Book excerpt: Geotechnical engineers are at work worldwide, contributing to sustainable living and to the creation of safe, economic and pleasant spaces to live, work and relax. With increased pressure on space and resources, particularly in cities, their expertise becomes ever more important. This book presents the proceedings of the 5th iYGEC, International Young Geotechnical Engineers' Conference, held at Marne-la-Vallée, France, from 31 August to 1 September 2013. It is also the second volume in the series Advances in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. The papers included here cover topics such as laboratory and field testing, geology and groundwater, earthworks, soil behavior, constitutive modeling, ground improvement, earthquake, retaining structures, foundations, slope stability, tunnels and observational methods. The iYGEC conference series brings together students and young people at the start of their career in the geotechnical professions to share their experience, and this book will be of interest to all those whose work involves soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering. The cover shows Dieppe harbour breakwater project, Louis-Alexandre de Cessart, 1776-1777. © École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées.