Marine Geotechnics for Offshore and Coastal Systems: Emerging Challenges, Methods, and Applications

Marine geotechnics plays a central role in understanding and managing the interaction between seabed soils and offshore or coastal infrastructure. With the rapid development of offshore renewable energy and increasing demands for coastal protection under climate change, geotechnical performance of the seabed has become a controlling factor for the safety, durability, and sustainability of marine infrastructure. This Research Topic aims to highlight recent advances in marine geotechnics that directly address practical challenges in offshore and coastal engineering, rather than focusing solely on methodological developments.Despite significant progress in numerical modeling, data-driven methods, and field monitoring of fluid–soil-structure interactions (FSSI), many advances remain insufficiently connected to long-term engineering decision-making and climate adaptation strategies. In particular, translating geotechnical insights into reliable design, risk mitigation, and adaptive infrastructure planning remains a key challenge. This collection seeks to promote contributions that demonstrate how geotechnical research can inform practical solutions for offshore energy systems, coastal defense, and environmentally responsible marine development.We welcome original research articles, reviews, and well-documented case studies that emphasize engineering relevance, interdisciplinary integration, and applicability to real projects. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Offshore and Coastal Infrastructure: Advances in FSSI relevant to offshore wind turbines, wave energy devices, submarine pipelines, and coastal protection systems. Sustainable Foundation Solutions: Design and ground improvement techniques aimed at reducing environmental disturbance and carbon footprint. Climate Adaptation and Risk Assessment: Geotechnical responses of seabed soils to extreme storms, cyclic loading, and sea-level rise. Nature-Based and Hybrid Approaches: Geotechnical considerations in combining engineered structures with natural systems such as reefs, beaches, and restored coastlines. Cross-Disciplinary Integration: Linking marine geotechnics with marine ecology, infrastructure planning, and long-term adaptation frameworks. Data-Driven and Multiscale Methods: Application of monitoring data, machine learning, and multiscale modeling for performance assessment and lifecycle management. Field Evidence and Case Studies: Observations and lessons from real projects that demonstrate measurable improvements in safety, resilience, or sustainability. Topic editors: Hongyi Zhao, Xiaoli Liu, Thanh Nguyen Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77637/marine-geotechnics-for-offshore-and-coastal-systems-emerging-challenges-methods-and-applications