ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of geotechnical engineering. It should be clear that the behavior of soil is far less straightforward than other construction materials such as steel or concrete. Geotechnical engineering has emerged as a well-developed field that interfaces with many other engineers and professionals. The chapter discusses all matter whether solid, liquid, or gas is constructed from various types of particles, therefore, it is logical to use these particles as a common denominator for the evaluation of various problems in geotechnical engineering. Geoenvironmental engineering may be considered the part of environmental geotechnology that deals with geological, geohydrological, and geotechnical aspects of environmental engineering problems. The particle-energy-field theory is introduced in the text for the purpose of explaining various soil behaviors under different environmental conditions. The particle-energy-field theory consists of three major components: elementary particles, particle systems and energy fields. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book.
