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Research in Engineering Education Symposium 2011 - rees2009

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Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) Pág<strong>in</strong>a 508 de 957<br />

Geology is the application of the pr<strong>in</strong>ciples and methods of Geology to Civil Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />

needs.<br />

Context and background<br />

The eng<strong>in</strong>eer is required to have the follow<strong>in</strong>g skills:<br />

1. Eng<strong>in</strong>eer must have a sufficient theoretical knowledge so that they can be applied<br />

to solve specific problems, the capacity of criterion to simplify these one, and<br />

tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to account factors such as speed, simplicity, quality and economy.<br />

2. Eng<strong>in</strong>eer must take advantage of pre-exist<strong>in</strong>g data, know where they are, how to<br />

f<strong>in</strong>d them, how to select them and avoid<strong>in</strong>g repetitions.<br />

3. Eng<strong>in</strong>eer must get sufficient skills <strong>in</strong> order to analyze and asses sample of data or<br />

results, with regards to reality and, f<strong>in</strong>ally, reach a satisfactory resolution.<br />

4. Eng<strong>in</strong>eer must f<strong>in</strong>d solutions, although they are approximate but always<br />

successful.<br />

But Geology has another object. His ultimate goal is the exploration of the history of the<br />

geological events through observation, deduction and reason<strong>in</strong>g and, <strong>in</strong> exceptional cases<br />

by direct underground exploration or experimentation. Experimentation is very limited <strong>in</strong><br />

Geology; reproduction <strong>in</strong> the laboratory of certa<strong>in</strong> phenomena or processes geological,<br />

among other th<strong>in</strong>gs is difficult because both the time and space acquire a great magnitude.<br />

For this reason, some aspects of the Geology are close to descriptive sciences, whereas<br />

others, closer to techniques, such as geophysics and geochemistry, have assimilated<br />

advances experienced by the physics and chemistry.<br />

Geology is studied <strong>in</strong> all about Civil Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g. We believe that the eng<strong>in</strong>eer should have<br />

a general but no detailed geological formation. Attention will focus on those aspects of the<br />

Geology which are full of particular practical importance to the Civil Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g: External<br />

Geodynamics, Structural Geology, Petrology or Stratigraphy.<br />

<strong>Research</strong> questions<br />

Work shows a new methodology to teach and learn Applied Geology attend<strong>in</strong>g particular<br />

circumstances mentioned: teamwork, Applied Geology like practical subject, teachers and<br />

students.<br />

The teamwork of the civil eng<strong>in</strong>eer<br />

The eng<strong>in</strong>eer has to know how to use the services of specialists, <strong>in</strong> our case a geologist<br />

specialist. And, generally speak<strong>in</strong>g, teamwork: geologist-eng<strong>in</strong>eer <strong>in</strong> coord<strong>in</strong>ation.<br />

Geologist analyzes the conditions as they are, and the eng<strong>in</strong>eer considers the conditions<br />

can be changed so that they will serve for a certa<strong>in</strong> purpose, i.e. to overcome the<br />

difficulties that the geologist he predicts. Geologists should take <strong>in</strong>to account that what the<br />

civil eng<strong>in</strong>eer needs not a complete geological survey, but enough <strong>in</strong>formation to be sure<br />

about terra<strong>in</strong> expected conditions: lithostratigraphy, pla<strong>in</strong> language, separation of real<br />

issues from <strong>in</strong>terpretable ones, etc.<br />

Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs of <strong>Research</strong> <strong>in</strong> Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />

Madrid, 4 th - 7 th October <strong>2011</strong>

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