Paper contribution

Risk‑Informed Foundation Optioneering in Karst Terrain: From Geotechnical Risk to Sustainable Development

Mohamed Mahmoud; Omar Hamza

Proceedings
EUROCK 2026
Pages
249-254
Submitted
6 May 2026
Accepted
15 June 2026
Published
12 August 2026

Summary

Abstract

This study shows that risk-informed geotechnical decision-making provides a clear and reliable foundation for demonstrating sustainability outcomes in karst-affected construction projects across the Middle East. Karst terrain is common in the region and creates significant uncertainty that, if not addressed early, can transfer risks related to safety, project schedule, high material consumption, and elevated carbon emissions to the construction phase. Current practices often respond to this uncertainty with conservative, material-heavy solutions that increase these risks during construction, extend timelines, and increase cost and embodied-carbon consumption. To tackle these issues, the study introduces a design-stage framework in which the Sustainable Development Goals are not used as fixed design rules. Instead, SDGs 3, 8, 12, and 13 naturally arise as outcomes of managing project-specific risks related to safety, project schedule, material usage efficiency, and embodied carbon. Applying this methodology to a high-load building on karstic limestone in Saudi Arabia demonstrates its practical benefits. Comparative analysis shows that a piled foundation better localises and manages karst risks compared to a raft foundation with probing and grouting. This results in lower construction risk exposure (SDG 3), a more predictable project schedule and procurement (SDG 8), reduced material use (SDG 12), and significantly lower embodied carbon in the design stage (SDG 13). Carbon impacts are presented as comparative indicators that reflect uncertainties in regional emissions. The results indicate that sustainable outcomes in rock engineering are best achieved by integrating sustainability into standard risk-based design processes rather than treating it as a separate assessment. Sharing more case studies like this can support the development of consistent, evidence-based practices for managing karst risks sustainably.

Contributors

Authors

  1. Mohamed Mahmoud WSP, Dubai, United Arab Emirate; University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
  2. Omar Hamza University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom ORCID 0000-0001-6970-4290

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