scope:

Preface

Interest and use of probabilistic methods and risk assessment tools in geotechnical engineering has grown rapidly in recent years. The natural variability of soil and rock properties, combined with a frequent lack of high quality site data, makes a probabilistic approach to geotechnical design a logical and scientific way of managing both technical and economic risk. The burgeoning field of geotechnical risk assessment is evidenced by numerous publications, textbooks, dedicated journals and sessions at general geotechnical conferences. Risk assessments are increasingly becoming a requirement in many large engineering construction projects. Probabilistic methods are also recognized in design codes as a way of delivering reasonable load and resistance factors (LRFD) to target allowable risk levels in geotechnical design.

This Geotechnical Special Publication (GSP), coming out of the Geo-Risk 2017 specialty conference held in Denver, Colorado from June 4-7, 2017, presents contributions in sessions: 1) Advances in the Applications of Theory and Practice of Statistics and Probability in Geoengineering, 2) Bayesian Updating for Geotechnical Applications, 3) Risk Assessment of Tunneling, 4) Risk Assessment and Management of Dams, and 5) Seismic Risk Assessment.

These contributions to Geotechnical risk assessment and management are very timely, and will provide a valuable and lasting reference for practitioners and academics alike.

The editors would like to thank all of the members of ASCE Geo Institute's Technical Committee on Risk Assessment and Management and the Engineering Practice of Risk Assessment and Management Committee (TC304) of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) for their ongoing support.

All the papers in this GSP went through a rigorous review process. The contributions of the reviewers are much appreciated.