I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to all the esteemed participants of the 2nd International Conference on Construction Resources for Environmentally Sustainable Technologies (CREST 2023), scheduled to take place from November 20 to 22, 2023, in the beautiful city of Fukuoka, Japan. This conference represents the second milestone in our ongoing series committed to advancing sustainable construction practices, which aim to contribute to the achievement of four out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the United Nations' blueprint. The conference is being hosted by Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

It is co-hosted by the University of Cambridge, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (ISSMGE), Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE), Japanese Geotechnical Society (JGS), The Japan Landslide Society, ISSMGE Technical Committee 307 (TC307), ISSMGE Technical Committee 215 (TC215), ISSMGE Asian Regional Technical Committee 1 (AsRTC1), ISSMGE Asian Regional Technical Committee 3 (AsRTC3), International Press-in Association (IPA), and Global Society for Smart Geo-Sustainnovation (GLOSS). Further support to this conference is extended by the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan, Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka City, Consulate General of India Osaka-Kobe, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED), UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Fukuoka, Kyushu Branch of Japanese Geotechnical Society (JGS), The Society of Materials Science Japan (JSMS), Japan Federation of Construction Contractors (JFCC), Japan Civil Engineering Consultants Association (JCCA), Japan Geotechnical Consultants Association (JGCA), Organization of Geowaste Technology for a Recycled Based Society, Applied Slope Engineering Association (ASERG) and the Local Resilience Research Institute (LRRI).

The principal aim of CREST 2023 is to disseminate knowledge and foster discussions concerning issues related to natural disasters and disasters associated with anthropogenic activities. Additionally, it seeks to proffer solutions through utilization of alternative resources, groundbreaking technologies, and adaptable disaster mitigation strategies toward the common objective of establishing a resilient and sustainable society from a geoengineering perspective. The conference's themes span across a wide range of interdisciplinary areas that align with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The holistic approach, based on Sendai framework for DRR, includes the integration of disaster risk reduction into development strategies, thereby cultivating resilience in nations and communities against future disasters. The conference centers on the themes of sustainability, the promotion of innovative concepts, and advancements in the design, construction, and maintenance of geotechnical structures. All these efforts are geared toward contributing to climate change adaptation and disaster resilience, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations (UN). The conference aspires to unite scientists, researchers, engineers, and policymakers from around the world, creating a platform for robust debate and discussion on these pressing issues.

It is our aspiration that, by fostering the enthusiastic engagement of all stakeholders, encompassing industries, government bodies, and academic institutions, the conference shall succeed in cultivating a transformative shift in the prevailing approach to addressing the challenges confronting humanity in this perpetually demanding world.

Our call for papers has garnered an exceptional global response, with submissions pouring in from nations spanning the major continents. The conference's technical committee is elated by the wealth of captivating and thought-provoking papers that have been received. For this conference, we are privileged to present a distinguished lineup featuring 2 plenary lectures, 16 keynote addresses, and 12 special lectures, including 6 from promising young researchers, all hailing from diverse and interdisciplinary domains. In addition to these noteworthy presentations, a total of 175 papers will be showcased across 15 parallel sessions and 2 poster sessions.

On behalf of the organizing committee, I wish to extend my profound gratitude to our esteemed co-organizers for their wholehearted support from the very inception of the conference. My heartfelt appreciation also goes to the various supporting organizations, whose consistent assistance and contributions have played an integral role in the comprehensive management of the conference, both directly and indirectly.

Moreover, I am deeply indebted to our generous sponsors for their invaluable financial backing and continuous encouragement, which have been instrumental in the successful holding of this conference. I extend my gratitude to the conference honorary co-chairpersons, co-chairpersons, secretary general, co-secretary general, and the dedicated members of the Organizing Committee, as well as the chairpersons, co-chairpersons, secretary generals, co-secretary generals, and all the individuals serving on various other committees, whose inspiration and motivation have been instrumental to our collective achievements.

The organizing committee eagerly anticipates a gratifying and congenial event for all participants. This conference holds the promise of providing an exceptional platform for the meaningful exchange of ideas, bringing together researchers, engineers, designers, consultants, government officials, academics, and students. The overarching objective is to facilitate the dissemination of gathered knowledge to a diverse spectrum of individuals.

We are proud to announce that Springer Nature will publish four volumes of the proceedings, encompassing the general papers presented at this conference. Additionally, a dedicated volume will showcase the keynote addresses and special lectures of the conference. Moreover, a selection of papers from this conference will find their way into special issues of prestigious journals, including Soils and Foundations (Japanese Geotechnical Society), Journal of Forensic Engineering (Institute of Civil Engineers, UK), Indian Geotechnical Journal (Indian Geotechnical Society), and Journal of Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure. In light of these achievements, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all our esteemed publishing partners.

In closing, I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the gracious and voluntary contributions of those who have diligently served as members of the international advisory committee, as well as our distinguished plenary lecturers, keynote speakers, theme speakers, and the session chairs. With the enthusiastic and dedicated participation of all attendees, I am confident that we will achieve remarkable success at this conference.

Hemanta Hazarika
Chairperson, Organizing Committee, CREST 2023
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation
Kyushu University
Fukuoka, Japan