CORE OBJECTIVES

1. Develop a Strong Understanding of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Properties

• – Soil Mechanics: Teach students the principles of soil mechanics, focusing on soil classification, compaction, permeability, shear strength, and consolidation. These concepts are essential for understanding soil behavior under load and for designing safe and effective geotechnical solutions.
• – Soil-Structure Interaction: Equip students with knowledge on how soils interact with foundations and structures, including stress distribution, settlement analysis, and the behavior of different types of soil under various loading conditions.
• – Advanced Soil Testing: Provide students with the skills to conduct advanced soil tests, including triaxial tests, consolidation tests, and permeability tests, to assess the physical and mechanical properties of soil for engineering design.

2. Advance Expertise in Foundation Design and Analysis

• – Shallow Foundations: Teach students how to design and analyze shallow foundations, including spread footings, mat foundations, and slab-on-grade systems, ensuring stability, settlement control, and load distribution.
• – Deep Foundations: Provide knowledge on the design and analysis of deep foundations, such as piles and caissons, used in situations where shallow foundations are not feasible due to poor soil conditions or high load requirements.
• – Ground Improvement Techniques: Equip students with techniques for improving soil properties, including soil stabilization, grouting, and soil compaction, to enhance the performance of foundations and reduce settlement in challenging soil conditions.

3. Enhance Expertise in Slope Stability and Excavation Design

• – Slope Stability Analysis: Teach students the principles of slope stability, focusing on the factors affecting the stability of natural and man-made slopes, including soil properties, groundwater conditions, and external loads.
• – Excavation and Earthworks: Provide students with knowledge of excavation techniques, including soil retention methods, shoring systems, and dewatering techniques, to ensure the safety and stability of excavations in both urban and rural construction sites.
• – Landslide and Erosion Control: Teach students how to design and implement systems to control landslides, erosion, and soil erosion on slopes, improving safety in construction and natural landscapes.

4. Promote Understanding of Geotechnical Site Investigations and Characterization

• – Site Investigation Techniques: Equip students with the knowledge of various site investigation methods, including borehole drilling, cone penetration testing (CPT), and geophysical surveys, to obtain essential data about subsurface conditions.
• – Geotechnical Data Interpretation: Teach students how to interpret data from site investigations and laboratory tests, and how to use this data to create geotechnical reports that inform the design of foundations, slopes, and other earthworks.
• – Geotechnical Risk Assessment: Introduce students to the principles of geotechnical risk assessment, including identifying potential risks such as ground instability, water table fluctuations, and seismic activity, and incorporating these risks into engineering designs.

5. Understand the Effects of Environmental Factors on Geotechnical Design

• – Groundwater and Soil Interaction: Provide students with knowledge on the effects of groundwater on soil behavior and the design of foundations, including concepts such as buoyancy, seepage, and pore pressure.
• – Seismic Hazard Assessment: Teach students how to assess and account for seismic hazards in geotechnical design, including evaluating soil liquefaction potential, lateral spreading, and ground shaking impacts on structures and foundations.
• – Climate Change and Geotechnical Engineering: Equip students with knowledge on the impact of climate change on geotechnical systems, such as changes in groundwater levels, soil shrinkage, and frost heave, and how to adapt geotechnical designs to address these challenges.

6. Advance Skills in Geotechnical Engineering Software and Computational Methods

• – Finite Element Analysis (FEA): Teach students how to use finite element analysis tools to simulate soil-structure interactions, analyze stress distribution, and predict settlement in complex geotechnical systems.
• – Geotechnical Software: Provide hands-on training with industry-standard geotechnical software such as PLAXIS, GeoStudio, and Settle3D to model and analyze geotechnical systems, including foundations, slopes, and earthworks.
• – Numerical Methods in Geotechnics: Equip students with knowledge of numerical methods, including the use of finite difference and boundary element methods, to solve geotechnical engineering problems.

7. Promote Sustainable Practices in Geotechnical Engineering

• – Sustainable Foundation Design: Teach students how to design foundations and earthworks that minimize environmental impact, including the use of recycled materials, energy-efficient designs, and minimizing excavation and soil disturbance.
• – Groundwater Management: Provide knowledge on sustainable groundwater management practices, including dewatering techniques, and the use of groundwater for irrigation or industrial purposes in a way that minimizes ecological disruption.
• – Green Building Practices: Equip students with an understanding of green building standards such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and how geotechnical engineering can contribute to environmentally sustainable construction projects.

8. Strengthen Knowledge of Geotechnical Engineering Standards and Regulations

• – Construction Codes and Standards: Teach students about the various national and international construction codes and geotechnical engineering standards (e.g., AISC, ASTM, ISO), ensuring that designs meet regulatory requirements and safety standards.
• – Geotechnical Quality Assurance: Equip students with the skills to implement quality control and assurance systems for geotechnical projects, ensuring that materials, designs, and construction methods meet specified standards.
• – Geotechnical Legal and Ethical Issues: Provide students with an understanding of legal and ethical considerations in geotechnical engineering, including professional responsibilities, liability, and environmental regulations.

9. Enhance Communication, Leadership, and Project Management Skills

• – Geotechnical Project Management: Teach students how to manage geotechnical engineering projects, including resource planning, scheduling, budgeting, and coordination with other engineering disciplines.
• – Technical Communication: Equip students with the ability to communicate complex geotechnical information effectively to clients, contractors, and regulatory authorities through reports, presentations, and technical documentation.
• – Leadership and Collaboration: Develop leadership and teamwork skills for students to effectively lead multidisciplinary teams, work with clients, and collaborate with civil, structural, and environmental engineers on large-scale construction projects.

10. Encourage Research and Innovation in Geotechnical Engineering

• – Geotechnical Research: Encourage students to participate in research that advances the field of geotechnical engineering, including new techniques for soil testing, foundation design, and environmental impact assessment.
• – Innovative Ground Improvement Methods: Teach students to explore and develop innovative ground improvement techniques, such as deep mixing, bioremediation, and the use of advanced geosynthetics for soil stabilization.
• – Emerging Technologies: Introduce students to emerging technologies in geotechnical engineering, including remote sensing, drones, and artificial intelligence (AI) for soil and structure monitoring, predictive analysis, and design optimization.

11. Prepare Students for Career Readiness and Professional Development

• – Internships and Practical Experience: Offer students opportunities for internships and hands-on field experience in geotechnical engineering, providing them with real-world insights and practical skills for their careers.
• – Professional Certification and Licensure: Guide students through obtaining relevant professional certifications such as Chartered Engineer (CEng), Geotechnical Professional Engineer (PE), or Geo-technical Specialist certification to enhance their career prospects.
• – Networking and Career Services: Provide networking opportunities with professionals in geotechnical engineering and related fields, as well as career counseling and job placement support to help students transition into the workforce.

12. Foster Lifelong Learning and Continuous Improvement

• – Commitment to Lifelong Learning: Instill a mindset of lifelong learning, encouraging students to keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in geotechnical engineering.
• – Adaptability and Innovation: Prepare students to adapt to evolving challenges in the geotechnical field, encouraging them to innovate and apply new methods, materials, and technologies to solve complex geotechnical problems.