Events & Courses

Quaternary engineering geology implications for glaciated and periglaciated terrains

The theme of this ADM arose from the recent development and completion of a guide to engineering geology in glaciated and periglaciated terrains, undertaken by a working party of geologists and geographers under the auspices of the Geological Society and aimed at developing inter-disciplinary collaboration amongst those with expertise in Quaternary science.

The meeting aims to bring together a broad range of academics from the earth sciences and geography and practicing engineering geologists working in Quaternary cold climate landscapes in an attempt to communicate recent developments and professional practices across the various disciplines working in Quaternary science more generally. The hope is that this will enable the improved awareness of practices and knowledge across bodies of expertise and initiate future collaboration specifically between the QRA and the engineering geology community.

The meeting also aims to promote new and timely collaboration between scientists and engineers working on cold-climate terrains. There have been substantial recent advances in our scientific understanding of glacial and periglacial processes (e.g. glaciotectonic deformation, ice segregation, solifluction), identification of landsystems and their impacts on different rock types, weathering profiles and sediments.

Likewise, ground investigations, both onshore and offshore, have provided important case studies of material behaviour and properties, and identification of geohazards such as relict periglacial shears. In the Quaternary context, improvements in dating of cold-climate sequences, particularly using luminescence and cosmogenic techniques, are improving our understanding of cold-climate chronologies and rates of operation of processes, essential to longterm storage of hazardous materials.

With numerous infrastructure projects underway in the UK and beyond, and more planned, it is timely to bring together the engineering and academic communities to cooperate in ground investigations, with valuable cost spinoffs to the engineering projects and important opportunities for academic research projects using major industrial data sets.

Key note speakers

Jim Rose - Royal Holloway University of London

Jim Griffiths - University of Plymouth

Keith Gabriel - Gabriel GeoConsulting Ltd

Dag Ottesen - Geological Survey of Norway

Chris Burn - Carleton, Canada, Permafrost

Ice Breaker

7.00pm

Registration required

If you are engaged in Quaternary engineering geology or geomorphology or interested in learning more about, and potentially contributing to this professional arena then you are encouraged to attend.

As this meeting aims to create greater synergy between the engineering geology and Quaternary science communities, we encourage presentations and participation from QRA members on broad aspects of Quaternary research in glaciated and periglaciated terrains in order to initiate and build upon collaborative links with engineering practitioners who will not be fully informed about the state of the art in the Quaternary research arena.

As we will have strong representation from the engineering geology profession and potential future employers and consultants, we strongly encourage postgraduate student attendance.

Early booking discounts are available until Tuesday, 1 November 2016 

Abstract submission

Abstract submission is open. Deadline - 11 November, 2016.

Only one oral presentation per person is permitted. More than one poster, or a poster and an oral presentation are permitted. Abstracts must be no longer than 250 words. State clearly for each abstract whether you prefer an oral or poster presentation. Posters should be in portrait format and no greater than A0 size.

Send abstracts electronically in the format outlined in the Abstract Template to Professor David J A Evans - [email protected]

Further details

For more information visit https://www.dur.ac.uk/conference.booking

Organisers

David J A Evans (Durham) ([email protected]), Julian Murton (Sussex), David Giles (Portsmouth), Chris Martin (BP)