of a power plant or wind turbines, waterfront development or habitat restoration programs. The last item, restore programs, is especially important. If a company can destroy habitat for wildlife, it is almost always necessary to create similar habitat nearby to minimize the impact on the environment.
Engineering geologists also scan areas for geological features that could be detrimental to planned developments and look for ways around these potential problems. Examples of potential problems include landslides, frequent earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes, erosion and a tendency towards flooding. In these cases, the geologist would determine how likely the feature is to be a problem and then check to see if there is any way to avoid potential problems. These suggestions would be presented to the company interested in developing the site.
The job of an engineering geologist varies, depending on her specialty. There are many different things she can do. She is responsible for protecting the land being developed and also for protecting the people who will use the development by ensuring the site is secure. This is a very important job and cannot be done by anyone. A dedication to safety is what makes a geologist good at their job, along with a mind for numbers, attention to detail and the ability to solve problems even in difficult conditions. Engineering geologists are specially trained to deal with all of these situations and know how to solve many of the toughest problems.
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