Career talk: What exactly do geotechnical engineers do?

Geotechnical engineering is concerned with the soil, rock, and underground water behavior with regard to construction projects. This branch of engineering is multi-disciplinary and requires professionals to maintain extensive knowledge in all the branches of engineering.

Geotechnical engineers are in charge of planning and designing construction developments such as buildings, roads, canals, embankments, etc. Geotechnical engineers must also be knowledgeable in disciplines such as ocean engineering, petroleum engineering, structural engineering, and materials science, in addition to the general principles of engineering. Professionals in this field would have to study snow, clay, silt, and sand. Geotechnical engineering produces specialist industries like soil and rock mechanics, geology, hydrogeology, and geophysics, adds experienced construction consultant Reddy Kancharla.

Outside of their construction duties, geotechnical engineers are also called upon to analyze geological hazards such as soil erosion, landslides, and earthquakes. They handle diverse and complicated research data. Such professionals can be considered mathematicians, scientists, and technicians.

The job of geotechnical engineers can be time-consuming, having to spend most of their time in analysis laboratories and out on the field. Reddy Kancharla says that the work may require extensive travels, stringent deadlines, and duty during nearly all weather conditions. The engineering industry is continuously changing, which demands professionals to be proficient in new equipment and technology andupdated in the latest safety regulations and other aspects of the field.

Reddy Kancharla has more than 25 years of experience in civil construction, geotechnical consultation, and construction QA/QC, and more than a decade in senior management for civil engineering firms. Subscribe to this blog for more updates.