The Revival of a Traditional Engineering – New Trends in Geotechnical Engineering Research

Wing Shun Kwan*

Received: February 05, 2018;   Published: February 13, 2018

DOI: 10.32474/TCEIA.2018.01.000114

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Abstract

Geotechnical engineering designs are always laid as the most fundamental and earliest phase of civil engineering projects. The birth of geotechnical engineering is very hard to define, but modern geotechnical engineering practice is generally recognized beginning in 1925 after Professor Karl Terzaghi’s publication of Erdbau mechanik, which demonstrates the framework of the principle of effective stress. About a century later, the field of geotechnical engineering is still considered relatively young and full of wonders about the growing challenges upfront. The geotechnical engineering profession is challenged by increasing civil material consumption and aging infra-structures to meet the growing population worldwide in the coming century. The basic infrastructures of civilization are outdated, including roads, bridges, underground tunnels, airport facilities, waterways, and dams. Past’s Geo-techniques for natural hazard assessment, energy supply, skyscraper, transportation, and land use are not sufficient for future’s challenges. Because of unfit land-use models, population growth and climate change, more people and lands are jeopardized by the risk of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and flooding. This article documents a few breakthroughs the recent geotechnical research has attempted to advance the “old technologies” to meet the upcoming challenges.

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