The book provides an overview of the state of the art of geotechnical engineering in Italy in 1985, on ISSMFE's 50th anniversary, with the aim indicated by its President Prof. de Mello to ‘increase the opportunities for each member society to make itself known to the international community’.

The volume is conceived as a celebration of the Italian contribution to geotechnical engineering and as an opportunity to reflect on its historical development up to 1985.

It is structured in three main sections. The first section provides a historical overview of the Italian Geotechnical Association, Italian geotechnical literature, sector regulations and an analysis of the main geological characteristics of the Italian territory. The second section focuses on the relationship between engineering and the environment, addressing the progress achieved by the discipline in Italy almost 50 years after the founding of the Italian Geotechnical Association. The third section presents a review of activities in the field of geotechnical engineering with reference to technological innovation and Italian companies.

Therefore, we believe that the volume pursues the objectives of the HTC project and complies with the features of printed material to be stored in the physical time capsule:

on regional basis, since it includes a description of Italian geotechnical conditions and mechanical properties of typical formations;

on technical basis, providing an outline of research, design and application of geotechnical engineering in Italy, including the importance of geotechnics in the preservation of old monuments and cities.