Sustainability and geotechnical engineering: perspectives and review

TLDR

The built environment mediates the interaction between society and the ecosystem, and sustainability in civil engineering hinges on integrating sustainable thinking from the planning and design stages, where geotechnical engineering plays a pivotal early role. This paper reviews the scope and goals of sustainable geotechnical engineering for civil infrastructure development. It discusses the philosophies and definitions of sustainability as they apply to geotechnical engineering. The review summarizes research and case studies to outline the scope and goals of sustainable geotechnical engineering.

Abstract

The built environment serves as a dynamic interface through which human society and the ecosystem interact and influence each other. Understanding this interdependence is a key to understanding sustainability as it applies to civil engineering. There is a growing consensus that delivering a sustainable built environment starts with incorporating sustainability thoughts at the planning and design stages of an infrastructure construction project. Geotechnical engineering can significantly influence the sustainability of infrastructure development because of its early position in the construction process. In this paper, the scope of geotechnical engineering towards sustainable development of civil infrastructure is reviewed. The philosophies and definitions of sustainability as applicable to geotechnical engineering are discussed. A comprehensive review of the research and case studies performed in geotechnical engineering, in relation to sustainable development, is presented in an effort to outline the scope and goals of sustainable geotechnical engineering.