Geotechnical

Geotechnical engineering is involved in every project: there is no structure that doesn’t have some sort of foundation. The ultimate aim is to design a foundation that’s safe or a slope that’s stable. Dealing with the ground and soils means it’s always possible that something unforeseen might crop up. Data is often of variable quality or insufficient quantity, so it’s essential to use your judgement and be able to reevaluate.

Graduate employers in geotechnical engineering

Site investigation contractors design and oversee the ground investigation processes to acquire borehole and field data. Specialist consultants use and analyse that data to design the structure and foundations. Finally, construction contractors implement the designs on the ground. There are many small geotechnical companies, and most large consultants have geotechnical departments.

Starting out in geotechnical engineering

In a contracting organisation, graduates will work on site investigations, logging soil and rock cores and doing interpretive reports. They will progress to running the shift, and then to site management. In consulting, graduates may review data, draw up parameter plots and run data analyses under guidance, and will progress to working more autonomously. Most large companies work internationally and developments such as those in the Middle East mean there's plenty of scope for travel.

The geotechnical trends that all graduate candidates should know

There has been an increasing use of geographical information systems for site visualisation. Geotechnical engineering plays a key role in projects such as the Jubilee Line extension and Crossrail, as well as in wind farm developments where the structures are very sensitive to foundation stiffness. Skyscrapers are becoming so tall that their weight could crush the rock below, so engineers are looking for geotechnical solutions.

Requirements for a graduate career in geotechnics

• A degree in geotechnical or civil engineering, engineering geology, or geology.
• Report-writing and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Problem-solving ability, initiative, self-reliance and motivation.

Working life for geotechnical engineers

The uncertainties involved mean there are always challenges. Clients always want to build something bigger or higher or stronger – and geotechnical engineers have to work out how. It can be frustrating to have a short time frame on an interesting project, but you just have to do the best job that can be done in the time available.

Tim Carrington, CEng MICE, is manager of geotechnics at  Fugro GeoConsulting Limited. He has an MA in engineering science (specialising in civil engineering) from the University of Cambridge (1988) and has 21 years’ experience in the sector.