Geosystems Engineering

Geosystems engineering merges geotechnics, geophysics, geomechanics, geology, geochemistry, and soil mineralogy and focuses on the behavior of natural materials in engineered systems. The Geosystems Engineering Program at Georgia Tech encompasses both traditional and emerging topics in the field, including advanced techniques for site and material characterization; constitutive and micro-mechanical modeling; laboratory modeling; natural and man-made hazard mitigation; engineered soils; biotechnology; sustainability and renewable energy; geotechnical aspects of resource recovery; and foundation design, slope stability, and excavation support.

The program comprises seven full-time faculty, several adjunct and visiting faculty, and more than 50 graduate students. An active program of fundamental and applied research using analytical, numerical, and experimental methods is supported by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Energy, Georgia Department of Transportation, mining and oil companies, and other private industries. Graduate students may select from more than 15 graduate course offerings, engage in research and teaching via graduate assistantships, and participate in a wide range of professional development and social activities coordinated by the Georgia Tech Geotechnical Society.