Book excerpt: After the devastating disaster caused by the tsunami on 26 December 2004, disaster mitigation and rehabilitation have become some of the most pressing topics for discussion in geotechnical engineering and related professions. Some of the most important contributions to this discussion were made during the International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering for Disaster Mitigation and Rehabilitation, the first of its kind held in the Asia-Pacific region. It was organized by the Joint Working Group on Geotechnical Engineering for Disaster Mitigation and Rehabilitation (JWG-DMR), which is supported by national geotechnical societies from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia (comprising Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand) and Sri Lanka.Disaster management encompasses diverse topics such as natural disasters (tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, etc.), mitigation (early warning and prediction systems, hazard mapping, risk analysis, coastal protection works, etc.), rehabilitation and reconstruction (difficult soils and ground treatment, design against earthquakes and other natural disasters, etc.), and many others, including soil dynamics, liquefaction, stability, and environmental protection. This volume contains over 100 high quality papers contributed by authors from participating countries, including keynote and invited lectures delivered by eminent researchers and practitioners. The proceedings will benefit the geotechnical profession as a whole, in particular those who are involved in disaster prevention, mitigation, rehabilitation and reconstruction works. In addition, the contributions will add impetus to research and development in this important domain: the long-term goal is to mitigate the unacceptable magnitude of destruction and the number of human lives lost such as in the recent 2004 tsunami tragedy.