The International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) launched the Time Capsule Project to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences with past, present, and future challenges in geotechnical engineering (https://www.issmge.org/the-society/time-capsule).
Contributions from the ISSMGE member societies were published for the International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in Sydney in May 2022. Discover the Swiss contribution on this page now. Contributions of the other ISSMGE member societies can be found here
Introduction
Prof. Puzrin: Tribute to Prof. Haefeli and his research on creeping landslides and the stabilization of the Leaning Tower of St. Moritz”
Timeline
| 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| St. Moritz | Vevey Colaps | Prof. Häfeli | Prof. Huder | Selisberg Viaduct | Permanent Anchors | Gotthard Base Tunnel | Swelling Rock | Cross Rail |
Research and education
- Development of geotechnical engineering in Switzerland over the last decades. Challenges resulting from climate change (Prof. Descoeudres)
- Creeping landslides – Professor Robert Haefeli, ETH Zurich
(related topic: stabilization of the Leaning Tower of St. Moritz)
- Behaviour of sensitive soils such as lacustrine chalk Professor Jachen Huder, ETH Zurich
- Tunnelling in swelling rock
- Development of permanent anchors, electrically isolated tendon technique
Large-scale projects from the past 60 years
- Crossing the Alps: Gotthard Base Tunnel, development in squeezing rock
- Railway extensions in urban environments, a few aspects worth considering based on the example of Cross Rail in Zurich
- Building motorways – geotechnical challenges and developments based on the example of the Seelisberg Viaduct
Lessons learnt / Damage events
- The Leaning Tower of St. Moritz
(related topic: Creeping landslides – Professor Robert Haefeli)
- Building in soft, sensitive soils
(topic discussed in: Behaviour of sensitive soils such as lacustrine chalk Professor Jachen Huder, ETH Zurich)
- Swelling rock behaviour in the Jura, Chienberg Tunnel and Adler Tunnel case histories
(topic discussed in: Tunnelling in swelling rock)
- Rupture of permanent anchors
Past, present and future issues in geotechnical engineering
Short articles are being published on the ISSMGE website to discuss past, present, and future issues in geotechnical engineering (Introducing the Time Capsule Project (TCP) Blog Posts | ISSMGE
We don’t need no education – Charles John MacRobert (Stellenbosch University)
Ethics in Geotechnical Engineering – Emilio Bilotta (University of Naples Federico II)
Mind the Gap: Research and practice – Ceres Chung (Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong)
Are we witnessing the emergence of the Third Era in Geotechnical Engineering Practice? Roger Estephan (Dar) and Grace Abou-Jaoude Estephan (Lebanese American University)Know of directly useful geotechnical research? Speak up! – Marina Pantazidou (National Technical University of Athens)