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Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 9180

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Editors

Dr. Sanjay Nimbalkar

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Guest Editor

School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, FEIT, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Interests: transportation geotechnics; earthquake geotechnics; constitutive modeling of granular media; finite elements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Ivan Sakhno

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Mining, Donetsk National Technical University, Lutsk, Ukraine
Interests: rock mechanics; coal mining; numerical simulation; mine roadway stability; geomechanics for mining

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern civil engineering faces serious challenges, creating projects of underground construction. Climate change and energy transformation require innovative “green” solutions that minimize the negative impact on the environment during the implementation of geotechnical engineering projects and are, at the same time, energy-efficient. Although, traditionally, the sustainability of geotechnical objects was interpreted as their ability to retain their functionality over time and maintain their efficiency, reliability, and resilience, the new challenge of geotechnics is sustainable and environmentally friendly development.

This Special Issue, entitled “Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions”, aims to combine the efforts of researchers, practitioners, and experts to discuss and solve the problems in contemporary geotechnics for sustainable engineering.

The usage of the basic principles of rock and soil mechanics to solve engineering problems is not sufficient today. Sustainable geotechnical design is impossible without accurate predictions of rock behavior under the influence of static and dynamic loads, moisture, temperature, and vibration. Experimental methods/testing methods and in situ monitoring are of particular importance today. Geotechnical engineers increasingly face natural hazards, so new solutions are sought for more effective methods of their prediction and prevention, including modern methods of numerical analysis, monitoring the state of rock masses and underground structures, and the application of computer-aided design programs.

Therefore, this Special Issue welcomes the submission of manuscripts that focus on various aspects of sustainability in environmental geotechnics that enhance our knowledge and understanding of the response of tunnels, roadways, and underground structures to various loads. Its purpose is to become a platform for researchers, practitioners, and experts to present their findings, share best practices, and propose novel solutions for achieving sustainability in geotechnical engineering.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome to be submitted. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Testing methods and monitoring techniques in rock mechanics and environmental geotechnics;
Numerical simulation techniques in geotechnical engineering;
Impact of geohazards on tunnels, roadways, and underground structures;
Sustainable and environmentally friendly developments in geotechnics;
Whole-life management of underground structures;
Fracture mechanics and damage mechanics of underground construction

Dr. Sanjay Nimbalkar
Prof. Dr. Ivan Sakhno
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability 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

environmental geotechnics
rock and soil mechanics
geotechnical engineering
tunnels
roadway
underground structures
underground construction
numerical analysis
monitoring techniques

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

35 pages, 2299 KB

Open AccessArticle

Recycled PET as a Modular System for Coastal Slope Stabilisation: A Preliminary Numerical Climate-Adaptation Approach in Chucuito, Callao

by Tito Roberto Vilchez Vilchez, Oswaldo Velásquez Hidalgo, Maria Cecilia Chirinos Flores, Guisela Yabar Torres, Manuel Félix Villena Mávila, Dan Nelson Herrera Ayoque, Adler Deker Machado Huanca, Hans Aarón Vilchez Chumpitaz and Juan Carlos Gomez Avalos

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8201; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168201 - 11 Aug 2026

Viewed by 276

Abstract

Vulnerable coastal urban margins face overlapping pressures from erosion, climate change, and plastic-waste accumulation. This study presents a screening-level numerical assessment of a hollow modular unit made of a recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET)–concrete composite, proposed for coastal slope protection and stabilisation in Chucuito, Callao, Peru. A limit-equilibrium baseline indicates that the unprotected slope is marginal to unstable under the site’s seismic demand, motivating the evaluation of a surface-protection concept through a parallel, one-way finite element analysis–computational fluid dynamics (FEA–CFD) framework applied at three slope angles (60°, 53°, 45°). The FEA structural-response screening indicates consistent trends across configurations under an equivalent impact load and the adopted basal restraint. For the hydraulic comparison, inlet velocities of 3, 5 and 7 m/s were anchored to the site-specific Delft3D inundation modelling (site maximum 5 m/s), with a conservative 10 m/s upper bound; relative to a rip-rap reference, the hollow configuration suggests midpoint run-up velocity reductions of approximately 52% at θ = 53° under the conservative scenario and ≈57% at 3 and 5 m/s, falling to ≈25% at 7 m/s with overlapping ranges and the simulated free surface exceeding the crest. The CFD free-surface elevations show order-of-magnitude consistency with an indicative EurOtop-based run-up benchmark used as a consistency check rather than as hydraulic validation. Independent of this hydraulic comparison, the hollow geometry saves ≈ 62% of the material volume relative to an equivalent solid concrete block, valorises ≈ 793 post-consumer PET bottles per unit at a 10% dosage, and suggests a 42–58% embodied-CO₂ reduction relative to the same solid-concrete reference, driven mainly by the hollow geometry rather than by the PET substitution itself. The results are internally consistent but not experimentally validated and are intended as a comparative baseline to guide subsequent experimental and field studies, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11, 12 and 13. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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36 pages, 20788 KB

Open AccessArticle

Normalized, Not Absolute: Transferable Prediction of SPT-N from Trend-Based Resistivity Descriptors for Resource-Efficient and Sustainable Site Investigation

by Nopanom Kaewhanam, Siwa Kaewplang, Thammanun Chatwong, Apichit Kampala, Sitthiphat Eua-apiwatch and Sivarit Sultornsanee

Sustainability 2026, 18(15), 7508; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18157508 - 23 Jul 2026

Viewed by 533

Abstract

Site investigation is costly, slow, and locally destructive, with boreholes spaced by budget rather than by ground variability. Portable electrical resistivity offers a rapid, low-disturbance alternative, but correlations built on absolute resistivity transfer poorly between locations. This study asks whether the limitation lies in the measurement or in its representation. In four boreholes in tropical sandy soils of the Khorat Plateau, Thailand (601–1729 m apart), Wenner-array resistivity was measured at 0.5 m depth increments alongside standard penetration tests (SPT) and index testing, yielding 63 paired observations. Each smoothed log-resistivity profile was described by three within-borehole quantities: the relative electrical state (x), its squared deviation (x²), and the transition intensity (g). SPT-N was predicted by linear regression under leave-one-borehole-out cross-validation. Absolute resistivity predicted SPT-N poorly (R² = 0.133) and added nothing to depth alone (0.597 versus 0.617); the descriptors raised cross-borehole performance to R² = 0.733 (RMSE 13.5 versus 16.2 blows), kept an advantage without smoothing (0.677), and laboratory indices transferred worst (−0.262). With only four boreholes, the gain is not yet statistically definitive (bootstrap 95% CI −0.04 to +0.26), so the study is presented as a proof of concept: the transferable information in a resistivity profile appears to lie in its shape rather than its magnitude, supporting borehole targeting and more resource-efficient site investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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21 pages, 22377 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Risk Assessment of Innovative Soil Substitute Cover in Post-Mining Land Reclamation: A Case Study of the Janina Mine Spoil Heap

by Angelika Więckol-Ryk and Magdalena Cempa

Sustainability 2026, 18(14), 7072; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147072 - 10 Jul 2026

Viewed by 359

Abstract

Artificial soils derived from coal combustion by-products and industrial waste have been successfully used for mine spoil reclamation; however, their ecological risk and toxic element migration in the soil–plant system have not been assessed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ecological risks in soil substitute covers after five years of their exposition, using the ecological risk factor (ERⁱ), potential ecological risk index (PERI) and geoaccumulation index. The modified BCR-sequential extraction method was applied to determine the chemical partitioning of the most toxic heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn). Additionally, the bioconcentration and translocation factors were used to assess the uptake of toxic elements by Phragmites australis. Findings from PERI indicate a moderate risk (239 and 258), mainly associated with moderate and considerable ERⁱ for Cd and Hg, respectively. The other toxic metals are associated with a low risk (ERⁱ < 40). Sequential extraction results showed the lowest concentrations of heavy metals in F1 fraction (0–30%) and increased in subsequent fractions: F2 (1–43%), F3 (10–62%) and F4 (10–89%). The calculated BCF values were below 1, indicating that the concentration of toxic metals in plants was lower than that in the soil substitute. The only exception was observed for Mn and Sn (BCF > 1). The results suggest that the tested soil substitutes are suitable for the reclamation of post-mining areas and may support sustainable biomass production. However, due to industrial atmospheric deposition and ecological risk associated with selected trace elements, continued monitoring of toxic metals is recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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23 pages, 9352 KB

Open AccessArticle

Circularity Assessment of GeoBarrier System as Sustainable Retaining Wall

by Rezat Abishev, Alfrendo Satyanaga, Mert Guney, Marzhan Kabzhassarova, Aswin Lim and Jong Kim

Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6771; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136771 - 3 Jul 2026

Viewed by 396

Abstract

The growth of circular economy concepts has resulted in the need to develop methods for assessing circularity in geotechnical infrastructure systems. This paper proposes, for the first time, an initial framework for assessing circularity of geotechnical infrastructure systems and then uses it to assess the GeoBarrier System (GBS) as a case study. The framework considers five domains: water, energy, material, waste, and site quality. It was formulated based on a literature review, stakeholder requirements, and the case-specific characteristics of the GBS. Laboratory characterisation and numerical analyses were performed to assess the engineering performance of the system and support the circularity assessment. The results show that water circularity was the highest at 50.0%, meaning that half of the water in the system was effectively reused or recirculated. In contrast, energy circularity was absent due to the lack of renewable energy integration. Material and waste circularity performed at a moderate level, lower than water circularity, reflecting partial use of recycled materials and reuse of excavated soil. The site quality evaluation resulted in a score of 2.250, which, together with the other indicators, suggests an intermediate overall level of circularity performance. The assessment identified opportunities to improve circularity through greater on-site reuse of excavated waste, renewable energy integration, and improved site planning. The proposed framework is the first circularity/sustainability system specific to geotechnical infrastructure systems; therefore, apart from GBS, it is intended for potential applicability for evaluating circularity in other geotechnical systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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21 pages, 5670 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Soil Structural Stability of Coal Mine Roof Using Multidimensional Elliptical Copula and Data Augmentation

by Jiazeng Cao, Tao Wang, Chuanqi Zhu and Ying Xu

Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10028; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210028 - 10 Nov 2025

Viewed by 972

Abstract

Roof instability in coal mines is one of the primary causes of mining disasters, casualties, and environmental damage. Accurately assessing its reliability is crucial for achieving safe production and sustainable development in coal mining. Based on 192 small measured samples from multiple domestic coal mines (including Anhui, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia), this study constructs multidimensional Gaussian Copula and t Copula models to characterize the complex correlation structure of mechanical parameters. The hybrid adaptive multi-method data augmentation (HAMDA) method with three distinct weighting strategies is proposed. Through Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), systematic reliability assessments are conducted for different roof locations. The results indicate that multidimensional elliptical Copulas effectively simulate the correlation structure of highly variable multidimensional coal mine roof mechanical parameters. Roof system instability is primarily triggered by failure in the bottom zone, accompanied by sidewall instability in approximately 60% of cases, while the top zone remains relatively secure. This provides crucial insights for optimizing support design. The HAMDA method significantly overcomes the limitations of small sample data, with its expanded statistical characteristics closely matching measured data. Failure probability estimates vary across different HAMDA schemes: conservative programs may underestimate risks, while diverse programs tend toward conservatism in lateral zones. These results provide theoretical support for refined roof support design in coal mines, holding significant theoretical and practical value for advancing safety, environmental sustainability, and sustainable development in the coal industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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34 pages, 18918 KB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Sustainable Railways Using Polymeric Inclusions, Polyurethane Foam and Marginal Materials Derived from Rubber Tires

by Piyush Punetha, Mohammad Adnan Farooq, Naveen Kumar Meena and Sanjay Nimbalkar

Sustainability 2025, 17(20), 9007; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209007 - 11 Oct 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1212

Abstract

Rail transport is widely regarded as a sustainable and environmentally friendly option for long-distance freight and passenger movement during its operation phase. However, its construction and maintenance phases often result in substantial environmental impacts, which must be addressed to improve the overall sustainability of railways. This study aims to identify solutions that improve the performance of railway tracks, reduce maintenance requirements, and minimize environmental impact. With this objective, the potential of artificial inclusions and innovative composite materials in enhancing the sustainability of railway tracks is investigated through a comprehensive methodology, combining experimental, analytical and numerical approaches. A novel composite material, comprising soil, scrap tire aggregates and an adhesive, demonstrated strong potential as a sustainable base layer for ballastless railway tracks, exhibiting minimal strain accumulation (0.29–0.98%) under 50,000 load cycles and adequate damping. Incorporation of cellular artificial inclusions in the substructure layers of ballasted tracks reduced cumulative settlement by up to 33% and slowed track geometry deterioration. Use of planar artificial inclusions beneath a pile-supported railway embankment enhanced the load transfer efficiency and curtailed settlement, while also lowering environmental impact by reducing concrete usage. The findings of this study highlight strong potential of these approaches in improving track performance and the overall sustainability of railways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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13 pages, 3270 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Lateral Water Migration Trend in Compacted Loess Subgrade Due to Extreme Rainfall Condition: Experiments and Theoretical Model

by Xueqing Hua, Yu Xi, Gang Li and Honggang Kou

Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6761; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156761 - 24 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1066

Abstract

Water migration occurs in unsaturated loess subgrade due to extreme rainfall, making it prone to subgrade subsidence and other water damage disasters, which seriously impact road safety and sustainable development of the Loess Plateau. The study performed a rainfall test using a compacted loess subgrade model based on a self-developed water migration test device. The effects of extreme rainfall on the water distribution, wetting front, and infiltration rate in the subgrade were systematically explored by setting three rainfall intensities (4.6478 mm/h, 9.2951 mm/h, and 13.9427 mm/h, namely J1 stage, J2stage, and J3 stage), and a lateral water migration model was proposed. The results indicated that the range of water content change areas constantly expands as rainfall intensity and time increase. The soil infiltration rate gradually decreased, and the ratio of surface runoff to infiltration rainfall increased. The hysteresis of lateral water migration refers to the physical phenomenon in which the internal water response of the subgrade is delayed in time and space compared to changes in boundary conditions. The sensor closest to the side of the slope changed first, with the most significant fluctuations. The farther away from the slope, the slower the response and the smaller the fluctuation. The bigger the rainfall intensity, the faster the wetting front moved horizontally. The migration rate at the slope toe is the highest. The migration rate of sensor W3 increased by 66.47% and 333.70%, respectively, in the J3 stage compared to the J2 and J1 stages. The results of the model and the measured data were in good agreement, with the R² exceeding 0.90, which verifies the reliability of the model. The study findings are important for guiding the prevention and control of disasters caused by water damage to roadbeds in loess areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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26 pages, 6966 KB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Subsidence Response to Safety Pillar Width Between Reactor Cavities in the Underground Gasification of Thin Coal Seams

by Ivan Sakhno, Svitlana Sakhno and Oleksandr Vovna

Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2533; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062533 - 13 Mar 2025

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2021

Abstract

Underground coal gasification (UCG) is a clean and automated coal technological process that has great potential. Environmental hazards such as the risk of ground surface subsidence, flooding, and water pollution are among the problems that restrict the application of UCG. Overburden rock stability above UCG cavities plays a key role in the prevention of the mentioned environmental hazards. It is necessary to optimize the safety pillar width to maintain rock stability and ensure minimal coal losses. This study focused on the investigation of the influence of pillar parameters on surface subsidence, taking into account the non-rectangular shape of the pillar and the presence of voids above the UCG reactor in the immediate roof. The main research was carried out using the finite element method in ANSYS 17.2 software. The results of the first simulation stage demonstrated that during underground gasification of a thin coal seam using the Controlled Retraction Injection Points method, with reactor cavities measuring 30 m in length and pillars ranging from 3.75 to 15 m in width, the surface subsidence and rock movement above gasification cavities remain within the pre-peak limits, provided the safety pillar’s bearing capacity is maintained. The probability of crack initiation in the rock mass and subsequent environmental hazards is low. However, in the case of the safety pillars’ destruction, there is a high risk of crack evolution in the overburden rock. In the case of crack formation above the gasification panel, the destruction of aquiferous sandstones and water breakthroughs into the gasification cavities become possible. The surface infrastructure is therefore at risk of destruction. The assessment of the pillars’ stability was carried out at the second stage using numerical simulation. The study of the stress–strain state and temperature distribution in the surrounding rocks near a UCG reactor shows that the size of the heat-affected zone of the UCG reactor is less than the thickness of the coal seam. This shows that there is no significant direct influence of the gasification process on the stability of the surrounding rocks around previously excavated cavities. The coal seam failure in the side walls of the UCG reactor, which occurs during gasification, leads to a reduction in the useful width of the safety pillar. The algorithm applied in this study enables the optimization of pillar width under any mining and geological conditions. This makes it possible to increase the safety and reliability of the UCG process. For the conditions of this research, the failure of coal at the stage of gasification led to a decrease in the useful width of the safety pillar by 0.5 m. The optimal width of the pillar was 15 m. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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Review

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74 pages, 14431 KB

Open AccessReview

Dynamic Compaction for Ground Improvement: Mechanisms, Governing Parameters, Environmental Impacts, and Multiscale Research Approaches

by Syed Husnain Ali Shah, Thanh T. Nguyen and Hadi Khabbaz

Sustainability 2026, 18(12), 5827; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18125827 - 8 Jun 2026

Viewed by 684

Abstract

Dynamic compaction (DC) is a widely used ground-improvement technique due to its cost-effectiveness, low environmental impact, and high adaptability. Despite its simple implementation, compaction efficiency is governed by multiple interacting factors, including tamping energy and soil properties, which poses challenges to practical design. Although numerous investigations have been reported, a comprehensive review systematically linking the various aspects of the DC technique through multiple approaches remains lacking. This paper addresses this gap by integrating and critically evaluating findings from field studies, controlled laboratory experiments, analytical studies, and numerical modeling to establish an effective framework for dynamic compaction applications. In addition, the environmental performance of DC is critically assessed, demonstrating its relatively low environmental footprint compared to material-intensive ground-improvement techniques, as impacts are primarily governed by construction energy rather than material production, although vibration and noise remain key considerations. The findings indicate that DC performance is controlled by the combined effects of the tamper mass, drop height, and geometry, together with impact spacing, number of blows, and initial soil properties. Field studies show that densification depth and uniformity are influenced by the fines percentage, drainage conditions, and applied energy levels, often requiring appropriate tamping strategies to mitigate pore water effects. Laboratory investigations highlight the dominant role of tamper mass over drop height in stress transmission and penetration depth and demonstrate how the tamper shape and impact sequence govern crater formation and strain localization. Numerical models employing finite element, discrete element, smoothed particle hydrodynamics, and hybrid approaches provide insight into stress wave propagation, pore pressure evolution, and soil–structure interaction. However, limitations remain in simulating sequential tamping, boundary conditions, and coupled hydro-mechanical behavior. This review highlights the need for cross-validated modeling, advanced instrumentation, and machine learning integration to support predictive, site-responsive dynamic compaction design in complex geotechnical settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Environmental Geotechnics and Transportation Geotechnics for Sustainable Engineering Solutions)

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