course-details-portlet

TGB4185

Engineering Geology, Basic Course

Credits 7.5
Level Third-year courses, level III
Course start Autumn 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

Material properties of rocks, rock masses and soils. Weakness zones and jointing of rocks. Gouge materials, water and stresses in rock masses. Engineering geological investigations and design of underground structures. Classification of rock masses. Stability problems and support measures for tunnels, underground openings and slopes. Formation of different types of deposits by erosion, weathering and transgression / regression. Classification. Physical and chemical properties. Characteristic features including weathering soil, till, friction soil, cohesive soil and podzol. Landslides. Mapping methodology. Regional distribution. Application of rocks and soils.

Learning outcome

Ingress: The course will provide students with basic knowledge and understanding of the most central parts of engineering geology of rocks and soils

Knowledge: The students will be able to describe the material properties of rocks and soils, the formation and distribution of soils and the engineering geological conditions that affect the stability of structures on and in the ground. Furthermore, students can account for engineering geological investigations, design, slope stability and securing of underground structures.

Skills: Based on lectures and exercises, students will be able to make basic engineering geological assessments and analyses and to interpret the formation of a soil and understand its properties. After completing the course, students should be able to explain the importance of engineering geology in connection with construction engineering issues and the most important analyses and methods in the lab and in the field.

Competence: After completing the course, students are able to make basic engineering geological assessments and analyses and to understand the importance of engineering geology for complex projects in and on rocks and soils.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. Obligatory excursions and tutorials including classification of soils and rocks, use of air photos and geological maps, engineering geological problems related to design and stability. The course is evaluated by a reference group.

Compulsory assignments

  • Exercises

Further on evaluation

If there is a re-sit examination, the form of assessment may be changed from written to oral.

Course materials

Compendia (Nilsen (2016) Ingeniørgeologi-berg grunnkurskompendium og Brattli (2015) Ingeniørgeologi løsmasser), geological maps and map descriptions, slides or notes from lectures.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
SIG0535 7.5 sp
MNGGEOL107 7.5 sp Autumn 2008
TGB5110 7.5 sp Autumn 2016
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Engineering Geology
  • Technological subjects

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Geoscience

Timetable

Timetable

Calendar view
List view
Show detailed timetable in TP Download .ics file iCal

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code D Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.

Re-sit examination - Summer 2027

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code D Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.

All about examinations at NTNU