Published on 09 September 2025
A landmark open-access paper, Artificial intelligence transformations in geotechnics: progress, challenges and future enablers, has just been published in Computers and Geotechnics (Elsevier). The work, authored by an international team of experts led by Dr Brian Sheil and collaborators across Europe, Asia, and beyond, presents a bold vision for how artificial intelligence (AI) could transform the future of geotechnical engineering.
As global reliance on underground space continues to grow, whether for urban infrastructure, offshore renewable energy, or innovative housing, engineers face mounting challenges in managing complex and uncertain ground conditions. The study argues that AI is poised to become a “game changer” for the field, with the potential to dramatically improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
The paper explores current progress in applying AI to geotechnical challenges, showcasing use cases such as intelligent site investigation, predictive modelling of soil behaviour, and optimisation of design and construction processes. At the same time, the authors highlight pressing challenges that must be addressed, including data scarcity, model interpretability, and the integration of AI into engineering practice.
Looking ahead, the study identifies a set of priority enablers, such as better data sharing frameworks, advances in machine learning, and closer collaboration between industry and academia, that could unlock the full transformative potential of AI in geotechnics.
The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.