Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference IGC-2014

December 18-20, 2014, Kakinada, India

STUDY OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING AND CHALLENGES

Rajesh Prasad Shukla, Research scholar, IIT Roorkee, shuklarajesh4687@gmail.com
Agrwal B.K., HOD, Deptt. of Civil Engg, Govt. Engg. College, Rewa (M.P.), bkagrawal3@rediffmail.com
Tiwari , R.P., Principal, Govt. Engg. College, Nowgong (M.P.), rajendra66@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT: Advancements in technology, researches and field techniques have taken place in the world and
India as well. Lots have been changed in the last five decades but study materials of geotechnical engineering are
still not revised and there is a lack of information on real challenges in field, new technology, recent researches and
case studies. Apart from study material and research, most Indian universities lack well developed laboratory, field
test apparatus, partnership with research laboratory, industries and professionals. Old teaching method using chalk
and talk is still the most preferred method but it has to be replaced by some advanced method of teaching. Studying
is not only meant to get information and degree form well reputed institution, its main aim is to understanding of
basic concepts, work environment and prepare for real challenges in field. The main challenges for our education
system are to incorporate the advancement in geotechnical with rapid growth in technology and research and
produce efficient engineers and teachers. This paper presents a review of various teaching methods in geotechnical
engineering and all other current issues and difficulty in geotechnical education with their appropriate solutions as
well. Authors conclude that huge changes are required in our study material as well as in teaching method and
evaluation system, so country can get maximum benefit from new upcoming graduates in field and academics as
well.

INTRODUCTION
Geotechnical engineering is a branch of civil
engineering which deals with the foundation
material, foundation, soil structure interaction and
a variety of other similar topics with the
application of mechanics of material, rock
mechanics, geophysics and hydraulic engineering.
Geotechnical engineering also uses concept of
mining engineering geology, and environmental
engineering [1]. It is a new and fast growing
branch of civil engineering. Geotechnical
engineering is somehow different from civil
engineering as; first there are only few codes and
design methodology available in literature and
mostly based on lots of assumptions and requires
field experiences and knowledge of other discipline
for
sound
and
better
judgments
[2].
Responsibilities of geotechnical engineers consist
of evaluation of field investigation, bearing
capacity evaluation, foundation design, soil
structure interaction evaluation, stability analysis,
earth pressure and retaining structure analysis,
geotechnical hazard susceptibility analysis,
seepage analysis and some other interdisciplinary
work as well.

In the last five decades advancements in

technology, research and field techniques have
been taken place all around the world. Many things
have been changed in geotechnical engineering in
last five decades. Lots of researches have been
done and various new techniques have been
evolved in the geotechnical engineering and some
of them are in use at field as well but new
geotechnical engineers are still facing great
difficulties as they are not aware of most of the
advancements. All these advancements have not
been incorporated in textbook and study material
[3]. Similarly teachers are using old chalk and
talk method for teaching and they are not able to
express concept and problems perfectly [4].
Students are far behind real world, and in the field
they are facing various problems as they do not
know about various new techniques which are in
use at field. New geotechnical engineers are not
able to produce the sound solution of real world
problems. Engineers and postgraduates graduates
have to be aware about various new equipments,
apparatus, safety regulations and many other
various issues. All these problems are due to
difference in theory and concept taught in
classroom and practice in the field.

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Rajesh Prasad Shukla, Bal Krishna Agrawal & Rajendra Prasad Tiwari

There is a large demand for geotechnical engineers

in the India, as well as worldwide. Numbers of
enrolments have increased suddenly in last five
years in geotechnical engineering as well as in civil
engineering; but the job vacancies are not
increasing in same proportion [5]. In the present
scenario, India needs proficient and well educated
geotechnical engineers and faculty members as
well, who can turn risk and uncertainty involved in
geotechnical engineering into an opportunity. In
this paper an attempt has been made to point out
the problems in teaching and study of geotechnical
engineering. Review of various teaching methods
in geotechnical engineering and problems of a
student with their appropriate solutions have been
addressed as well. A curriculum has been also
proposed to improve the geotechnical engineering.
PROBLEMS
IN
THE
STUDY
OF
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Geotechnical engineering involves very high
uncertainty and risks compared to other branches
of civil engineering [6]. It depends upon structural
engineering, geology, as well as seismology. It is
not easy for a fresher to visualize what is going on
below the ground and how actually it behaves
under different conditions. Failures of soil and
foundation can occur even after detailed surface
and subsurface exploration, various sophisticated
calculation, monitoring and supervision due to
complicated nature of soil [6]. Nowadays
geotechnical engineering is dealing with soil,
foundation, soil structure instruction and geological
hazard as well. Geotechnical engineers have started
dealing with multidisciplinary problems and to
solve these problems, he needs the knowledge of
geotechnical engineering and other branches of
engineering and science as well. Considering all
these issues, it is very difficult to produce a good
geotechnical engineer under present scenario. At
present, an undergraduate does not even know
what the role of geotechnical engineering is, how
broad it is and what are the complications involved
in the field of geotechnical engineering [7].
Various issues affecting study of geotechnical
engineering consist of government, university and
facilities, syllabus, faculty and student. How these

factors are affecting geotechnical engineering

education system has been discussed briefly.
Government and Universities
Government policies are one of the most
influencing factors in the engineering education and
research. To open an institute, government
permission is required [8]. Government bodies are
approving many new institutions in India with
specialization in civil engineering and postgraduate
in geotechnical engineering without proper
infrastructure and laboratory. In 2012, India
became home for more than 4000 engineering
institutions and seventy percentages of these
institutions have civil engineering where
geotechnical engineering is a core course [9]. It is
very difficult for small colleges and universities to
procure laboratory and field study apparatus as they
are heavy and costly.
In India government and industry funding for
research is very less compared to other developed
and some developing country. Proper environment
for research are missing and most of universities
have failed to attract the young talent of country for
research. Structural engineering is still a favorite
choice among student for specialization. Some
institutes are offering undergraduate degree in
structural engineering but not is geotechnical
engineering.
In recent years, many new private and deemed
universities have come into existence. Civil
engineering and geotechnical engineering has
gained popularity among students, thus most of the
universities have opened courses in undergraduate
and graduate level. But the most important
drawback is that they dont have well equipped
laboratory, fields test apparatus and qualified
faculty members and consequence of this is
observed as a reduction in quality and increase in
unemployment of graduates. These field and
experimental studies have more influence on
developing basic concepts in students and
understanding the physical significance of theory
that was taught in classroom [10]. Most of the
students dont know how to perform field and

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Study of geotechnical engineering and challenges

laboratory test and due to this, today most of

graduates and undergraduates are not getting
employed in good and reputed national and
international geotechnical firms. Laboratory of
structural engineering has models for different
structures and a student can visualize those
structures and observe their behaviour. For example
student can conduct test on model of three hinge
arch, two hinge arch; they can verify many
theorems on laboratory such as Maxwell theorem of
reciprocal deflection etc [11]. They can see the
different type of joint in laboratory. Most of the
universities do not have models of geotechnical
structures such as pile foundation, different shallow
foundations, retaining wall etc.

materials and course content are imported from

either U.S. or some other countries and not revised
from last three decades.
The first and main challenge for our education
system is to incorporate the advancement in
geotechnical engineering with current fast
developing technology and changing environment.
There should be a chapter in book dedicated to
recent advancement in geotechnical engineering. A
syllabus of university can be prepared with a
balance between basic studies, case studies,
theoretical and analytical concepts, industrial aspect
of geotechnical engineering and application of
various theories in real problems. A syllabus may
also include outcome of course and expectation of a
faculty as well [13].

Most of the universities do not have any agreement

with industries and research laboratory for summer
training [12]. If students do not have personal
contacts with industries and private firms, then they
have to face lots of problem to get permission for
summer training from industrial firms as vacancies
So universities have to secure that every student
should get proper exposure. Universities have to
conduct research on full scale model test and
society oriented problems so society can directly
get benefits from researches.

Some courses such as forensic investigation in civil

engineering be included in the postgraduate study
as it minimizes the chance of occurrence of small
but serious mistakes and helps to understand the
soil behaviour microscopically. Courses on soft
computing in geotechnical engineering and other
courses on practical geotechnical engineering
should be introduced in the course curriculum, so as
to make them efficient in the field and with industry
perspective [14]. [15] presented his experience of
teaching in a course titled as case study/case
history course at university. Similar course can also
be floated in Indian universities, so a student can
Syllabus and study material
easily differentiate between the solution provided in
Studying is not only meant to get information and textbook for particular problem and a real solution
degree form well reputed institution, its main aim is provided by geotechnical specialist in field. [16]
to understand basic concepts, work environment proposed a curriculum based on the Conceive and prepare for real challenges in field. Syllabus is Design - Implement - Operate principles for the
one of the most important factors which decide the Geotechnical engineering. A model is proposed in
level of teaching and understanding of subject. Our graphical form in figure 1.0 can be used in India as
syllabus, books and whole technical education well.
system is old and more or less same in all over
India and lacks clarity, information about new Teaching
developments, case studies and industrial Teaching using only conventional talk and chalk
requirement. There is a big gap in theory and is not sufficient to engage the students and catch
practice in India and it can be filled by updating our their interest in the learning and study [17-19]. All
syllabus and by revising our study material.
classroom teaching and learning activities may be
Many counties have already designed their course designed in such a way so that the students can
content very well and relevant to their country develop appropriate transferable skills suitable to
environment to fulfill the needs of the country, but industry, academics and research. Teaching
India is still lacking on this area. All the study method should include chalk-talk and power point
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Rajesh Prasad Shukla, Bal Krishna Agrawal & Rajendra Prasad Tiwari

presentation" in conjunction with other graphics

media, experiment and interactivity to make
students clear about a particular subject and
concept. [13] presented two different teaching
approaches; approach by the pathologies and
project based learning approach and opted later one
for teaching in university. For Indian scenario,
these two methods may not be that much fruitful,
so it is required to find a new way by mixing the
above mentioned two methods. For laboratory and
field testing a video presentation can be made so
that student can understand and anticipate how to
work on particular apparatus with proper procedure
and precautions. Such visual materials can make
students at least familiar about new apparatus and
technology. A university should have at least a
few faculties having industrial experience, to give
proper guidance to the students.
Student
Geotechnical engineering is a multi or interdisciplinary branch of civil engineering. Engineers
are expected to be having knowledge of various
other branches of science and engineering, which
most of the graduates are missing [20-21]. A good
geotechnical engineer has to deliver a solution to a
complex and critical in-situ problem in an
innovative, most effective way, with the available
limited resources and money. This is possible only
when engineers have a good understanding of basic
concepts, technology, available resources and other
related issues. Expertness, perfectness, artful,
cunning and masteries in a subject come with time
and experience but it can begin slowly during
college life itself with little effort.
New graduates are facing lots of problems in field
as they need the knowledge of various disciplines
along with civil engineering which they were not
been taught in under graduation or graduation. As
geotechnical engineering is a growing area, the
current fast developing technology and changing
environment is also a problem for a new
geotechnical engineer. Nowadays various study
material and videos are available online that can be
accessed by students having internet facility. These
materials consist of information of latest
technology and instruments used in geotechnical
engineering. Various research papers are also

available online free of charge and some are

available at nominal rate. It is the responsibility of
students to keep themselves updated using these
resources.
Many authors have felt that, for a failure of a
student many factors are responsible such as
teacher, institution and student [22-25]. It is the
responsibility of universities to develop learning
interest in students by changing the teaching
methods, changing syllabus and providing a well
developed field and laboratory equipment and
software for analysis. Most of the research works
done by geotechnical engineering student are either
laboratory work or theoretical work using either
computer programming or some other software
packages. Students are working on graphic user
interface software such as PLAXIS, Geostudio or
Geo-5 but they do not know how actually that
software is solving problems and how they are
getting solutions.
PROPOSED
CURRICULUM
AND
SOLUTION OF OTHER PROBLEMS
A curriculum has been proposed in geotechnical
engineering for improvement of study and better
understanding of geotechnical engineering.
Updating of syllabus with advancements in
technology, research and field techniques is very
compulsory and it is an important step to change
and update our education system. A new
undergraduate and graduate student cannot lag
behind latest technology and research just because
of old syllabus.
Teaching should include chalk-talk and power
point presentation" in conjunction with other
graphics media, experiment and interactivity to
make students clear about that particular subject
and concept [26]. Before performing laboratory and
field testing a video of same test can be also shown
in class. Their theory, importance and application
of tests on real field can be explained before
performing tests.
Summer training for student can be allotted based
on their interest and present demand in research and
industries.

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Study of geotechnical engineering and challenges

Curriculum
Updating
and
Revising of
syllabus

Class
Training on
room
site
lectures
Field and laboratory
experiments

Analysis
, design
and
discussi
on

Applicatio
n through
Projects
and
assignment
s
Fig. 1 Model for curriculum in geotechnical engineering

Some class loads may include discussion on

summer internship, laboratory work, field tests and
classrooms to determine all the problems in
understanding the subjects and to solve students
doubts.
Universities have to allot assignments and projects
on the basis of their summer internship so they can
perform well in projects with their interest.
There should be two different for every student;
one for industrial internship and second for project
work.
In final evaluation process, these projects and
industrial training may have a good weightage to
evaluate their concepts and application.
CONCLUSION
Geotechnical engineering has to be considered as
an art instead of engineering as it depends more on
engineer judgement and experience, compared to
the theory, code and rules. It is very certain that
future conditions are not going to be easy for
geotechnical engineering and it may impose
enormous challenges due to globalization, natural
hazards, climate change and huge difference in
theory and practice. To prepare a future
geotechnical engineer, various changes and
revisions are required to be brought to curriculum
and teaching style with the considerations of latest
developments and trends; so that technical skill can
be developed in budding new graduates to solve
and tackle the various field and industry related
problems.

Presentation
Evaluation

Teaching may include unconventional medium

with emphasis on basic concepts. Various other
elective courses related to geotechnical engineering
can be floated in undergraduate as well as in post
graduate level.
A curriculum for geotechnical engineering has
been presented with consideration of various
factors affecting the students. Introducing a course
on soft computing in geotechnical engineering and
another course on practical geotechnical
engineering can be very helpful to students to make
them capable for future industrial woks.
Universities should have to develop well equipped
laboratory with good environment for research.
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