The natural process of real-estate development, whether residential or industrial or dam sites, tends to utilize the most easily developed sites first. Thus, as the 21st century approaches, geotechnical engineers are increasingly being challenged to provide satisfactory foundations for facilities to be constructed on sites with poor or marginal soil conditions. This trend, combined with improvements in hazard analysis, and the increased expectations of the public for constructed facilities to be risk free, can be expected to increase. It is especially urgent for existing structures founded on poor soils in hazardous locations. The objective of this workshop is to provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience among experts with a wide variety of viewpoints and perspectives on soil improvement, foundation remediation, and geotechnical earthquake engineering. The specific goals of the workshop are: (1) to summarize the current state of knowledge concerning soil improvement and its applicability to foundation remediation for various geotechnical hazards, especially those which are earthquake induced; (2) to identify and evaluate current research needs and opportunities in these areas; and (3) to identify and prioritize research needs in soil and foundation remediation. The participants are experts in soil improvement, foundation remediation and earthquake engineering, and come from industry, government and academia, thereby providing a broad range of background and perspective on the topics to be discussed. The workshop is to be held during July 1991 on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle.
