As discussed in the introduction to this report (Griffiths & Edwards), the Second Working Party on Land Surface Evaluation in Engineering Practice recognized that the subject area was so extensive that an ‘instruction manual’ or handbook, similar to previous working party reports, would not be appropriate. The end product, as presented, therefore, is a compilation of examples of techniques and case studies written by practitioners in the field. The papers on techniques only provide an introduction to the subject and an indication where details on methodology can be found. The case studies are taken from the files of working professional engineering geologists, or consultants in the subject who are now in academia, although many have a background of industrial experience. Most of the case studies have not been published before, those that have either been expanded to highlight the importance of land surface evaluation (e.g. Hearn, Blong & Humphreys; Edmonds) or they represent a key development in the subject (e.g. Jones).

The material presented in this report confirms that Land Surface Evaluation is established as part of essential good practice in land care, management and the development of the earth’s surface. Since the first report (Anon 1982), it has become clear that the most important achievement is the realization that land surface data can be easily integrated with all other ground information. The culmination of this is the production of a geological ground model that embraces the work of all earth science disciplines (Fookes 1997).