Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental

We bridge the gap between traditional geotechnics and the emerging green economy. Here, you will dive into the behaviour of natural and engineered systems, gaining a competitive edge in mining, energy and infrastructure. Join us to develop the resilient, sustainable solutions that will define the next generation of geotechnical engineering. Our program combines fundamental principles with applied research, offering specialized courses that are unique both within the university and across Canada.

Elevate your research in world-renowned facilities. Our students leverage a unique ecosystem of labs, including the Geotechnical Centrifuge and dedicated GeoInnovation Environments, to advance solutions for tailings storage and carbon sequestration. With access to specialized field stations and large-scale characterization facilities, you will master the practical and theoretical skills necessary to transform the future of geotechnical engineering. Join a program where innovation meets real-world impact.

Find faculty members who specialize in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental

Possible Careers

  • Dams and slopes
  • Engineering geology
  • Foundation and retaining structures
  • Mine wastes
  • Nuclear waste management
  • Petroleum geomechanics
  • Rock engineering
  • Tunnels
  • Soil dynamics
  • Cold regions geotechnics
  • Railway ground hazards

Areas of Specialization

Landslide science and mitigation

A central thrust of the program concerns landslides in mountainous and transportation corridors, where he investigates failure mechanisms, triggering conditions, and runout behaviour. Using terrestrial and satellite-based InSAR, LiDAR, photogrammetry, and increasingly UAV-based platforms, the team develops change-detection workflows and deformation monitoring strategies that translate raw geospatial data into actionable hazard intelligence. This work supports early warning systems and informs the design of mitigation measures for rock slopes, debris flows, and unstable natural terrain.

Geotechnical performance of mining structures

Open-pit mines present some of the largest and most instrumented slopes in the world, and my research uses these settings to study progressive failure, brittle rock mass behaviour, and the integration of multi-sensor monitoring (radar, prisms, piezometers, fibre optics) into operational decision-making. For tailings dams, the program examines the consequences of recent global failures, and the evolution of management standards toward more conservative, transparent practice. To this end, the group has developed research programs on tailings behaviour, characterization and modelling.

Geotechnical uncertainty and risk management

Quantifying uncertainty, evaluating tolerable risk, and supporting defensible decisions under incomplete information. By coupling advanced monitoring technologies with probabilistic and decision-analytic methods, the program aims to make geotechnical practice safer, more sustainable, and better aligned with the realities of climate change and resource development pressures

Resilient Subsurface Energy Systems

The Subsurface Energy Research Group (SERG) is dedicated to support resilient and sustainable subsurface energy systems, ranging from geothermal applications and underground hydrogen storage to the secure management of mine tailings and geological repositories. By integrating advanced physical modeling with sophisticated numerical simulations, the group achieves a deep understanding of complex multiphase flow processes across diverse geological conditions. Their work is underpinned by cutting-edge measurement and monitoring techniques that ensure safety at depths exceeding 3,000 meters, alongside innovative laboratory methods like 3D-printed porous media. Furthermore, SERG leverages AI and machine learning to optimize system performance and enhance risk assessment, providing the decision-making tools necessary for the future of global energy infrastructure.

Subsurface Energy Geomechanics

Anchored within the Reservoir Geomechanics Research Group [RG]², this research program provides the foundation for safely deploying subsurface energy systems, including CO₂ and hydrogen storage, geothermal energy, and nuclear waste repositories. By integrating advanced experimental and computational themes—from seismic geomechanics to AI-powered digital twins and Indigenous Knowledge—the group investigates coupled processes across four unique GeoInnovation Environments. Through major industry partnerships, they deliver critical risk and performance analyses, ensuring subsurface systems operate responsibly at the scale required for Canada’s net-zero future.

Multi-scale, multi-physics and agentic Intelligence for subsurface energy geomechanics

The GeoResourceCloud group develops advanced modeling and data-driven technologies for subsurface energy applications, including geothermal energy, carbon storage, and unconventional resources. Students engage in multi-scale experiments and numerical simulations, gaining hands-on experience with real-world energy challenges. A standout feature is the development of autonomous agentic AI systems that integrate domain knowledge with real-time reasoning to optimize operations within digital twin environments. Collaborating with industry and government partners, this research provides a robust foundation in AI-driven engineering to support sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions.

Railway Geotechnics and Infrastructure Geohazards

Focused on the performance, safety, and resilience of transportation infrastructure in challenging geotechnical environments, this research investigates the behavior of railway track substructure under dynamic loading and the mechanics of geohazards that threaten linear infrastructure. By bridging the gap between fundamental geomechanics and practical industrial solutions, the group characterizes ground hazards using remote sensing, InSAR, and in-situ instrumentation while studying the effects of cold temperatures on rail steel and track subgrade. These efforts extend to developing Enhanced Train Control safety systems and quantitative risk frameworks for landslide assessment and rock slope characterization. As a core component of the Canadian Rail Research Laboratory and the Railway Ground Hazard Research Program, this work is supported by major industry partners and national agencies to inform regulatory policies and elevate national standards for railway safety.

Geotechnical Risk Management for Ground Hazards, Transportation Corridors, and Mining Infrastructure

This research group focuses on assessing and managing geotechnical risks for natural and engineered slopes, specifically within the mining and transportation sectors. By integrating in-place instrumentation with advanced remote sensing technologies like InSAR and LiDAR, they quantify rock slope behavior to mitigate hazards and optimize maintenance. Their portfolio extends to open-pit mining and tailings storage, where they address slope stability and failure kinematics through risk-informed monitoring. Ultimately, the program is dedicated to uncertainty quantification and developing risk-tolerability strategies that balance industrial safety with societal and economic expectations.