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Geology and the London Underground
Author(s) -
Paul Jonathan D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
geology today
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.188
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1365-2451
pISSN - 0266-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2451.2009.00699.x
Subject(s) - geology , stratigraphy , regional geology , structural geology , engineering geology , environmental geology , economic geology , mining engineering , geotechnical engineering , seismology , hydrogeology , metamorphic petrology , tectonics , volcanism
Geology as a whole is the main influence on determining the feasibility of tunnelling for underground railways, and at what cost. Favourable conditions encouraged the early development of a network, significantly alter the methods used for construction, and are what form the tunnels, in terms of horizontal and vertical alignment. Local geology is shown, by means of two cross‐sections following the tunnels, to be more important than the overall regional geology, where the underlying strata exhibit pronounced variations in permeability, and so mechanical properties. Geological complexities specific to the area of tunnelling generate problems during construction, but lead to technological innovation in the long term and a better understanding of local stratigraphy. As the result of this, and the increase in the quality of preliminary surveys, we are increasingly able to tunnel in areas previously considered treacherous.