As we move further into the 21st century, it is becoming increasingly more clear that climate change is the biggest concern that we must face. The effects of climate change, specifically the increasing frequency and intensity of natural hazards, are wreaking havoc on infrastructure, including earth structures, around the globe. The need for more resilient earth structures requires firm and bold action by owners, managers, stakeholders and the whole scientific community.
The purpose of this report is to expand upon the work found in the first report published by Working Group 2 (WG2) of Technical Committee 4.3 Earthworks (TC4.3) titled Techniques and Innovations in Earthworks – A PIARC Collection of Case Studies (2022R11EN). The case studies report included 36 case studies from countries all around the world showcasing innovative solutions and techniques related to various aspects of earthworks and earth structures. Innovation will be the key to fight the effects of climate change through more resilient and sustainable earth structures.
This report aims to be a "future vision" of the path we must follow in the sustainable management of earth structures throughout the life cycle. Making decisions and finding solutions in all phases of an earth structure’s life cycle will be key in long lasting, sustainable, and resilient earth structures. This report includes a chapter focused on the various phases of the life cycle, followed by a chapter taking a deeper dive into the maintenance phase including a focus on drainage, a key component in the resilience of an earth structure. Resilience indicators, part of a new tool for estimating the value of an earth structure’s resilience, are introduced and presented in the fifth chapter. This tool would be useful for an agency or owner looking to build an asset management program for their earth structures.
The report concludes by identifying current and future challenges and some recommendations for future work to be undertaken by PIARC in hopes of progressing this topic among nations of all sizes.