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Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Geoenvironmental Engineering

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 381

Special Issue Editors

National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Interests: big data in engineering; machine learning; geospatial data mining
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Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Interests: numerical modeling; foundation engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering are experiencing a paradigm shift fueled by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into conventional engineering practices. With the advent of machine learning, deep learning, physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), and data-driven modeling techniques, researchers and practitioners can now analyze complex subsurface behavior, predict geohazard risks, and optimize infrastructure design with higher accuracy and efficiency. This Special Issue aims to showcase recent advances in the application of AI technologies to solve pressing challenges in geoenvironmental and geotechnical engineering.

We invite submissions of high-quality original research articles, case studies, and critical review papers that explore innovative applications of AI in areas such as slope stability analysis, tunneling risk assessment, settlement prediction, groundwater modeling, and data-driven geotechnical monitoring. Particular emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary studies that combine AI with physical modeling, field data integration, and real-world engineering scenarios. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Settlement prediction using physics-informed neural networks in geotechnical engineering;
  2. Deep learning-based slope failure prediction using multi-source and temporal monitoring data;
  3. AI frameworks for coupled rainfall–groundwater–slope system response analysis;
  4. AI-assisted tunnel construction risk evaluation in complex geological conditions;
  5. Machine learning-based inversion of soil parameters and remediation planning;
  6. Graph neural networks for geotechnical spatial structure analysis;
  7. Reinforcement learning for optimization of construction processes in underground engineering.

Dr. Suhua Zhou
Dr. Xin Tan
Dr. Minghua Huang
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • geotechnical engineering
  • physics-informed neural networks (PINNs)
  • slope stability prediction
  • tunnel risk assessment

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

29 pages, 8706 KiB  
Article
An Integrated Risk Assessment of Rockfalls Along Highway Networks in Mountainous Regions: The Case of Guizhou, China
by Jinchen Yang, Zhiwen Xu, Mei Gong, Suhua Zhou and Minghua Huang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8212; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158212 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 278
Abstract
Rockfalls, among the most common natural disasters, pose risks such as traffic congestion, casualties, and substantial property damage. Guizhou Province, with China’s fourth-longest highway network, features mountainous terrain prone to frequent rockfall incidents annually. Consequently, assessing highway rockfall risks in Guizhou Province is [...] Read more.
Rockfalls, among the most common natural disasters, pose risks such as traffic congestion, casualties, and substantial property damage. Guizhou Province, with China’s fourth-longest highway network, features mountainous terrain prone to frequent rockfall incidents annually. Consequently, assessing highway rockfall risks in Guizhou Province is crucial for safeguarding the lives and travel of residents. This study evaluates highway rockfall risk through three key components: susceptibility, hazard, and vulnerability. Susceptibility was assessed using information content and logistic regression methods, considering factors such as elevation, slope, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), aspect, distance from fault, relief amplitude, lithology, and rock weathering index (RWI). Hazard assessment utilized a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP), focusing on average annual rainfall and daily maximum rainfall. Socioeconomic factors, including GDP, population density, and land use type, were incorporated to gauge vulnerability. Integration of these assessments via a risk matrix yielded comprehensive highway rockfall risk profiles. Results indicate a predominantly high risk across Guizhou Province, with high-risk zones covering 41.19% of the area. Spatially, the western regions exhibit higher risk levels compared to eastern areas. Notably, the Bijie region features over 70% of its highway mileage categorized as high risk or above. Logistic regression identified distance from fault lines as the most negatively correlated factor affecting highway rockfall susceptibility, whereas elevation gradient demonstrated a minimal influence. This research provides valuable insights for decision-makers in formulating highway rockfall prevention and control strategies. Full article
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