Specifics of the rock environment and geotechnical risks.

In order to effectively design geotechnical structures and practice effective geotechnical risk management, it is necessary to anticipate the occurrence of potential hazards. The building structure forms an interconnected system with the subsoil. Problems are localized at the point of interaction of the engineering structure with the bedrock, and therefore the rock mass must be considered as a specific building material in the analyses. Its properties are known to be different from those of conventional building materials and the reliability of its properties is lower than, for example, concrete or steel. This difference has raised uncertainties and risks in predicting the behavior of rock mass. When design decision making is marked by a lack of knowledge and reliable knowledge, estimation and variance enter into the decision making process. This can result in unintended consequences. Therefore, both design and construction are burdened with possible uncertainties, which creates room, and in some cases, especially for large structures, a need, to assess possible geotechnical risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]