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Book review |
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Professor Bell has been a leading teacher, author and exponent of engineering geology for more than 35 years and this book reflects that wealth of experience. This is a book packed full of details that only a true ‘hands on’ engineering geologist would be conversant with. As such the book forms an excellent source of material for practitioners and those training at post-graduate level to become engineering and environmental geologists. It should also be a reference manual for those undergraduate geology and environmental science degrees that still include engineering geology in the curriculum.
The book is divided into 11 chapters, each one being worthy of a book in its own right. After an initial introduction into basic geology the book goes on to cover: geology and planning; natural hazards; water resources; soil and the environment; mining and the environment; waste, contamination and the environment; land evaluation and site assessment; engineering aspects of soils and rocks; geology and construction materials; geology and construction. The format is totally logical and sections within chapters deal with every aspect of the topic that you would expect. For example, Chapter 8 on land evaluation and site assessment covers: remote sensing; photogeology; site investigation; geophysical exploration; and in situ testing. Similarly, Chapter 11 on geology and construction has sections on: open excavation; tunnels and tunnelling; shafts and raises; underground caverns; highways; embankments; railroads; bridges; and foundations for buildings. All these sections are written in a lucid but learned style that conveys the experience behind the work.
