Engineering Geomorphology
A Practitioner's Guide
Gareth J. Hearn
- A unique practical guide to engineering geomorphology
- Draws on 40 years of industrial experience across a range of planning and engineering sectors
- Case studies and case histories demonstrate how engineering geomorphology has been applied to address planning and engineering needs
** AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER **
978-184995-609-3
280 × 210mm
544 pages
illustrated with over 400 figures and photographs, colour throughout
November 2025
Hardback
Engineering Geomorphology: A Practitioner's Guide combines the experience and case studies from the author's 40-year career in engineering geomorphology with a review of other published work into a single guideline. The guideline describes and illustrates how techniques of geomorphological assessment are used to help avoid and resolve land use planning and engineering difficulties associated with the terrain and its geohazards.
The book is structured according to planning and engineering sector and, accordingly, it has an applied focus from the outset. Each chapter commences with an overview of the terrain and geohazard issues that specifically concern the sector under discussion. It then reviews some of the published examples that describe how these issues have been addressed using engineering geomorphological and allied techniques. These published examples include both pioneering applications from the 20th Century and those benefiting from more recent progress made in remote sensing technology, ground modelling and spatial analysis. Case studies from the Author's files are used to illustrate how geomorphological techniques have been applied using methods designed specifically to yield robust and usable outputs and maximum end-user benefit. Summary and methodological flow charts, conclusions and recommendations are provided for the practitioner to consider.
The book comprises eleven chapters. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 covers techniques of terrain evaluation used to inform planning and engineering decision making and provides a technique familiarisation and information source for later chapters. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 deal with landslide hazards and urban development, coastal erosion, coastal flooding and fluvial hazards. Chapter 6 covers linear transport infrastructure, namely roads and railways, while Chapter 7 is concerned with oil and gas pipelines in difficult and geohazard-prone terrain. Chapter 8 examines how engineering geomorphology can be used to assist in the design and operation of hydropower schemes, while Chapter 9 describes and illustrates techniques of geomorphological assessment applied to open cast mining projects in mountain terrain. Chapter 10 illustrates how geomorphological assessment has been used in the prospecting for construction materials, principally aggregates.
Finally, Chapter 11 considers the future of engineering geomorphology, including the engagement of its practitioners in the fields of remote sensing, artificial intelligence, climate change and disaster reduction. The role of traditional skills in field mapping and landscape interpretation are reviewed in a world of advancing technology and big data, and guidance is offered to future practitioners as to how best they might equip themselves to respond to the evolving demands on their services.
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