Geological and Geotechnical Engineering in the New Millennium
Geological and Geotechnical Engineering in the New Millennium
Geological and Geotechnical Engineering in the New Millennium
Why Geological and Geotechnical Engineering in the New Millennium ? As the result of high-tech advances, the field of geoengineering, which includes geotechnical, geological, and hydrological engineering, as well as petroleum and mining engineering, is on the threshold of expansion. This report identifies opportunities for new ways to address challenges and revisits knowledge gaps identified in a 1989 report (Geotechnology: Its Impact on Economic Growth, the Environment, and National Security) that have not been resolved. The report also includes discussions of how new tools and technologies can lead to new applications in geoengineering, a description of a systems-engineering approach to address complex social, environmental, and economic problems related to the development of infrastructure and resources, and an argument for interdisciplinary research and education to ensure that a diverse workforce is educated and available to address future global challenges, such as climate change, the need for emissions-free energy, global water shortages, and problems related to rapid urbanization.