Welcome to UBC Geological Engineering

GeologicalEngineering

UBCNatural Hazards Management

Accelerated economic development in response to general population growth, has led to the increased vulnerability of our communities and infrastructure to natural hazards. Difficult decisions need to be made regarding the risks of natural hazards like earthquakes, landslides and floods. Geological Engineers play a key role in quantifying such risks and devising suitable remedial strategies.

Life Lines

Building and maintenance of roads, railways, airports, transmission lines and pipelines in the challenging terrains of Canada require an enormous amount of expert input from Geological Engineers. These needs are ever-increasing as our communities expand and standards for safety, reliability and capacity increase.

Water

Clean, safe drinking water is an essential human right. Geological Engineers help evaluate, regulate and protect the quality and quantity of surface and groundwater, ensuring the reliability and sustainability of water resources. Geological Engineers are active in the design of hydroelectric and water supply dams, dikes to protect against flooding, and protective structures to prevent erosion along our shorelines.

Energy

Canada continues to strive to meet its energy needs. Energy is essential for heating, transportation, manufacturing, and most other aspects of our life. Geological Engineers are extensively involved in multi-billion dollar exploration and extraction programmes to find and develop more resources. These include oil and gas, uranium, coal and geothermal energy.

Geological Engineering

Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

The University of British Columbia 2020-2207 Main Mall Vancouver,BC Canada V6T 1Z4

Careers in Geological EngineeringThe versatility of a Geological Engineering degree means that our graduates are in high demand and have a wide selection of career opportunities to choose from, as well as possibilities for further post-graduate studies.

Infrastructure

Geological Engineering services are in great demand by Canada’s construction industry. Geological Engineers make sure that the rock and soil foundations for our dams, high rises, bridges and tunnels are secure and stable. Often they interact with Civil Engineers in solving these geotechnical problems.

Environmental Protection

Protection of the environment is one of the greatest challenges facing today’s society. As new types of contaminants are produced, Geological Engineers are needed to develop new solutions to protect our clean water resources and safely treat toxic chemicals. Our graduates are increasingly sought after in our greening world.

Mining Geotech

Mining is one of Canada’s largest industries, with Vancouver serving as a key centre for mining geotechnical engineering expertise. Geological Engineers are integrally involved in the search for new mineral deposits, as well as their extraction. Environmental issues connected with mining are also being addressed by Geological Engineers.

Welcome to UBC Geological Engineering

UBC Geological Engineering - Making a Difference: Students conducting a rockslide hazard investigation in

the Andes using state-of-the-art remote sensing tools.

UBC Geological Engineering - Making a Difference: Students installing a pumping well for

groundwater resource development.

Excellence in GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING What is Geological Engineering? It is a strong interdisciplinary field, which combines principles of geology, geomechanics, geotechnical engineering and hydrogeology, together with other fields like mining, geography and geophysics, to provide a versatile set of skills needed to solve a wide range of practical problems related to societal interactions with the earth environment.

UBC’s Geological Engineering program is a fully accredited engineering program that is highly regarded and internationally renowned for both its undergraduate teaching and graduate research.

Escape the OfficeOutdoor fieldwork is a strong component of what we do and teach, complemented by use of sophisticated computer analyses and interpretation back in the office. Careers in Geological Engineering present excellent opportunities for international travel.

Prospective StudentsGeological Engineers specialize in understanding the role geological processes play in the variability of engineering parameters, and how to manage the associated uncertainty and risk to produce designs that are responsive to societal needs - safe, economic and sustainable. The UBC Geological Engineering Program is designed to equip students with a broad set of skills, maintaining balance between scientific understanding and quantitative engineering approaches.

A thorough background in geology, mechanics and engineering design, and sufficient depth and breadth in the areas of earth & environmental sciences, economics, mathematics and social science will ensure that you will be able to work and communicate in an effective and responsible manner in helping meet the needs of society.

Research OpportunitiesWe offer many exciting graduate research opportunities, involving both applied and fundamental research, in a wide range of sub-disciplines including Hydrogeology, Environmental Hydrogeochemistry, Landslides, and Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering. Many of our projects are carried out on an international level, with studies being conducted in Canada and the U.S., Central and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. These projects are closely tied with industry partners to help address the numerous challenges they face, providing our graduates with rigorous training for successful careers in the private sector and/or academia.

Did You Know...The first Dean of Applied Science at UBC was a Geological Engineer, Reginald W. Brock. However, after the first UBC session in 1915/16 he left to serve overseas during WW I. Geological Engineering was then fully established as a degree program with his return in 1921.

GeoRoxThe Geological Engineering Student Club, GeoRox, is active in providing extracurricular opportunities for students enrolled in the program. These include industry outreach to provide students with networking opportunities and site visits to show common work environments. GeoRox also encourages community through social events and intramural sports.