Engineering geologists are increasingly involved in major infrastructure developments. In the near future, new sensors and computer programs will even enable builders to undertake virtual tours of the subsurface they wish to build in, according to Professor Keith Turner.
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‘We can save 700 lire by not taking soil tests,’ reads the caption to a cartoon about the leaning tower of Pisa. The tower is the most famous failure of people who have refused to accept the need for subsurface exploration, according to Keith Turner, Professor of Engineering Geology, who delivered his inaugural speech at TU Delft last week.
To reduce the tilt of the leaning tower of Pisa, which is in danger of collapsing, geotechnical experts are currently using a concept that was first proposed for the Nijland church, by Albertus Hokwerde, a simple Dutch labourer, in 1866. The municipal authorities accepted Hokwerde’s proposal, and he proceeded to remove clay from under the ‘high’ side of the church tower, until it settled in an upright position. Hokwerde’s reward for his groundbreaking idea? A lifetime pension.
Turner also cited a Delft example: ‘For years I’ve accepted the commonly held belief that the tower on the Old Church leans because it was founded on cow hides, which I suppose we all assumed was a medieval version of the modern practice of using geotextiles as ground reinforcement. However, I now have it on good authority that the cow hide theory is wrong, apparently due to a misunderstanding concerning definitions. The foundation is in fact a series of short spreading tree-like piles, but somehow this was interpreted as the use of cowhides.’
Games
Engineering construction dates to the dawn of civilization. In contrast, geology has only existed in its modern form for about 250 years; although, for millennia, individuals with knowledge of rock and soil conditions have offered counsel on excavations, site conditions and construction materials.
Today, with a dozen major tunnel projects under construction or planned for completion in the Netherlands by 2015, Turner is certain that this time, the involvement of engineering geologist will be more widely sought and accepted.’
‘Recent trends in computing offer the potential for huge improvements in the way we analyze and manage our data. If computers, like the new Sony Playstation 2, can provide photorealism in 3-D games, why can’t we use this technology to travel through our data and undertake virtual tours of the subsurface we wish to build in? The race toward further miniaturization will soon offer us a whole range of very cheap and very small sensors, which we can implant in the ground to gain much better data about the subsurface.’
‘I chose Delft because all the infrastructure developments in the Netherlands allow you to do very interesting research projects,” explains Turner, who is originally from Canada. ‘I’ve been coming to Delft once or twice a year since 1988, when I did my sabbatical at the ground water group, TNO.’
Turner is also a professor at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in the United States: ‘For the next three years, CSM has rented me to TU Delft for half of my time. CSM’s new director wants to increase the number of students who go abroad from 10 to 50%, and that’s one reason why they let me apply to TU Delft.’
Working at two universities makes it easier for Turner to improve cooperation between the universities: ‘We’d like to make classes more similar at both universities and we’re also discussing using common materials and starting joint courses.’ Moreover, Turner is working on a new international MSc course in engineering geology, which is a joint project between TU Delft and the International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC).
How is it possible to have two jobs, one in Europe and one in the States? ‘You don’t sleep much, and at both universities I have tight teaching schedules. I’m on the move every six to eight weeks, which is, coincidentally perhaps, about as long as my wife allows me to stay in Europe.’
Engineering geologists are increasingly involved in major infrastructure developments. In the near future, new sensors and computer programs will even enable builders to undertake virtual tours of the subsurface they wish to build in, according to Professor Keith Turner.
‘We can save 700 lire by not taking soil tests,’ reads the caption to a cartoon about the leaning tower of Pisa. The tower is the most famous failure of people who have refused to accept the need for subsurface exploration, according to Keith Turner, Professor of Engineering Geology, who delivered his inaugural speech at TU Delft last week.
To reduce the tilt of the leaning tower of Pisa, which is in danger of collapsing, geotechnical experts are currently using a concept that was first proposed for the Nijland church, by Albertus Hokwerde, a simple Dutch labourer, in 1866. The municipal authorities accepted Hokwerde’s proposal, and he proceeded to remove clay from under the ‘high’ side of the church tower, until it settled in an upright position. Hokwerde’s reward for his groundbreaking idea? A lifetime pension.
Turner also cited a Delft example: ‘For years I’ve accepted the commonly held belief that the tower on the Old Church leans because it was founded on cow hides, which I suppose we all assumed was a medieval version of the modern practice of using geotextiles as ground reinforcement. However, I now have it on good authority that the cow hide theory is wrong, apparently due to a misunderstanding concerning definitions. The foundation is in fact a series of short spreading tree-like piles, but somehow this was interpreted as the use of cowhides.’
Games
Engineering construction dates to the dawn of civilization. In contrast, geology has only existed in its modern form for about 250 years; although, for millennia, individuals with knowledge of rock and soil conditions have offered counsel on excavations, site conditions and construction materials.
Today, with a dozen major tunnel projects under construction or planned for completion in the Netherlands by 2015, Turner is certain that this time, the involvement of engineering geologist will be more widely sought and accepted.’
‘Recent trends in computing offer the potential for huge improvements in the way we analyze and manage our data. If computers, like the new Sony Playstation 2, can provide photorealism in 3-D games, why can’t we use this technology to travel through our data and undertake virtual tours of the subsurface we wish to build in? The race toward further miniaturization will soon offer us a whole range of very cheap and very small sensors, which we can implant in the ground to gain much better data about the subsurface.’
‘I chose Delft because all the infrastructure developments in the Netherlands allow you to do very interesting research projects,” explains Turner, who is originally from Canada. ‘I’ve been coming to Delft once or twice a year since 1988, when I did my sabbatical at the ground water group, TNO.’
Turner is also a professor at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in the United States: ‘For the next three years, CSM has rented me to TU Delft for half of my time. CSM’s new director wants to increase the number of students who go abroad from 10 to 50%, and that’s one reason why they let me apply to TU Delft.’
Working at two universities makes it easier for Turner to improve cooperation between the universities: ‘We’d like to make classes more similar at both universities and we’re also discussing using common materials and starting joint courses.’ Moreover, Turner is working on a new international MSc course in engineering geology, which is a joint project between TU Delft and the International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC).
How is it possible to have two jobs, one in Europe and one in the States? ‘You don’t sleep much, and at both universities I have tight teaching schedules. I’m on the move every six to eight weeks, which is, coincidentally perhaps, about as long as my wife allows me to stay in Europe.’
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