Natural stone is utilised in monumental works both as a construction material and as a foundation. This volume contains papers and special lectures on monument preservation, reflecting a broad spectrum of issues in three different fields: Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geology. The topics discussed covered the entire process of preservation and included:

- Processes of rock degradation
- Stone conservation and treatments
- Compatible material for restoration
- Preservation and risk assessment
- In situ and laboratory testing and monitoring
- Rock Mechanics...

Forty one years ago, the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) held its 1st International Congress in Lisbon, Portugal. In July 2007, the 11th ISRM Congress returned to Lisbon, where the Portuguese Geotechnical Society (SPG), the Portuguese National Group of the ISRM, hosted the meeting.

The Second Half Century of Rock Mechanics comprises the proceedings of the 11th ISRM Congress, and reviews how the discipline of Rock Mechanics has evolved over the past half century to become an important area of Geotechnical Engineering, and considers new perspectives...