With a view to promoting global and regional synthesis of knowledge and the general advancement of geological science, and to providing the scientific basis for a better understanding of the world's mineral and land resources, Unesco has, for many years, been concerned with the preparation and publication of small-scale geological maps of various kinds. The present booklet is devoted to a particular aspect of this programme, namely engineering geological mapping. The purpose of such maps is to show the distribution of specific geological phenomena and characteristics of rocks and soils affecting the engineering use of different terrains. The ever-growing demand for such maps has revealed the need for a standardization of principles, systems and methods. This is an urgent but at the same time a difficult problem which can best be solved through international cooperation.
The present guidebook, prepared for Unesco by the Commission on Engineering Geological Maps of the International Association of Engineering Geology, summarizes the views of an international commission of experts and incorporates experience from various countries in which engineering geological mapping is already undertaken at an advanced level. This book does not pretend to give detailed instructions for mapping, but rather to be a synthesis of present-day experience in this field. The views expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of Unesco.