The final version of the editorial published in the journal: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Geotechnical Engineering is freely available for download via the following link: https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeen.2021.174.2.99 The journal homepage can be accessed via: http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/toc/jgeen/current PJV 26 August 2021