9th Annual Report on the International Status of Engineering Geology—Year 2003–2004. Encompassing hydrogeology, environmental geology and the applied geosciences

In Year 2000, it became clear that Engineering Geology was moving into a higher plane of personal dedication by its practitioners. For economic reasons there has been an increased reliance by clients on the practitioner, who universally is expected to deliver more for less, as well as more rapidly. This pressure will have but one positive result, to produce surviving engineering geologists who will be masters of site characterization, as the true core method and product of the profession. We believe that the engineering geologist can become even more indispensable on the world scene. Wherever our brother and sister colleagues are not involved, there clearly will be increased risks in construction, operation, and maintenance of engineered works for societal and environmental protection purposes.