The first publication of its kind to feature state-of-the-artresearch on economical and timely ways to evaluate a wide range ofsoil and rock characteristics.

20 comprehensive peer-reviewed papers are divided into thefollowing key areas:

Nondestructive Testing Methods In The Laboratory --Evaluation techniques including X-ray absorption, medical imaging,active and passive acoustic imaging and the environmental scanningelectron microscope are explored in eight papers.

Nondestructive Testing in the Field -- Four papersdiscuss such methods as time-domain reflectometry, surface wavemeasurement and modeling in drilled rock shafts, and constructioninduced vibrations.

Automated Testing -- In addition to a survey ofgeotechnical laboratory automation practices and actual experiencewith automated geotechnical testing, such areas as direct sheartesting, modeling pre-failure stress-strain properties, and the useof an automated triaxial apparatus are examined in eightpapers.