Military Geology in War and Peace

In warfare, military geologists pursue five main categories of work: tactical and strategic terrain analysis, fortifications and tunneling, resource acquisition, defense installations, and field construction and logistics. In peace, they train for wartime operations and may be involved in peace-keeping and nation-building exercises. The classic dilemma for military geology has been whether support can best be provided by civilian technical-matter experts or by uniformed soldiers who routinely work with the combat units. In addition to the introductory paper this volume includes 24 papers, covering selected aspects of the history of military geology from the early 19th century through the recent Persian Gulf war, military education and operations, terrain analysis, engineering geology in the military, use of military geology in diplomacy and peace keeping, and the future of military geology.
Military geology in support of nation assistance exercises in Central and South America
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Published:January 01, 1998
Abstract
Engineer construction training exercises throughout Central and South America have provided U.S. soldiers with construction experience and aided the host nation by developing infrastructure. Roads, airfields, bridges, schools, hospitals, and water wells are constructed in remote areas with maximum use of local materials. Military geologists support construction by locating potential sources of aggregate, evaluating suitability of materials for road metal and fill, designing roadcuts, developing quarries, and evaluating geologic hazards that may affect the construction effort.
In northern Honduras, excavation problems in a karstic limestone of the Mesozoic Yojoa Group delayed completion of a mountain road. Clay-filled solution cavities disrupted the blasting operation, jeopardizing the completion of the project. Geologists recommended rerouting the road through a rippable schist. Although longer, the new road was completed on time.
In southern Honduras the lack of a suitable aggregate for a new airfield required a thorough geologic reconnaissance for new sources. Local ignimbrites were unsuitable due to their low compressive strength. Rhyolite and andesite from nearby volcanic erosional remnants were evaluated for their suitability. A quarry was subsequently developed and provided the aggregate needed to complete the project.
In the Oriente of Ecuador a scarcity of suitable construction materials and unstable slopes created difficult conditions for a road and bridge construction project. Roadcuts into alternating layers of shale and limestone of the Cretaceous Lower Napo Formation created unstable slope conditions. Military geologists recommended new sources of aggregate and advised engineers on slope stability. Local construction methods were adopted to overcome these conditions.