The Difference Between Engineering Geology and Geotechnics – Ep 065

In this episode, we talk to Vatsal Shah, P.E., Ph.D., D.GE, the Principal Engineer at ANS Geo, Inc, about the difference between engineering geology and geotechnics and how it differs from traditional engineering geology. Engineering Quotes: Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Vatsal: How did you decide to become an engineer and what led you to geotechnics? Was it important to you to be a “jack-of-all-trades” or a “master of one”? Why is being a Diplomat (D.GE) important to you? What is the difference between engineering geology and geotechnics? How does geotechnics in renewable energy differ from traditional geotechnics? What is it like completing geotechnical investigations for sites that are several thousand acres large? Does traditional geotechnical education allow emerging geotechnical engineers to be ready for a career that supports renewable energy? What drives you to be active in all your different career paths? What advice would you like to give to geotechnical engineers out there? Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About The Difference Between Engineering Geology and Geotechnics: Work as a geotechnical engineer involves a little of everything, like business development, technical reviews, fieldwork, and site characterizations. Vatsal’s favorite part is being a geotechnical engineering leader and ANS Geo, Inc is a second-generation, family-owned firm. He has been doing engineering work from an early age, which helped him realize how important engineering is in everyday Having a diverse background helped Vatsal learn specific skill sets and use them in different disciplines. To be a master of one is also beneficial, but he enjoys experiencing different types of work, keeping his skill set broad, and applying the same concepts across different backgrounds. A Diplomate (D.GE) is an ASCE Certification that shows you are specialized and you made a career out of your choice of discipline. You must commit to your professional career to keep yourself updated and to learn and continue growing in your geotechnical field. Engineering geology is about understanding how the earth was formed and how the lands were generated over time. An essential part of understanding engineering geology is to  understand the soil characteristics, topography, and drainage across the areas, depending on where you are located. That way, you can better understand how to have a great design process related to constructability, e.g., whether certain structures can be installed or which design assumptions should be made. You can't have one without the other. There are many commonalities in the geotechnics of renewable energy and traditional geotechnics, but it is more challenging to understand the scale of the renewable energy sites. They are in remote locations that are exposed to all the elements. These areas are not studied regularly and do not have many geological references for them. You must use many of the tools available to you to profile a large area with very few borings. You must deal with geotechnical challenges on a very big scale. Renewable energy is relatively newer, so the codes and standards have not been firmed up yet. Therefore, the projects are more about what the owner is looking for, how to mitigate risk, and how that risk is translated to construction. There are no standards for renewable energy yet, but there is a rule of thumb and a lot of engineering judgment that is used. Regarding geotechnical investigations for sites that are several thousand acres large, you must know how to use the different pieces in your toolbox, whether it's field investigation, using soil borings, or test pits to get more information and optimize designs. Any geotechnical engineer or geologist can easily u...