Responding to Climate Change Through Geotechnical Engineering Research

Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering

Webinar hosted by the Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering

<h2>Summary</h2><p>Climate change has wide-ranging ramifications: from rising sea levels and air temperatures; to changes in patterns of precipitation, declines in snow-cover, permafrost and sea-ice; and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme events (e.g., hurricanes, floods droughts). This webinar will discuss how geotechnical and geological engineering research might be a crucial part of climate change mitigation and adaptation, building on themes described in 2020 paper by Culligan, Whittle, and Mitchell (see https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-030-06249-1_1). Geotechnical engineers now contribute to the development of renewable energy resources (e.g., for foundations for offshore wind turbines, integration of ground source heat exchangers in building foundations, rock drilling and fracturing in enhanced geothermal systems), but net-zero emission conditions will require geotechnical research advances to support reliable large-scale terrestrial/geological carbon sequestration and mineralization. Similarly, given the cost of new infrastructure and the uncertainties associated with predicting climate change effects, geotechnical engineers could contribute to new non-structural solutions for climate adaptation. This may be especially applicable to mitigating hazards associated with coastal and surface water flooding and slope instability, ensuring reliable water supplies, and making infrastructure more resilient.</p><h2>Speaker</h2><p>Andrew J. Whittle is the Edmund K. Turner Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT. He is an expert in geotechnical engineering, whose research deals principally with formulation of constitutive models for representing the complex mechanical properties of soils and their application in predicting the performance of foundations and underground construction projects. His research has been widely used in the design of foundation systems for deep-water oil production facilities and in major urban excavation and tunneling projects. Most recently he has led research efforts in the application of wireless sensor networks for monitoring underground water distribution systems and construction projects. Dr. Whittle is licensed professional engineer and an active consultant who has worked on more than 30 major onshore and offshore construction projects. Dr. Whittle earned his BSc in Civil Engineering from Imperial College (1981) and his ScD in geotechnical engineering at MIT (ScD, 1987). He has published more than 240 papers in refereed journals and conferences, and received several awards for his work from the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2010.</p>

<p>Please reach out to Elleni Giorgis at Egiorgis@nas.edu with any questions regarding this event.</p>