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The Chair of Geotechnical Engineering is one of the three chairs of the Institute for Geotechnical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, at ETH Zurich and is led by Professor Ioannis Anastasopoulos.
We are responsible for teaching, research and consulting primarily in the fields of foundation engineering, soil mechanics and geotechnical natural hazards. Degree programmes at Bachelor (soil mechanics) and Master level are offered, as well as modules in interdisciplinary fields.
Our research is in the broader area of geotechnical engineering and soil–structure interaction, with a focus on seismic hazard mitigation aiming at enhancing resilience. The cornerstone of our research philosophy lies in the combination of analytical with experimental methods, corroborated by field observation. Our main areas of interest are novel seismic protection concepts (such as rocking isolation), seismic faulting and its effects on infrastructure, soil liquefaction and mitigation techniques, seismic amplification and site effects, tsunamis and their effect on coastal infrastructure, offshore geotechnics, dams, soft soils, and permafrost.