Interrelationships between practice, standardisation and innovation in geotechnical earthquake engineering

Construction of large civil engineering structures in seismic areas is facing real challenges. Constructions are expected to be safe, sustainable and resilient after the earthquake despite, more than often, harsh environmental conditions and significant uncertainties in the hazard conditions (geotechnical and seismic). In the case of exceptional structures, few, if any, similar structures have been constructed in the same environment, and designers may feel helpless because they cannot rely on past experience, full scale models or standards, which do not cover exceptional structures. This is a typical situation where innovation may make a project feasible. However, innovation, which is to be distinguished from research conducted by academics, must obey certain rules to be effective and accepted by the community. These features are illustrated by few examples of exceptional civil engineering structures in earthquake prone areas; these examples also serve to highlight the interrelationships between practice, standardisation, education and innovation. All these activities, although carried out by different categories of people, benefit from each other to advance the civil engineering profession.