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This paper presents an overview of the contents of 2nd Generation Eurocode 7 Part 2, highlighting two of the major changes introduced, being the Ground Model and the Rock Engineering implementation. The document is organized from a ground property perspective so that the role of Part 2 and the links with the geotechnical design are much clearer than in the previous edition. Its new title is a clear indication of this idea: "Ground properties" including both soil and rock properties. The need to have representative values for the ground properties is the objective of this new Part 2, which is intended to guide designers on the path to obtain those values by means of the Desk Study, Site Inspection, Field Investigation and Laboratory Testing. Given this framework, the paper explains the concepts behind the Ground Model, the main output of the Ground Investigation, which includes the ground profile, the geometric properties of the ground and its layers, groundwater, and the derived values of the ground properties, paying attention of the role of discontinuities in such ground profile. The tasks that form the Ground Investigation and the minimum number of activities to be performed are described. This new version of EN 1997 will include a Rock Engineering perspective for all above items. And finally, the ground properties of the rock material and the rock mass are listed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current Eurocode revision process is sought to improve Eurocode 7 for application to rock engineering, while including only techniques and procedures that are in widespread customary use. The revision process has exposed much about the application of the Eurocodes to rock engineering, thereby offering hints as to what material should be included in the next revision – tentatively suggested for publication in 2035. Crucially, ideas have developed about how rock engineering practice may need to develop to embrace the principles on which the Eurocodes are based. In particular, aspects of determining the properties of rock masses, and design verification by observational methods, partial factors, numerical modelling, and prescriptive rules are all thought to require significant improvement or dramatic modification. This paper highlights challenges identified regarding the application of the Eurocodes to rock engineering, and which will need to be addressed in the future. Ideas are presented about how these challenges may be overcome, but these are given in the spirit of stimulating ongoing conversation within the rock mechanics and rock engineering community rather than presenting definite proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]