Water is among the most essential resources that sustain Earth’s ecosystems, but these systems are currently under threat due to land use and climate change. Assessing the impact of this global change on water security and ecosystem’s functions is not only the key concern of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, playing a key role in sustainable development of society, but also the most important research focus in “Future Earth” and Earth critical zone research.

Geology can be defined as the scientific study of the Earth and especially the rocks and soils that make up the Earth: their origins, nature and distribution, and the processes involved in their formation. Engineering geology then may be defined as the scientific study of geology as it relates to civil engineering projects such as the design of a bridge, construction of a dam or preventing a landslide. Engineering geologists need to identify the local rock and soil conditions at a site and anticipate natural hazards such as earthquakes so that structures can be designed, constructed and operated safely and economically. He (or she, throughout) needs to work with civil engineers and understand what they are trying to do and the constraints under which they work. His remit and responsibilities can be extensive, covering all of the Earth Sciences, including geophysics, geochemistry and geomorphology. <...>

Constitutive models are fundamental training for graduate students in geotechnical engineering. For a long time, however, these models have lacked a simple and easy-to-understand platform for learning, training and practice between the theory and practice of soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering. Many engineers and practitioners, and even some researchers, have reservations about this topic. There is a mismatch between research and application. Especially in recent years, constitutive models aiming at refined simulations have been continuously developed, with increasing complexity and parameters. In addition, difficulties in parameter calibration have given rise to barriers to their use in geotechnical engineering. Therefore, the establishment of a simple, easy-to-understand, easy-to-use learning, training and practice platform can serve as a bridge between theory and practice. This book, with its supporting platform software, is a welcome attempt to make constitutive models more accessible to both researchers and practitioners alike. <...>

Application of earth sciences to the solution of civil engineering problems, or geotechnics, constitutes the subject of this book. The point of view is that of the engineer, and the earth sciences, particularly geology, have been brought into the engineering pattern only when they have direct bearing upon the problems under discussion. The authors goal is to present only those basic geotechnical principles that can provide a solid basis for the solution of problems connected with the natural environment of an engineering structure, particularly the surrounding ground. Case histories have been used only for the elucidation of principles. <...>