Glacial Landforms and Civil Engineering

Abstract

Since most of Canada and much of northern U.S.A. has been glaciated, much civil engineering work in this vast area has been carried out in association with glacial landforms. In earlier days such features may not have been recognized as such but they were successfully used, transportation routes along old glacial spillways being one example. Mistakes were made through non-recognition of glacial features, mainly in failures to recognize glacial till prior to excavation due to the use of old-fashioned wash-boring. Modern sub-surface exploration for civil engineering starts with a study of landforms so that test drilling with modern techniques may be effective, even to the identification of paleo-till surfaces. Glacial landforms have been well used, as for river diversions along former spillways. Aerial photography provides today a most useful technique for general study of glacial landforms but for their full appreciation in civil engineering work patient study on the ground is still essential. Just as geology alone was found to be inadequate, leading to the development of soil mechanics, so today it is becoming generally recognized that soil mechanics must be used against a background knowledge of glacial landforms (in all glaciated country) if it is to be fully effective in assisting civil engineers in the practice of their profession.