The Construction Industry is one of the main sectors that involve Geologists throughout Europe. The Maltese construction industry grew by 41% between 2015 and 2019. The level of growth puts Malta in the top 5 countries for construction activity in the EU. 

Geologists play a vital role in building and construction, particularly in the field of engineering geology and geotechnical engineering. It provides essential information about the ground conditions and materials needed to ensure the safety, stability, and longevity of a structure.

Site Investigation and Foundation Design

Before any construction begins, a geological site investigation is conducted. This process involves a detailed study of the area's geological features, including the type of soil and rock, their physical and mechanical properties, and the groundwater conditions.

•  Rock and soil analysis: Geologists determine the composition and strength of the subsurface materials. This data is crucial for designing a suitable foundation that can safely support the building's weight and withstand potential shifts.

•  Groundwater Assessment: The depth and movement of groundwater are analyzed to prevent issues like flooding, soil instability, and foundation damage.

•  Hazard Identification: Geological surveys identify potential hazards such as landslides, sinkholes, seismic activity, and unstable slopes, allowing engineers to design appropriate mitigation strategies.

Construction Materials (Geomaterials)

Geology also helps in the identification and sourcing of raw materials used in construction.

• Aggregates: Geologists locate and assess the quality of naturally occurring materials like sand, gravel, and crushed stone, which are essential for making concrete, asphalt, and other building materials.

• Building Stone and Clay: The type and quality of rock available for use as building stone or the clay used to make bricks and tiles are determined through geological analysis.

Infrastructure and Special Projects

• The applications of geology extend beyond buildings to larger infrastructure projects.

• Tunnels and Bridges: Understanding the rock and soil layers is critical for designing and excavating tunnels and for constructing the foundations of bridges.

• Dams and Reservoirs: Geological studies ensure the stability of the ground on which a dam is built and assess the permeability of the rock to prevent water leakage from the reservoir.

• Roads: Geological knowledge helps in planning routes that avoid unstable ground and in determining the best methods for cuts, fills, and embankments.

Geology and public safety

One of the main problems associated with construction is rock failure during excavation. Geologists are the experts in assessing and interpreting rock and assessing the potential for rock failure and geohazards. 

Following a series of tragic rock failures at excavation sites that left several homeless and a fatality, the Hon Prime Minister of Malta appointed the Building Industry Technical Committee to evaluate the building industry. The Committee issued its Report in 2020, known as the Quintano Report*.

The Report made some interesting observations about the safety of third-parties next to excavation sites. The following are quotes from the Quintano Report: