Innovation in Teaching of Geotechnical Exploration and Laboratory Testing

Abstract

Geotechnical engineering is a unique branch of civil engineering as it comprises of concepts and principles of many other branches as well. Soil mechanics is not just an engineering application or a theoretical science, it is also an art that comes through experience. Eventually, engineers have to apply their knowledge, what they learn in the classrooms as students, in the field. Everything cannot be taught in class rooms through conventional teaching. Complete understanding of geotechnical engineering is not possible without field and laboratory testing. Laboratory testing and geotechnical exploration provide an opportunity to understand the depths of geotechnical engineering within a confined and well controlled environment and to eventually correlate the test results with the soil behaviour. Students need laboratory and field testing to link their theoretical concepts and soil behaviour in actual field work which will enable them to integrate the results into the design process.