Geotechniques is an engineering discipline that involves the assessment of slope stability, risk of landslides, avalanches, etc. Hence, you can consider it as a discipline that is primarily concerned with the study of soil and rock behavior. As a geotechnical engineer, you need to handle the task of profiling the soil and its deforming capabilities.
This is a field under civil engineering and it can be further classified based on specialization in soil and rock mechanics, hydrogeology, geophysics, etc. Various engineering principles and techniques are used to understand the physical properties of the soil and it is essential before the construction of buildings, malls, etc.
In addition to that this field of study also finds its applications in mining, military, petroleum industry, etc. Thus we see that there is a significant need for geotechnical engineers in our day-to-day lives.
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Responsibilities of a geotechnical engineer:
Now we will try and understand some of the key skills that a geotechnical engineer needs to possess. Generally, people who are adept in geotechnical engineering assess the quality of the soil and minerals present. They help in designing the project with the help of their assessments.
Their key responsibilities are:
- Gathering the data on-site and analyzing it.
- To understand the impact of environmental hazards on the project and to think of ways to mitigate them.
- Working as an advisor on the methods and materials for the construction of the project.
- The person also has the responsibility to use the various computer software. They do this for the construction of 2D and 3D models.
- Taking help of geological maps and aerial photographs to understand and arrive at conclusions.
- Providing assistance with the designing of built structures with the help of mathematical models and computational tools.
- Planning and supervising various drilling operations to extract the samples from the bedrock and analyzing them further to derive solutions.
Another important aspect of the geotechnical engineering course is environmental impact assessment. It is the science of studying the impact of a man-made project on the immediate environment over a period of time. You can derive its significance from the fact that man-kind is constructing huge structures on forest and agricultural lands. Some of these projects can lead to the significant degradation of the environment. Thus, you need to treat it with environment-friendly mitigation techniques.
How To Become A Geotechnical Engineer?
To become a geotechnical engineer, one needs to have a bachelor’s degree in geotechnical engineering. It is also common for civil engineers to specialize in geotechnical engineering at the postgraduate level based on their interests and opportunities. Here we have made a list of some of the most prominent universities which provide this course:
- Monash University
- University of Sydney
- Curtin University
- RMIT university
- University of Western Australia
These universities provide comprehensive courses which prepare oneself for a complete theoretical and practical understanding of the subject. It will prepare you for the day-to-day challenges in the field of geotechnical engineering.
Salary of a Geotechnical Engineer:
As is applicable in most fields the amount of salary increases with an increase in inexperience in the field. Similarly, a fresher can expect to earn from 20-25k dollars. However, an experienced geotechnical engineer can receive a salary of 32-60k dollars. These figures are as per a survey in 2019.
Conclusion:
This article provides you with an outlook on geotechnical engineering.
Moreover, the geotechnical engineering field is steadily growing. Moreover, you can expect it to grow by 11% by 2024. This is quite significant. Thus, people who are interested in studying the various features of soli and rocks and contributing significantly to society and development can think of it as a prospective career. Therefore, if these things capture your interest, consider studying geotechnical engineering.
