The future of engineering geology

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, there has been much debate about what constitutes engineering geology and how it should develop in the future. In the special session on. ‘The Future of Engineering Geology’ at the 10th Congress of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG), it was agreed that: engineering geology was now a defined profession with status and recognised roles within the broader field of geo-engineering; continuing and improved education and training is the most important issue for the future; there needs to be a greater involvement in projects relating to environmental change and geohazards; there needs to be better communication with society as a whole about what engineering geologists do and the benefits they produce; there needs to be pro-active stewardship of the profession. As the international society responsible for the promotion of engineering geology, the IAEG must increase the effectiveness of its activities and those of the IAEG national groups. In particular, the IAEG must encourage the continuing development of technical knowledge through its Technical Commissions. In addition, engineering geologists must establish a genuine research agenda for their subject; universities must be willing to appoint practitioners as lecturers who may not have a conventional academic track record; Quaternary geology and geomorphology must be incorporated far more into engineering geology teaching; employers must actively support Masters' degree programmes and research in engineering geology; employers need to set up clear career paths for engineering geologists with an identified programme of continued professional development (CPD).