As engineering geology is the interface between engineering and geology, the authors of texts on the subject must have an awkward time deciding on how to balance the emphasis between the engineering and the geology, and where to draw the boundaries of their coverage. These decisions must always be the personal preference of the author, and as a result it is quite likely that a reader of any given book on the subject is liable to find some dissatisfaction with the author's choice. Here, the author has dealt with engineering and geology in a reasonably even-handed way, and has drawn boundaries that touch on some aspects of soil and rock mechanics, structural geology, hydrogeology and basic geology. It is therefore a book that should be useful to both engineers and geologists, but only as an introductory text. However, as the ample bibliography leads the way to more advanced treatment, this is not a shortcoming.
The first edition of this book appeared in 1993, and it is worthwhile to compare the two editions. This edition is physically much larger than the first (580 pages as against 360), but a close comparison between the two editions shows that this is due almost entirely to the use of a larger type size and increased spacing between paragraphs: the amount of material is not drastically different. As the author states in the preface to this edition, the material from the first has been reorganised, revised and extended.
In terms of reorganisation the overall chapter structure remains unchanged (i.e., the largely conventional sequence of: rock types; geological structures; surface processes; groundwater; soil and rock descriptions, properties and behaviour; geological materials in construction; site investigation; planning and development; construction), but there is a modicum of moving of material within and between chapters. The author suggests that this will have improved the text, and is probably true (for example, the material on frozen soils has been moved from the groundwater chapter to that on properties and behaviour, and throughout the book there now is liberal use of sub-headings to delineate individual topics).
The revisions tend to be a general updating of citations and case histories, and redrawing of diagrams and replacing of photographs. This should all be welcome, and is with respect to the citations and case histories, but unfortunately the quality of both the graphic art and the photographic reproduction is not as high as in the first edition. As graphics are essential in a text on this subject, this loss of quality is to the detriment of the book. Also, various clear and instructive diagrams present in the first edition have been removed (presumably either as a result of slightly changed emphasis or due to space limitations), and this is a pity.
The extensions involve both wider treatment of certain topics (e.g., the sections on arid soils and karst) and new material. This includes sections on storm surges and tsunamis, groundwater pollution, armourstone, geographical information systems, environmental assessments and geotextiles and other reinforcement. These represent both the changing face of engineering geology and new and emerging technologies. There are, however, some notable omissions, in particular the absence of any mention of Eurocode 7.
As an introduction to the subject this book meets its objective, in that it covers the essential material and is easy to read and understand. It should certainly be included on any book list issued to students of engineering geology (both engineers and geologists), but the unfortunate lack of clarity in many of the photographs detracts from it somewhat.
