An Overview of Engineering Geology and Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Development

Abstract

During the past 20 years important research has been undertaken on various aspects of rural infrastructure, specifically with the aim of reducing costs and increasing the effectiveness of the provision of access for rural communities. Engineering geology has an on-going role to play in delivering tools to overcome the challenges in sustainable infrastructure development within an environment of low budgets, low resource allocation and often limited geological information. IAEG Commission C32 has been set-up to “To promote the increased involvement of engineering geology in the appropriate design, construction and maintenance of sustainable rural infrastructure within developing countries and hence contribute to the alleviation of rural poverty.” This paper is C32’s first formal output and it outlines the contribution of engineering geology to the alleviation of poverty through appropriate design and construction of rural infrastructure.