Strategic Approaches for Management of Risk in Geomechanics

This paper outlines the challenges facing geomechanics and advocates some strategies for dealing with these challenges. Advancement of geomechanics and its application in the past may be seen in a historical context as serving the needs of society such as the development of infrastructure and natural resources. The needs of society are changing rapidly due to population growth, increasing urbanisation and globalisation. Climate change poses specially challenges, the impacts increasing with time. Therefore, development of new strategies is essential. For example, greater attention should be given to the development of interdisciplinary approaches. It is vitally important that systematic methods be developed for assessment of geohazards, their magnitude, spatial distribution, frequency and impact. Thus probabilistic approaches should complement traditional methods of analysis, however sophisticated. Comprehensive analyses of uncertainties are important. Modern tools such as GIS should be used more widely and developed further. Probabilistic framework is essential for risk assessment and management. Preventive risk management solutions should be adopted more widely. There is a vast scope for the development of observational approaches beyond their traditional role. Two case studies have been included to demonstrate the value of some evolving methods and strategies.