Geological and Geotechnical Engineering in the New Millennium: Opportunities for Research and Technological Innovation (2006)
Geoengineering, which refers to all types of engineering that deal with Earth materials, such as geotechnical and geological engineering, is at a crossroads. With the rapid expansion of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology, it is time to consider how these new approaches might come into play in developing better solutions for geotechnological problems. Aimed primarily at National Science Foundation (NSF) program managers and the geotechnical engineering community, this report presents a vision for the future in the new millennium-pointing to important changes in the practice of the field. For example, the report recommends that geoengineers should look to new technologies and approaches to solve problems more efficiently. NSF should help facilitate this process by funding programs to train researchers in new technologies through interdisciplinary initiatives, such as continuing education programs. These and other steps outlined in the report will help move the field forward, enabling geoengineers to expand their role in helping to solve some of our most pressing problems, including global climate change, emission-free energy supply, global water supply, and urban systems.
