161-7 Combining the New with the Old to Solve Rock Engineering Problems in the 21st Century

Session: Dynamics of Natural and Built Environments

Presenting Author:

Author:

Abstract:

Rock engineering involves the design and ongoing safety assessment of important rock structures such as slopes, underground excavations, and dam and bridge foundations. Many advancements have been made in this field in the past 100 years, starting with rock and fracture mechanics and most recently the developments in advanced numerical modeling, AI and modern geospatial techniques. Rock engineering is faced with two major obstacles at the present time, the rising world population and the effects of climate change. Climate change is causing an increase in rock failure events, and an increased population makes it more likely that humans will encounter a rock failure event. Addressing these obstacles involves the creative and innovative combination of established techniques (rock mechanics, rock fracture mechanics) along with some of the newest developments (AI and modern geospatial). 

Combining the old with the new to solve rock engineering problems in the 21^st century has been the overriding theme of my 2024-25 Jahns lectureship. In this GSA presentation I will give an overview of the five talks that were developed for my 2024-25 Jahns lectureship. Two of these talks discuss established techniques in rock engineering: 

- Rock Mechanics, Geomechanics, Rock Engineering: What’s It All About (and what are the career opportunities)?

- Why is that Unstable-Looking Rock Slope Still Standing, and When Can We Expect It to Fail:  An Introduction to Rock Fracturing, Time-Dependent Fracturing and Rock Bridges. 

and two of the talks discuss the use of very new technologies and ideas in rock engineering:

- Innovative Monitoring and Characterization Technologies (with the help of AI) for Combatting Geologic/Hydrologic Hazards Associated with Climate Change

- Everyday Geospatial: New Technologies Anyone Can Afford for 3D Field Scanning, Point Cloud Processing, Rock Mass Characterization, Slope Stability

A final talk discusses the benefits of considering entrepreneurship in rock engineering:

- Entrepreneurship in Applied Geology: Why your next career move could be an innovative small business startup

Students and professionals will no doubt be continuing to incorporate the new with the old to solve ever more complicated applied geology problems in the years to come, and this points to the importance of a diverse educational background that includes geologic and environmental foundations along with engineering and other scientific fields.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-8120

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