With the title Engineering Rock Mechanics, what is this book about? It is about the discipline, based on mechanics, which is used to design structures built on or in rock masses. These structures, which encompass building foundations, dams, rock slopes, tunnel, caverns, hydroelectric schemes, mines, etc., depend critically on the rock mass properties and the interaction between the rock mass and the engineered structure. As a result, the distinct discipline of engineering rock mechanics has developed. The term ’rock mechanics’ refers to the basic science of mechanics applied to rocks; whilst the term ’rock engineering’ refers to any engineering activity involving rocks. Thus, the term ’engineering rock mechanics’ refers to the use of rock mechanics in rock engineering-within the context of civil, mining and petroleum enpeering. Because rock mechanics can also be used to study structural geology, we emphasize through the title that it is the rock mechanics principles in the engineering context that we are presenting <...>

Environmental chemistry, Seventh Edition, continues much the same organizational structure, level, and emphasis that have been developed through preceding editions. In addition to providing updated material in the rapidly developing area of environmental chemistry, this edition emphasizes several major concepts that are proving essential to the practice of environmental chemistry at the beginning of the new millennium.

The paper presents some contemporary approaches to spatial environmental data analysis. The main topics are concentrated on the decision-oriented problems of environmental spatial data mining and modeling: valorization and representativity of data with the help of exploratory data analysis, spatial predictions, probabilistic and risk mapping, development and application of conditional stochastic simulation models. The innovative part of the paper presents integrated/hybrid model—machine learning (ML) residuals sequential simulations—MLRSS.

The volume ‘‘Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis, Case Histories’’ contains selected papers presented at the ‘‘Workshop: Environmental Geochemistry—Site Characterization, Waste Disposal, Data Analysis, Case Histories’’ held in Napoli (Italy) on May 4–5, 2006. Participants from private and public institutions of Canada, Finland, Greece, Italy, the UK, and USA, took part.