Engineering Geological Aspects of the Combined Methodology
of Design, Site Investigations, and Construction on Hard Rocks

A. A. Varga

Hydroproject Institute, Volokolamskoe sh. 2, Moscow, 125080 Russia

Received July 26, 1997

Abstract—General information about the combined methodology of site investigations, design, and construc-
tion on hard rocks—called rock engineering—is presented. Current trends in the methodology of this new sci-
entific and technological area are presented. The discussion of engineering geological aspects of the main prob-
lems involved shows an underestimation of the role of site investigations, an incorrect approach to the cooper-
ation of experts, and other drawbacks of the present-day methodology of rock engineering.