Environmental Geology and Engineering

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Humans are consciously, or even more unconsciously, drastically changing the earth's surface and biosphere. The increasingly important role of human intelligence and technical talents in shaping their own future and environment has grown into a powerful geological force. In the process of social production practice, scientists have gradually realized that there is a close interaction and influence relationship between the evolution of the natural geological environment, human engineering and economic activities, human society and human survival environment. Many environmental geological phenomena and problems necessitate increasingly detailed exploration and research by scientists. The impact of human engineering and economic activities on the environment is significant, particularly the negative environmental effects caused by irrational human exploitation of the natural geological environment. For example, the development of solid mineral resources, extraction of underground liquid resources, land desertification, soil salinization, garbage and nuclear waste stacking, tailings dams and other environmental geological problems are becoming increasingly prominent. This topic primarily focuses on the subject of the coordinated development of humans and the earth, paying attention to the significant impact of engineering activities on the geological environment system, the impact of the frequency and intensity of human engineering activities on the geological environment and the evolution law, and then exploring the evolution rate and trend of the geological environment of the geodynamic system, which will provide scientific support for the strategic decision-making of global human engineering activities, economic development and ecological environment optimization and macro-coordination.

Dr. Chen Cao
Prof. Dr. Wen Zhang
Prof. Dr. Jie Dou
Prof. Dr. Peihua Xu
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Forests forests	2.9	4.5	2010	16.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Geosciences geosciences	2.7	5.2	2011	23.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Land land	3.9	3.7	2012	14.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Remote Sensing remotesensing	5.0	7.9	2009	23 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.9	5.8	2009	18.8 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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16 pages, 3550 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Deformation Mechanism of Underlying Sandy Soil Induced by Subway Traffic Vibrations

by Jinbo Sun, Dingding He, Ke Sun and Liang Gong

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3493; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083493 - 22 Apr 2024

Viewed by 242

Abstract

The safety of the geotechnical environment around subways is vitally important for their sustainability. Ground settlement is a very common threat to the safe operation of subways and is related to subway traffic vibrations. Taking Nanjing subway line 10 as an example, field [...] Read more.

The safety of the geotechnical environment around subways is vitally important for their sustainability. Ground settlement is a very common threat to the safe operation of subways and is related to subway traffic vibrations. Taking Nanjing subway line 10 as an example, field tests, discrete element simulations, and a grey relational analysis are carried out to study the deformation mechanism of the underlying sandy soil induced by vibrations. The results show that the vibration load of Nanjing subway Line 10 is mainly concentrated in the vertical direction. The particles’ coordination number below the subway increases under the vibration load, while the coordination number on the side of the tunnel decreases, which may cause a shear dilatancy effect. Among the five microscopic indexes, the local porosity and the coordination number are closely related to the deformation. Although the deformation of the underlying sandy soil is quite small under the subway traffic load, it will accumulate under frequent loading and then lead to urban engineering geological disasters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Geology and Engineering)

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18 pages, 2450 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Deformation Characteristics of Combined Heavy Metals-Contaminated Soil Treated with nZVI through the Modified Slurry Consolidation Method

by Chen Fan, Yongzhan Chen, Qinxi Dong, Jing Wei and Meng Zou

Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16959; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416959 - 18 Dec 2023

Viewed by 673

Abstract

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has been widely applied to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soils and water. Its in situ treatment of combined heavy metal contaminated soil, followed by backfilling or other sustainable reutilizations, attracted attention to the treated soil’s deformation characteristics. In this study, [...] Read more.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has been widely applied to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soils and water. Its in situ treatment of combined heavy metal contaminated soil, followed by backfilling or other sustainable reutilizations, attracted attention to the treated soil’s deformation characteristics. In this study, soil samples were prepared using the modified slurry consolidation method to simulate the natural settling of backfilled soil and optimize the reactivity between nZVI and contaminants in soil. The deformation characteristics of natural soil, contaminated soil, and soil treated with varying dosages of nZVI (0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 5%) were investigated. Moreover, the plasticity indexes and particle-size distribution of the samples were examined through Atterberg limits and laser-diffraction particle-size analysis. After a 4 d slurry consolidation process, a typical result indicated the immobilization efficiency of all three heavy metal ions achieved over 90% with 2% nZVI. The presence of three heavy metal ions decreased the Atterberg limits and increased the compression index, permeability, and consolidation coefficient of the soil. Conversely, the introduction of nZVI increased plasticity and resulted in higher permeability, stable secondary consolidation, and less swell. Microscopically, with an increase in the dosage of nZVI, the soil aggregates transformed from a weak chemical bond with insoluble precipitates/iron oxides to larger aggregates consisting of nZVI/-soil aggregates, thereby enhancing the soil skeleton. This study shows improved permeability and deformation characteristics in nZVI-treated combined heavy metal-contaminated soil, offering valuable insights for practical nanomaterials’ in-situ treatment in engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Geology and Engineering)

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26 pages, 31104 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Assessment of Landslide Susceptibility of Dianchi Lake Watershed in Yunnan Plateau

by Guangshun Bai, Xuemei Yang, Zhigang Kong, Jieyong Zhu, Shitao Zhang and Bin Sun

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15221; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115221 - 24 Oct 2023

Viewed by 651

Abstract

The nine plateau lake watersheds in Yunnan are important ecological security barriers in the southwest of China. The prevention and control of landslides are important considerations in the management of these watersheds. Taking the Dianchi Lake watershed as a typical research area, a [...] Read more.

The nine plateau lake watersheds in Yunnan are important ecological security barriers in the southwest of China. The prevention and control of landslides are important considerations in the management of these watersheds. Taking the Dianchi Lake watershed as a typical research area, a comprehensive modeling and assessment process of landslide susceptibility was put forward. The comprehensive process was based on the weight of evidence (WoE) method, and many statistical techniques were integrated, such as cross-validation, multi-quantile cumulative Student’s comprehensive weight statistics, independence testing, step-by-step modeling, ROC analysis, and ROC-based susceptibility zoning. In this paper, fourteen models with high accuracy and validity were established, and the AUC reached 0.83–0.87 and 0.85–0.88, respectively. In addition, according to the susceptibility zoning map compiled via the optimal model, 80% of landslides can be predicted in the very-high- and high-susceptibility areas, which only account for 19.58% of the study area. Finally, this paper puts forward strategies for geological disaster prevention and ecological restoration deployment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Geology and Engineering)

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27 pages, 23901 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Seismic Response of Earth-Rock Dams with Innovative Antiseepage Walls on the Effect of Microscopic Fluid-Solid Coupling

by Jingwei Zhang, Xuanyu Chen, Jia Li and Shuaiqi Xu

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12749; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712749 - 23 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 706

Abstract

In dykes and dam projects, the microscopic fluid-solid coupling effect from the interaction between soil skeleton and pore water during an earthquake is crucial to consider, as it can lead to dam safety problems. To control seepage in medium- and small-sized dams, polymer [...] Read more.

In dykes and dam projects, the microscopic fluid-solid coupling effect from the interaction between soil skeleton and pore water during an earthquake is crucial to consider, as it can lead to dam safety problems. To control seepage in medium- and small-sized dams, polymer antiseepage walls have emerged as effective measures. In recent years, this method has been increasingly utilized in projects worldwide as it is essential for preventing potential dam safety issues. To address concerns related to seismic safety, this study conducts theoretical analysis, model tests, and numerical simulations to investigate the seismic response of earth-rock dams with polymer antiseepage walls, with a specific focus on the microscopic fluid-solid coupling effect. The dynamic viscoelastic constitutive model used in this study incorporates Biot’s theory of dynamic consolidation and the results of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of polymer materials. To validate the model, a centrifuge test is performed, and it is then utilized to study the seismic response of earth-rock dams with polymer antiseepage walls. Furthermore, the influence of factors such as fluid-solid coupling, water level, polymer material density, and wall thickness on the seismic response of dams with antiseepage walls is analyzed. Finally, the seismic safety of the earth-rock dam with the polymer antiseepage wall is thoroughly examined. The results emphasize the need to consider the fluid-solid coupling effect, as factors like water level and design parameters of the antiseepage wall significantly impact the seismic response of earth-rock dams with polymer antiseepage walls. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Geology and Engineering)

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36 pages, 16181 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning Techniques in Predicting Bottom Hole Temperature and Remote Sensing for Assessment of Geothermal Potential in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

by Faisal Alqahtani, Muhsan Ehsan, Murad Abdulfarraj, Essam Aboud, Zohaib Naseer, Nabil N. El-Masry and Mohamed F. Abdelwahed

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12718; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712718 - 22 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1302

Abstract

The global demand for energy is increasing rapidly due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, as well as to meet the desire for a higher standard of living. However, environmental concerns, such as air pollution from fossil fuels, are becoming limiting factors for [...] Read more.

The global demand for energy is increasing rapidly due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, as well as to meet the desire for a higher standard of living. However, environmental concerns, such as air pollution from fossil fuels, are becoming limiting factors for energy sources. Therefore, the appropriate and sustainable solution is to transition towards renewable energy sources to meet global energy demands by using environmentally friendly sources, such as geothermal. The Harrat Rahat volcanic field, located in the western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), gets more attention due to its geothermal potential as a viable site for geothermal energy exploration due to its high enthalpy. The prime objective of this study is to present up-to-date and comprehensive information on the utilization of borehole temperature and remote sensing data to identify the most prospective zones with significant geothermal activity favorable for exploration and drilling. A brief description of the selected wells and the methodology used to determine the petrophysical parameters relevant to the geothermal potential assessment are presented. Special emphasis is given to gamma-ray ray and temperature logs for calculating heat production and the geothermal gradient. The effectiveness of various machine learning techniques are assessed throughout this study for predicting the temperature-at-depth to evaluate the suitability of employing machine learning models for temperature prediction, and it is found that XG Boost provided excellent results. It can be observed that some linear anomalies can be traced in the NW, trending on the west side of the Harrat volcanic field based on magnetic data interpretation. The land surface temperature in 2021 exhibited higher temperatures compared to 2000, suggesting potential volcanic activity in the subsurface. It is concluded that the integration of remote sensing data with subsurface data provides the most reliable results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Geology and Engineering)

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12 pages, 2977 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Geological and Climatic Factors Affecting the Correlation between Electrical Resistivity and SPT N-Value in Sandy Soils of Phuket, Thailand

by Avirut Puttiwongrak, Solina Keo, Sakanann Vann, Tanwa Arpornthip, Thongchai Suteerasak and Piti Sukontasukkul

Geosciences 2023, 13(6), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13060185 - 17 Jun 2023

Viewed by 2050

Abstract

Understanding the technical properties of the subsurface soil is essential for carrying out any building project correctly. In sandy soils in Phuket, Thailand, a correlation between electrical resistivity and the SPT N-value should be established in design to cut down on the time [...] Read more.

Understanding the technical properties of the subsurface soil is essential for carrying out any building project correctly. In sandy soils in Phuket, Thailand, a correlation between electrical resistivity and the SPT N-value should be established in design to cut down on the time and expense of engineering field work for site investigation operations. Using the least squares method, the data of electrical resistivity and SPT N-values were fitted for regression analysis, and the behavior of the fitting coefficients was examined under various soil conditions found in the field. The factors affecting the link between electrical resistivity and the SPT N-value were found using data classifications of geology and climate. Phuket is located in a humid tropical region with frequent heavy rainstorms and extended periods of high temperatures and is composed of two main distinct geological areas: (1) igneous rock and (2) sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. According to the geological classification, the regression parameter (R²) of the relationship between the electrical resistivity and SPT N-values somewhat increased from a straightforward plot (R² = 0.0171) to 0.1721, and the geology and climate data categorization revealed the best fit which is an exponential model (R² = 0.6175). By re-examining the two VES lines under the identical bedrock and climate characteristics as the original model, the relative R² of 0.5519 validates the association between electrical resistivity and SPT N-values. It is important to emphasize that the geology and climate of the collected data have an impact on the correlation model. Furthermore, a geotechnical investigation should be used to confirm the findings of an electrical resistivity survey as a preliminary tool to assess any problematic subsurface zones. However, more field test data from diverse places must be acquired in order to establish the relationship between the SPT N-value and electrical resistivity of sandy soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Geology and Engineering)

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