This significant new book by foremost experts in the field will be the first that truly covers the topic of engineering geomorphology as a distinct discipline and, as such, will be of paramount importance to both practitioners and students.
Engineering geomorphology is concerned with the evaluation of landform changes, especially the effects of construction on the environment, notably on the operation of surface processes and the risks from surface processes, whether current processes or the legacies of past processes. Engineering geomorphology provides practical support for engineering decision-making (project planning, investigation, design and construction) and engineering geomorphologists form an integrate part of the engineering or environmental team.
Engineering geomorphology has developed in the last few decades to support a number of distinct areas of engineering, including river engineering, coastal engineering, and geotechnical engineering, where engineering geomorphology has complemented engineering geology and has proven to be valuable, especially for rapid site reconnaissance and slope stability studies. Geomorphology provides a spatial context for developing site models and explaining the distribution and characteristics of particular ground-related problems (e.g. landslides, permafrost or the presence of aggressive soils) and resources (e.g. sand and gravel). Engineering geomorphology can also be applied to agricultural engineering, primarily in the investigation and management of soil erosion problems.
This book includes basic concepts that underpin efforts to explain the causes, mechanisms and consequences of landform change. It then considers how the land surface works in the context of wetland, flatland, hills, mountains, rivers and coasts; and the techniques that are available to the engineering geomorphologist in the field, in the laboratory, in the office and in the various forms of remote sensing.
Each succinct chapter is packed with vital information, well-illustrated with diagrams and tables and fully referenced so that the detail of subject matter can be followed up.
Introduction. Basic Concepts: Energy Inputs and Geomorphological Activity. The Basics of Change: Stress, Strain and Strength. Earth Surface Systems. The Behaviour of Earth Surface Systems. System Controls: Geology; Engineering Soils; Mobile Sediments; Climate Variation; Sea-Level Change. The Nature of Change: Rates and Events. The Implications of Change: Hazards and Risks. Construction Resources: Aggregates. Engineering and Change: Environmental Impacts. Slopes: The Supply of Water and Sediment; The Role of Water; Soil Erosion by Water; Wind Erosion and Deposition; Landslides; Landslide Hazard and Risk; Karst Terrain. Rivers: The Drainage Basin; Water and Sediment Loads; Channel Form; Channel Change; Flooding; Flood Hazard and Risk; The Coast: Energy Inputs; Sediment Cells and Budgets; Hazard and Risk Assessment; Estuaries, Mudflats and Saltmarshes; Deltas; Fringing Beaches; Barrier Beaches; Dunes; Cliffs. Common Techniques: Methods of Investigation. Desk Study and Initial Terrain Models. Geographical Information Systems. Satellite Imagery and Aerial Photographs. Historical Research. Terrain Evaluation. Geomorphological Mapping. Measurement and Monitoring of Change. Dating Methods. Uncertainty and Expert Judgement. Further Reading
Civil engineers, applied geomorphology practitioners and environmentalists; advanced undergraduates and postgraduates of geomorphology, geology and civil engineering.
'This book will find its place on the close-in bookshelf of many geologists, engineers and physical geographers. Not as a text, but as a ready first reference to the myriad of ideas, formulas, and challenges of the emerging discipline of engineering geomorphology.' Geomorphology
'This is the handy source that brings together a wealth of basic data from a huge range of published and unpublished sources... it comes at a sensible price and it is tailored down and then expanded laterally to provide the basic facts that the engineer needs at work. ...great to pull off the shelf for a snapshot of avaliable data and status quo in the huge field of geomorphology. This book really does belong on the office shelf, where it will soon become very well thumbed.' to be published in the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrology
'... a useful and thoughtful overview of the role of geomorphology in engineering. ...The book provides an overall justification of the role of geomorphology in engineering projects, giving emphasis to underlying concepts and the idea of landscape development, particularly with respect to longer timescales than those usually envisaged by engineers. It has a comprehensive coverage of different environmental situations and would work well as a basic introductory handbook. ...this is a text that should be widely read by engineering students to allow better insight and appreciation of dynamic geomorphic environments.' Geoscientist
'...The boys from the UK continue to lead the way in communicating our best understanding of the application of geomorphology to engineering assignments. ... a compact concise introduction to the ways that earth surface systems (particularly those related to water, wind and gravity) can impact engineering design. ...The authors demonstrate the need for geomorphologists and engineers to work together to achieve better, even brilliant results based on a comprehensive understanding of the problems, systems and forcing mechanisms. ...As always with these authors, the diagrams and models are helpful, clear and up to date. If you do engineering works and want them to last, this book is a quick reference to focus your efforts.' Island Geoscience
'... the book is an excellent reference to read and retain on your bookshelf. It contains well illustrated diagrams and useful tables that explain the processes of geomorphology and also the practice of assessing it. Each section of the book is also well referenced, allowing extra information to be accessed if desired. It is a well structured and readable book on the subject of geomorphology from the engineer prospective and is suitable for students as well as geotechnical and geological professionals.' Geomechanics News
'...an organized mass of highly useful knowledge. The value of this text is that it bundles together so much useful technique ... The book is universal in its worldwide application. ... overall worth of the book is strikingly positive. ... this is an essential reference book for active, field-orientated engineering geologists. ... Practitioners would be ideal readers and societies should consider the book as a worthwhile text...' Environmantal & Engineering GeoScience
'... this book offers a wide view of different landforms and associated geomorphological processes, which are certainly interesting for civil engineers and other engineering professionals. Graduate and postgraduate students in geology, geotechnical engineering, geomorphology, civil engineering, physical geography and similar disciplines will find it very useful as a reference book. ... The coverage of a broad spectrum of subjects in a single volume presents a great challenge, which has been successfully mastered by the authors.' Acta Geotechnica