Geotechnical construction beyond the technical challenges: the future is now

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Abstract

Geotechnical engineering is a permanent and fast-moving sector as showcased in international conferences like the present ECSMGE. Design, construction methods, materials, equipment, digitalization: the industry has now reached a point where it has all the technical solutions to create nearly any underground structure, coping with the specific conditions of urban spaces (limited spaces, existing structures, dense facility networks, heavy trafic…).

Even if there are still improvements to be done, the main challenges of underground space in the cities of the future will not be technical but will require efforts on a broader scale. Geotechnical contractors will have to overcome limitations more and more linked to environment, use of scare resources and energy, capability to contract and share the risk, acceptance of the stakeholders, consideration of the present land use and nearby activities, proper management of the uncertainties. The lecture will show such examples and give ways to address them and overcome the consequent limitations.

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Short Curriculum

Serge Borel is Executive Vice President at Soletanche Bachy, with 25 years experience in geotechnical Engineering. Hegraduated fromEcolePolytechniqueand EcoleNationale desPontset Chausséesin France where he obtained a PhD dedicated to piled raft foundations. He headed the Foundation Department of the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées before joining Soletanche Bachy in 2003. He worked in various operational and technical roles, both in France and internationally. As Technical Director, he is leading a group of specialists supporting the Soletanche Bachy projects worldwide and developing new solutions in design, material, methods, plant & equipment, logistics, information technologies, data analysis. Since 2022, Serge is President of the European Federation of Foundations Contractors which gathers 17 National Federations in Europe.