1. Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical engineering is the oldest field in civil engineering, yet it is also the latest. Large-scale historical structures, such as the pyramids of the Egypt, bear witness to the astonishing knowledge in geotechnical engineering of that time. However, as with many other ancient crafts and techniques, their knowledge was lost. Thousands of years after the pyramids, the engineers of this century are challenged with the structural integrity and bearing capacity of high-rise buildings, immense bridges, and huge dams, in order to avoid sinking or collapse.
Unlike the rare sightings of large structures in the ancient world, today, like civilization and commerce, they can be seen in all corners of the world. Bridges span rivers and gorges, while roads wind through snowy peaks or tunnel through the mountains in order to connect people to one another. High-rise buildings accommodate the needs of people in densely populated areas. The fate of these structures depends heavily on geotechnical engineers, whose foundation allow bridges and high-rise buildings to stand firm, whose sound judgment makes mountain roads safe even in bad weather, and whose precise analysis ensures the safety of tunnels.
Above examples described the range of geotechnical engineering, which including the soil and groundwater pollution that has become more and more commonplace in today's highly industrial environment. It is absolutely necessary for the engineer to have a deep understanding of their construction materials - the on-site soil and rock conditions. Unlike the manmade materials of steel and concrete, it is much more difficult to grasp the characteristics of natural materials, since soil and rock conditions vary greatly all around the world. Thus, a geotechnical engineer��s priority must be to understand the subtle similarities and differences in soil and rock properties, evaluate the engineering properties of the soil and rock on the site, and determine the suitable design and construction method. The uncertainties of natural elements and different geological properties pose quite a challenge to geotechnical engineers everywhere.
In recent years, Taiwan has seen an increase in major construction projects, such as the National Highway No. 2, the Taipei-Yilan Freeway, the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit, the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation, improvement of the railroad on the Eastern coast, and the Taiwan High Speed Rail, as well as the South Cross Island Highway and Eastern Highway, which are in the planning stages. Although many of the world��s latest construction methods have been introduced in Taiwan, their effectiveness has been hampered by the geological properties here. In other words, the work of geotechnical engineers is most important to construction safety.
2. Geotechnical Engineering at NCTU Civil Engineering
The Department of Civil Engineering in National Chiao Tung University provides comprehensive courses with professional knowledge in geotechnical engineering. The undergraduate program includes mandatory courses such as Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering, and Engineering Geology, as well as elective courses such as Geotechnology in Engineering Practice, Foundation Design, Soil Engineering, and Rock Engineering. Undergraduate students may also take graduate elective courses such as Rock Mechanics, Applied Engineering Geology, and Soil Dynamics. The Geotechnical Engineering graduate division provides over a dozen courses in a variety of specialties. In addition, a laboratory course is provided for both undergraduate and graduate programs, allowing students to engage and learn through hands-on experiments.
Field observation is also an essential part in geotechnical engineering education. This activity allows students to familiarize themselves with the on-site operations of this field, and to understand the inseparable connection between analysis, design, and construction. Furthermore, students will also be more easily able to grasp the concepts, challenges, and passion of geotechnical engineering
3. Future Prospects
The small island of Taiwan has many unfavorable natural conditions, too little land, and too many people. Each construction project must be adapted to an undesirable environment, working around soil and water restrictions. Urban developments have the additional challenge of sloping lands and underground development. The increasing number of construction works also means that civil engineering is needed in the remaining undeveloped areas with poor environmental conditions. At the same time, awareness of the environment have made it necessary for geotechnical engineers to survey soil and groundwater pollution, and minimize the negative impact on the environment both during and after construction. The aforementioned developments all herald the increasing importance of geotechnical engineering and the growing challenges for geotechnical engineers.