Geological Disasters in Deep Engineering Mechanism, Warning and Risk mitigation

With the increasing demand for infrastructure construction as the global economy progresses, the need for exploration and utilization of deep underground space becomes more crucial. Various deep underground projects are planned, are under construction, and have been built to encounter great construction challenges due to the complex geo-environment such as strong tectonic movement, fragile geo-environment and complex thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical conditions. These deep engineering projects could be endangered by different kinds of geological disasters, such as intense rockburst, large deformation, strong water inrush, and large-scale collapse, which might result in massive loss of life and economic damage during the construction of deep underground projects. It is necessary to take proactive measures to ensure that the development of deep engineering projects is risk-informed and sustainable.

Efforts are being called for strengthening science and technology innovation and cooperation in geological disaster mitigation and sustainable development during the construction of deep engineering projects. It is paramount to use new technologies and international cooperation to jointly tackle the geological disasters risks and achieve sustainable development. To mitigate the risk of geological disaster in deep engineering under the complicate geo-environment, the mechanism of the formation and evolution of geological disasters in deep engineering needs to be understood. The testing, monitoring, simulation, risk assessment and early warning methods for geological disaster in deep engineering are also needed urgently. New theories, methods and techniques related to the mechanism, warning and risk mitigation of geological disasters in deep engineering will be extremely helpful for the construction safety of deep engineering.

This Research Topic will have an overarching focus on new theories, methods and techniques that have been developed to reveal the mechanism and to warn and mitigate the risk of geological disasters in deep engineering. The papers included in this Research Topic can help deep geoengineering community to exchange ideas on how to make the construction of the deep engineering projects more sustainable and disaster-proofing. Original research articles and review articles in warning methods and risk mitigation technology for the safety of deep engineering are especially welcomed.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
(1) Formation and evolution of geological disasters in deep engineering and their mechanism
(2) Testing, monitoring and simulation technology for geological disaster in deep engineering
(3) Risk assessment and early warning methods for geological disaster in deep engineering
(4) Risk mitigation of geological disaster in deep engineering and case study