A Global Snapshot

According to HSBC Global Infrastructure Trends (2019), the estimated financial investment over the next 20 years will reach USD $30.6 trillion for roads, USD $10.3 trillion for rail, and USD $3.2 trillion each for ports and airports. Delivery of transport infrastructure will require balancing competing socio-economic, political, cultural, demographic and increasingly, ecological factors.  

Global growth is projected to increase to 2030 (ISSMGE, 2022) with the fastest growth in developing countries and more moderate growth in the developed countries (OECD, 2011). This growth will demand increased capacity from transportation systems, likely translating into more infrastructure along with larger ships, aeroplanes, trains, and road vehicles, while efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation infrastructure are driving a focus on increased load-carrying capacity rather than higher volume. For instance, future freight trains with 30,000 tonne capacity travelling at 250km per hour (CPCCC 2019) or container ships that are too large to navigate through existing transport routes or dock at some nation’s ports (BBC 2013). Increased capacity has a major effect on geotechnical engineering behaviour of transport systems. 

China leads the global stage in transportation geotechnics, exemplifying rapid innovation and ambition through its extensive high-speed rail networks, urban developments, and large-scale reclamation projects. Advanced techniques such as vacuum consolidation, vertical drains, and deep soil mixing are staples of its infrastructure projects, with the Ningbo Port land reclamation standing out as a model of integrating state-of-the-art methods to enhance soil strength and minimise settlement risks. Japan, known for its precision and foresight, emphasises long-term resilience in projects like Kansai and Tokyo International Airports. These efforts involve advanced consolidation techniques and chemical soil stabilisation to manage settlement challenges over decades, illustrating the country’s commitment to sustainability and durability. 

Australia’s infrastructure boom places geotechnics at the heart of projects like Inland Rail, Sydney Metro, the Pacific Highway upgrade, Port of Brisbane reclamation and Western Sydney Airport , with SMEC contributing its expertise across these developments. These projects are starting to embrace innovative ground modelling and digital tools like GIS to complement and extend beyond traditional empirical methods. Meanwhile, Europe and North America lead sustainability initiatives, incorporating recycled materials, bio-stabilisation, and advanced monitoring systems to reduce environmental impacts. Resilience to climate change is central to their designs, with AI and big data analytics shaping decision-making processes and enabling infrastructure adaptability to floods, earthquakes, and other extreme conditions.

Ballina Bypass

Bridging the Gap to Tomorrow

As global climate goals become more urgent, transportation geotechnics are adapting to align with sustainability imperatives. The adoption of recycled materials, low-carbon construction practices, and bio-stabilisation techniques is critical for reducing environmental impact. For example, microbial soil stabilisation not only strengthens soil but also offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods. Technology also plays a transformative role, with AI, IoT, and drones redefining geotechnical practices. Predictive models powered by AI enhance the accuracy of soil behaviour analysis, while autonomous drones expedite safer, more efficient site investigations. 

Equally critical is the resilience of infrastructure in the face of extreme weather events. Adaptive designs incorporating self-healing materials, dynamic drainage systems, and intelligent monitoring solutions ensure operational continuity and reduce maintenance costs. By integrating these approaches, transportation geotechnics can better address the dual demands of environmental sustainability and infrastructure resilience. 

Traditional Methods vs. Emerging Trends

The state of practice in transportation geotechnics remains a blend of conventional methods and incremental innovation. Empirical approaches and manual site investigations are still widely used, particularly for routine projects, but these approaches sometimes fall short when applied to large-scale, complex infrastructure. Ground improvement techniques such as vacuum consolidation and chemical stabilisation are gaining traction, especially in soft-soil conditions, while digital tools like numerical modelling are beginning to enhance accuracy in design and analysis. Despite these advances, the adoption of transformative technologies remains limited due to cost barriers and a lack of industry-wide familiarity. 

Innovation Shaping the Future

The integration of artificial intelligence is revolutionizing predictive modelling, enabling engineers to anticipate soil behaviour with greater confidence. Autonomous systems, including drones, are making site investigations more efficient and safer, particularly for large or remote projects. Sustainability is also reshaping the industry, with recycled materials and carbon-neutral solutions becoming more prevalent. Meanwhile, adaptive materials and resilient designs, such as self-healing concrete and responsive drainage systems, are paving the way for infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental stresses and ensuring long-term durability. 

A Call for Change

Transportation geotechnics has made remarkable progress.  Reflecting on the current state of geotechnics in Australia (Kelly, 2024), it is observed that the engineering profession plays a major role in the delivery of infrastructure that provides great benefit for our communities.  However, future challenges demand a departure from conventional practices.   

By taking these steps, transportation geotechnics can not only overcome current challenges but also build smarter, more sustainable infrastructure that benefits communities and ecosystems alike. 

Geotechnical practice will evolve into the future. Transport infrastructure will get bigger, heavier, faster and longer and practice will need to evolve to match these changes. While practitioners currently often use simple methods these may not be applicable in the future and hence practitioners will need to have a deep understanding of their subjects to succeed including ground modelling, applied mechanics, sustainability, resilience, artificial intelligence and human skills.   

Change is no longer optional—it is essential for shaping the future of transportation systems in a rapidly evolving world. Through innovation and a commitment to progress, transportation geotechnics can rise to meet the demands of a sustainable and resilient future. 

References

BBC World Service. 2013. How much bigger can container ships get? https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21432226 

HSBC 2019 Global Infrastructure Trends, Surbana Jurong SMEC internal presentation 

Indraratna, B., Kelly, R., & Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2011). The Port of Brisbane ground improvement project. Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 

Kelly, R. (2024). A view on the state of practice in transportation geotechnics in Australia. Transportation Geotechnics, 46, 101259 

Kelly, R., Indraratna, B., Powrie, W., Zapata, C., Kikuchi, Y., Tutumluer, E. and Correia, A.G. (2022) State of the Art in Transportation Geotechnics, Proc. 20th Int. Conc. Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Aust. Geomechanics Society, Sydney 

OECD Futures Project on Transcontinental Infrastructure Needs to 2030/50. 2011 Strategic Transport Infrastructure Needs to 2030: Main Findings 

The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council (CPCCC) (2019). Program of Building National Strength in Transportation. http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-09/19/content_5431432.htm (in Chinese) 

Dr. Richard Kelly

General Manager of Technical Excellence

Richard has extensive experience in delivering large and complex civil infrastructure projects. Richard is the Chief Technical Principal – Geotechnical and General Manager of Technical Excellence working within design teams integrated with the Client and Contractor on many projects. Richard has also been an Alliance Management Team member on the Ballina Bypass Alliance and Hamilton Bypass Alliance Tender. Richard has extensive expertise in site characterisation, soft soil engineering, ground improvement, materials use, earthworks and foundation design. Richard has created the National Soft Soil Field Testing Facility in Ballina for the University of Newcastle which aims to improve the construction of infrastructure on soft soils.