Geotechnical engineers perform a variety of job duties that include informing clients about the suitability of a construction site.
Geotechnical engineers are usually employed within the area of civil engineering, and they help with the construction of dams, landfills, embankments and tunnels. Geotechnical engineers specialize in soil evaluation to determine the suitability of a particular area for the purpose of construction. Surveying areas for sinkholes or earthquakes, creating computer-generated models, analyzing slope stability and engaging in lab work are some of the tasks that geotechnical engineers perform during a typical work day.
Senior Engineers
Senior geotechnical engineers are individuals who are in charge of directing project and staff engineers and geotechnical explorations. Senior engineers will assist with basic duties such as performing boring layout and classifying soils, but their primary responsibilities consist of supervising lab testing and writing reports and cost proposals while keeping clients informed about the progress of a particular project. They also monitor the progress and performance of geotechnical engineers and field technicians on the worksite.
Geotechnical Engineers
Geotechnical engineers are responsible for integrating field observations and laboratory data to determine the quality of soil within a particular area. Collecting and analyzing soil and evaluating a site's stability are the most important aspect of the geotechnical engineer's job. Engineers must also carry out calculations and make recommendations for pile and shallow foundation design, settlement, vibro ground improvement and slope stability. Ensuring that a foundation is capable of bearing the load of a particular structure is an important part of the construction process, and this is but one reason why geotechnical engineers must perform soil analysis and testing. Other tasks assigned to geotechnical engineers include determining if a site has the potential to create a sinkhole or if the area is located within a fault zone.
Working Sites
Geotechnical engineers work with government, commercial, industrial and private organizations and developers to assist with projects such as highways, bridges, dams, tunnels, tanks, public infrastructure improvement, manufacturing facilities and commercial and residential development. Geotechnical engineers aid senior engineers with the development of reports and laboratory data that informs clients about the suitability of a building site. They inform senior management and clients about development costs and make them aware of any potential problems that might occur during the construction process.
Instruments and Equipment
Instruments such as inclinometers, piezometers and settlement monitoring devices are some of the tools that geotechnical engineers work with to perform their engineering duties. Geotechnical engineers are given the task of inspecting drills before they begin to explore a particular work site to test soil quality. They also are responsible for setting up instruments for the purpose of collecting soil samples. Engineers must be computer literate and have these skills to aid them in their job. For instance, a geotechnical engineer can design models that show the direction of storm water runoff within an area and how an environment will change once a construction project is complete using specialized software.
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