First published in 1982, the purpose of this textbook is to present civil engineers with sufficient information about geology to enable them to understand those aspects of the behaviour and properties of rock and soil that are relevant to the design of buildings, bridges, highways and dams. Geotechnical surveys are made so that building design can be matched to the ground below. Dr Harvey has deliberately restricted his use of geological terminology in order to make the presentation clear and easy to understand. The geological principles are fully illustrated by drawings. The author has taught courses on this subject for twenty years. He has based the book on his teaching experiences and has written it primarily for engineering students taking a first course in rock and soil mechanics.