Recent Advances in Sustainability Practice of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Regions with Challenging Geological and Climatic Conditions

Dear Colleagues,

In today's world, the theory and technology of civil and environmental engineering in typical regions have reached a mature stage. However, there remain numerous challenging issues related to the design, construction, and sustainable maintenance of infrastructures in regions with unique geological conditions and harsh climates. For instance, in Xinjiang Province, China, the sustainable development and operation of infrastructures face difficulties due to various inherent adverse local attributes, including frequent natural hazards such as avalanches, debris flows, earthquakes, saline and alkaline land, extreme cold and drought, significant temperature variations, high seismic intensity, and severe sandstorms. These adverse environmental and climatic conditions not only escalate construction and maintenance costs, but also result in substantial casualties and economic losses. On the other hand, these regions often boast abundant natural resources such as sunlight and wind, fostering the growth of new energy industries. However, these new energy facilities are typically located in desert areas where significant day and night fluctuations in temperature, shifting sands, and intense sandstorms occur alongside severe water scarcity. The construction of infrastructure in desert areas and the utilization of desert sand as a primary construction material represent crucial novel avenues for enhancing sustainability in civil and environmental engineering; however, these areas have been relatively unexplored. Furthermore, the challenging environment limits the use of conventional sensors. Hence, it is urgent that new sensors capable of withstanding adverse environmental conditions are designed and developed, while ensuring consistent performance. Additionally, remote sensing technologies such as InSAR will prove invaluable in monitoring terrestrial changes and infrastructure displacement in remote and inaccessible areas. However, existing methods, frameworks, tools, and platforms for processing satellite data, visualizing information, and integrating data from ground-based monitoring systems, which are well-established in conventional regions, must be modified or newly created to suit the demanding geological and climatic conditions of these areas.

The aim of this Topic is to highlight recent advancements in fundamental theories, analytical methodologies, intelligent frameworks, advanced numerical modeling, and innovative practical technologies in civil and environmental engineering and related disciplines such as architecture and surveying for regions with challenging geological and climatic conditions. We welcome submissions that address various topics including architectural design theory, remote sensing methodologies, green buildings, sustainable infrastructure management, construction technologies, novel structural patterns, waste material recycling and reuse, water treatment, pavement engineering, avalanche disaster prevention and mitigation, and disaster prevention early warning systems. We particularly encourage the submission of practical case studies that showcase the application of innovative technologies in the aforementioned fields and that contribute to enhancing sustainability and economics. Submissions should be original and not previously reported or published in other journals.

Dr. Xin Huang
Dr. Qinghua Lei
Dr. Tao Zhao
Prof. Dr. Liangfu Xie
Topic Editors