Short Courses
The following two short courses will be presented at the conference on Monday morning, 8 September 2025.
The duration is typically about 3 hours, and all three courses will conclude at lunchtime before the official opening of the conference directly after lunch. The short courses will run concurrently, which means you can only attend one.
SHORT COURSE N1:
Engineering geological models – an outline of the iaeg c25 guidelines and application to mining projects
Presenters: Mark Eggers, Dan Strang & Brendon Jones. PSM Sydney, Australia
| Time slot | Topic |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Introduction Seminar objectives, why engineering geological models are important in geotechnical and mining engineering. Mark Eggers |
| 09:00 – 09:45 | Overview of the C25 EGM guidelines methodology Concepts and principles of models, conceptual and observational models, components of a model, examples of models for different applications. Mark Eggers |
| 09:45 – 10:00 | Questions and discussion |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Tea/Coffee Break |
| 10:30 – 11:15 | Case studies – Examples of an EGM in open pit mines for slope design. Dan Strang |
| 11:15 – 11:30 | Questions and discussion |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Visualisation of the EGM using 2D and 3D software Worked examples of EGMs for open pit mines and associated mine infrastructure. Brendon Jones |
| 12:00 – 12:15 | Questions and discussion |
| 12:15 – 12:30 | Wrap-up – General discussion and conclusions. Mark Eggers |
SHORT COURSE N3:
The vadose zone: variably saturated systems in engineering geology
Presenters: Mampho Maoyi, Matthys Dippenaar & Louis van Rooy
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
This course will present theory and examples that are valid to an international audience with a wide array of interests in engineering geology. The vadose zone occurs above the phreatic zone which is under positive pore water pressures and always saturated with water and variable saturation cause matrix suction in this mostly unsaturated zone. Almost all activities of humanity is in the vadose zone, use materials derived from the vadose zone, and may alter the vadose zone in terms of its mechanics and hydraulics.
Session 1: Importance and Relevance
This session will provide a brief overview of the subsurface above the groundwater system that is in interaction with surface water and human impacts. Rock, soil, water, and air interact in a complex manner under conditions of variable saturation and heterogeneous and anisotropic media that include intergranular, fractured, and karstic media. Mechanics of fluids, rock, and soil are of extreme importance for engineering geologists to understand the vadose zone in which the majority of our investigations and developments occur.
Session 2: Investigation and Interpretation of Data
Fieldwork should be conducted by experienced professionals who understand the importance of the identification and characterisation of the presence of ephemeral and temporal moisture and wetness in the earth materials. Data acquired during site investigations must be interpreted to pre-empt what changes in moisture content will have in proposed and existing developments. Different soil textures and rock types behave differently, meaning that the water storage and movement become complex and intricate.
Sessions 3: Case Studies and Examples
Urbanisation alters the vadose zone by largely unnatural recharging through leakages and concentrated ingress that may create localised phreatic zones. Saturated areas become shallowed and wider spread, and the thinner vadose zone changes creates a shallower capillary fringe barrier, perching and seepage of water in areas that were previously unsaturated or dry. Changing the natural vadose zone with anthropogenic materials that include the reworking of natural soils or rock override the initial geotechnical conditions, and all the field and laboratory data no longer apply during the life cycle. These changes have a profound effect on existing developments and a few case studies is presented including remedial actions.
SHORT COURSE N2:
Issues and Solutions relating to severe asbestos pollution in the northern cape, limpopo and mpumalanga provinces in south africa
Issues and Solutions relating to severe asbestos pollution in the northern cape, limpopo and mpumalanga provinces in south africa
Presenter: Oliver Barker. Banzi Geotechnics, Johannesburg, South Africa.
A Short History – The facts about AsbestosDistribution in South AfricaThe “Remedial” Paradigm -1980’s to PresentLong Term Problem – What went wrong – A failed Paradigm?Options – Can we save lives and what should we do?
