1 The Geology-Engineering Partnership
1.1 Areas of engineering geology
1.2 The history of geology
2 The Earth in Space
2.1 The solar system
2.2 The telluric planets
2.3 Giant planets
2.4 Comets
2.5 Meteorites
3 The Earth Through Time
3.1 Measurement of geologic time
3.2 Origin of the Universe and matter
3.3 Voyage through time: From the Precambrian to the Quaternary
4 Physics of the Globe
4.1 Seismology
4.2 Gravimetry
4.3 Magnetism
4.4 Geothermics
5 Rock Forming Minerals
5.1 Crystallography
5.2 Geochemistry
5.3 Practical mineral identification
6 Magmatism and Magmatic Rocks
6.1 Composition of the Earth’s layers
6.2 Magmatism and plate tectonics
6.3 From magma to magmatic rocks
6.4 Magmatic events
6.5 Major magmatic rocks
7 The Water Cycle
7.1 Water reserves and their exchanges
7.2 The atmosphere
7.3 Surface water
7.4 Groundwater
7.5 Water in the seas and oceans
8 The Continental Sedimentary Environment
8.1 Generalities
8.2 Hillslope environments
8.3 The alluvial environment
8.4 The lacustrine environment
8.5 The palustrine environment
8.6 Boreal and polar environments
8.7 The desert environment
9 The Oceanic Sedimentary Environment
9.1 Continental margin
9.2 The continental rise and the abyssal plains
10 Diagenesis and Properties of Sedimentary Rocks
10.1 Diagenetic processes
10.2 Detrital rocks
10.3 Biogenic rocks
10.4 Evaporite rocks
11 Metamorphism
11.1 Transformation processes
11.2 Types of metamorphism
11.3 Principal metamorphic rocks and their properties
11.4 Identification of magmatic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
12 Tectonics
12.1 Mechanical stresses in the subsurface
12.2 Stress-deformation relationships
12.3 Brittle deformation
12.4 Ductile deformation
12.5 Geometric representation and treatment of structural elements
12.6 The Alps: a tectonic model
13 Weathering
13.1 Weathering processes
13.2 Catalog of weathering-prone materials
13.3 Extent of weathering at depth
13.4 Engineering concerns
13.5 Screening for weathering
14 Geology’s Role in the Major Issues Facing Society
14.1 Land development and natural resources
14.2 Environmental protection
14.3 Conclusion
Biography
Aurèle Parriaux studied geology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland. He obtained his Ph.D. in hydrogeology and followed several postgraduate courses in hydrogeology, operational hydrology and geotechnics.
In 1991, he was appointed Professor of Engineering Geology at EPFL and presently he is head of the Engineering and Environmental Geology Laboratory (GEOLEP) at the same institute. He leads a research team of about twenty people specializing in the fields of geological hazards and underground resources.
Professor Parriaux has significant teaching responsibilities. He teaches geology to students in 'Civil Engineering' and 'Environmental Sciences and Engineering'. Moreover, he teaches "Engineering Geology" at the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva.
Parallel to his research and teaching, Aurèle Parriaux carries out expert appraisals in various fields of engineering and environmental geology. In particular, the recent appraisal of the compatibility between construction of tunnels and protection of groundwater resources.
Since the creation of the new School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, he participates in the teaching related to territory and landscape into which he brings the geological and geomorphologic component.
Aurèle Parriaux is active in several international organizations. He was chairman of the Swiss Hydrogeological Society for six years. From 2001 to 2006 he was Director of the Civil Engineering Section of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne.
In 2006, he published his book "Géologie: bases pour l'ingénieur". The second edition of this successful textbook will be published in 2009. In competition with 105 scientific books, "Géologie : bases pour l'ingénieur" received the Roberval Prize in 2007. The publisher CRC Press/Balkema, member of the Taylor & Francis Group decided to publish an English translation of the book (Geology: basics for Engineers, 2009).
In December 2008, Prof. Parriaux was nominated Chevalier of the Order of Academic Palms by the Prime Minister of the Republic of France.
