Hearty Welcome

To
M.Arch (landscape Architecture)
I-Yr Students (2017)

Dr. K. Sridhar, M.Sc, PG Dip (RS), Ph.D.,

(Visiting Faculty)

Email: drsridhar2003@yahoo.co.in

Mob. 94444 94530

GEOLOGY
AND
SOILS
 Syllabus
Objectives
This course introduces students to soil formation, characteristics and land formation and its
influence on landscape.
•This course introduces gives detailed knowledge on the soils.
•Introduction of basic hydrology and its link with various landscape.

UNIT I Introduction
Geomorphic process: Epigenic or Exogenic process – Weathering, Erosion, Mass wasting, Fluvial
cycle, Groundwater, Wind, Seas and Oceans, Glaciers. Major processes and associated
landforms: Tectonic, fluvial, Aeolian, coastal, karst, glacial, and topography

UNIT II Geomorphology
Evolution of land forms: Land forms produced by geomorphic process, Stratigraphy: principles of
stratigraphy and geology of India, Man’s intervention into Ecology and Environment case studies
in India, Suitability of land for various developments.

UNIT III Soil Characteristics & Analysis

Soil properties soil classification, soils of India.
Soil use and Management: A) Soil survey and field mapping B) land capability classifications
(a)Soil evaluation and land-use planning. (b) Soil and water conservation. (c) Soil fertility and
plant nutrition (d) Soil degradation control, remedial actions and reclamation techniques,
Role of Remote sensing in soil mapping
3
At the first instance the relationship between Architecture and
Geology seems to be incompatible

Why Landscape students should study Geology

It is not the entire field of Geology with which an Architecture

is concerned

It is the narrow band of geology that is loosely referred to as

“Topography”

Hence there is a branch that is gaining importance is

Architecture geology

A Roman Architect Vitruvius in his Book on Architecture has

cautioned his colleagues to cite their buildings and cities with
utmost care and understanding of the environment
Geology is the science that
deals with the dynamics and
physical history of the earth,
the rocks of which it is
composed, and the physical,
chemical, and biological
changes that the earth has
undergone or is undergoing.

Study of Geology is basic in

1.Understanding life on earth
2.Genesis of landforms
3.Climatic processes and
vegetation patterns
 SUBDIVISIONS OF GEOLOGY AND
RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER SCIENCES
Kannesteinen Rock,Norway
Elephant Rock, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada,
Famous Kjerag stone, hanging on the cliff
between
two high rocks on the Lyse fjord, Norway
Balanced rock stands in the Garden of Gods in Colorado,USA
Banaue Rice Terrace, Phillipines
Delicate Arch, LaSalle, USA
 The nature of scientific inquiry

• Science assumes Natural World is consistent

and predictable

• Goal of science: Discover patterns in nature,

use knowledge to make predictions

• Scientists collect “facts” by observation and

measurements
 Nature of scientific inquiry
• How or why things happen can be explained by:

 Hypothesis – Tentative (or untested) explanation

 Theory – Well-tested and widely accepted

view that scientific community
agrees and explains certain observable
facts

 Paradigm – Extensively documented, high degree

of acceptance, explain interrelated
aspects of the natural world
 Earth as a system
• Scientists view Earth as a
dynamic system
• Combination of interrelated,
interdependent or interacting
parts forming a collective
whole or entity.
• Characterized by processes
that
1.Vary on spatial scales from
fractions of millimeter to
thousands of kilometers
2.Have time scales that range
from milliseconds to billions
of years
 Earth as a System
• Earth is a planet that is small
and self-contained and
sensitive to change

• Environment is highly
integrated with interactions
between air, water, rock, life

• Parts of the Earth system are

often described as "spheres"
• Earth’s four spheres
• Atmosphere - Air
• Biosphere - Life
• Hydrosphere - Water
• Solid Earth - Rock
 The face of Earth
• Earth’s surface - Two principal
divisions
• Continents (Land mass)
• Ocean basins (Water)

• Significant difference between

continents and ocean basins is their
relative elevations
• Continents average 2750 feet above msl
• Ocean floor average 12,500 feet below msl
Sea Stack @562m in Australia
 Stacks

Archs

Stumps
Landforms and landscapes

 Earth’s surface is made up of vast number of elements that are brought

together to create amazing shapes, sizes and formations.

 To study and understand these formations, geologists organise them into

groups based on origin/characteristics that are similar.

 These different groups are referred to as landscapes.

 Many types of natural landscapes on Earth – include, mountains, coastal

and riverine landscapes.

 Landscapes created by people are often called built landscapes.

 Landscapes may be natural or constructed by human beings — eg, Central

Park in New York City, in which case they’re often called “designed
landscapes.” They may also be both natural AND constructed
Landform:
Individual surface features of the earth identified by their shape
and size, e.g. Mountains, dunes, plateaus, canyons, beaches,
plains, rivers and valleys.

Landscape
A landscape is the visible appearance of an area, created by a
combination of geological, geomorphological, biological, cultural
layers that have evolved over time, and as perceived, portrayed
and valued by people.
 What is a landscape?

A simple definition of a
'Landscape' is all the visible
features of an area of land.

By that definition we have a

different number of landscapes
all across the Earth.

Some known as beautiful,

while some are known as
barren and a few are known as
harsh and others built.
A Landscape is part of Earth’s surface.

Consists of variety of geographical features that are

characteristic of an area.

Landscapes are divided into two main categories – Natural

and Human.

Natural landscapes (for example, mountains and deserts) are

mainly unaffected by human

Human landscapes (for example, cities and farms) have been

created and modified by people.

Human landscapes are sometimes referred to as cultural

landscapes.