This subject is an introductory subject covering the use of soil, and the water in it, as an engineering material. It will provide students with a basic understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of soils, simple soil testing methods to characterise soil strength and deformation behaviour and how to apply basic techniques to assess the hydro-mechanical response of soils subjected to loading.Offerings of alternate subjects are dependent on there being sufficient student enrolment numbers. If enrolments are low, the College may cancel delivery of the alternate subject.