Special Topics: Engineering Boston

A well-illustrated scholarly article by a number of geologists from local universities.

Contains a collection of historical maps and papers on Boston's precarious groundwater situation and the decay of the Back Bay's wooden pilings.

A 2002 article from Geotimes that discusses the differing soil conditions found in Boston, and how geotechnical advances have kept pace with ever more complex construction projects.

A USGS publication that shows how the geology of Boston influenced its colonial history.

This 1989 article by Edward G. Johnson provides an overview of Boston area soils, groundwater levels, and testing practices.

A Master's degree thesis (MIT, 2006) by Tamar Shoham on problems posed by the decay of wooden pilings in Back Bay Boston. The thesis is available in a non-print, read-only format.

Describes the locations and characteristics of Boston's hills at the time of the city's founding.

Choose from hundreds of map layers to create a map of Massachusetts most relevant to your needs.

Geological maps and data on natural hazards, water resources, and geothermal energy in Massachusetts.

Downloads include statewide soils "top 20" polygons, special features (lines and points), and soil survey areas polygons, plus ArcGIS layer files for use in ArcGIS Pro and ArcMap 10.4+. All data are in the NAD83 Mass. State Plane Meters (2001) coordinate system.

Various geological field trip guidebooks produced by the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conferences between 1952 and 1989.

A brief description of the Great Meteor, or New England, Hotspot: a volcanic upwelling of magma that formed the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the New England Seamount chain. From the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

Links to all of the published soil surveys for Massachusetts counties from the National Resources Conservation Service.

Geological maps and data on natural hazards, water resources, and geothermal energy in Massachusetts.

Peter S. Rosen is the Dept. Chair and Associate Professor of Geology at Northeastern University. Many of his papers on the geology of Boston may be found online here.

The premier source for information on earth sciences, surveying, and geological hazards.

Select a geographical area and zoom in for geological maps. Data retrieval can take a few seconds, so patience is required.