Dr. Mingtang Lei is a Professor of Institute of Karst Geology of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Director of Geological Hazard Research Department, and Director of Key Laboratory of Karst Collapse Prevention and Control of China Geological Survey. As a registered Civil Engineer, Dr. Lei has over 30 years’ experience with karst collapse research and has completed more than 40 research projects sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Land and Resources, and China Geological Survey. He pioneered application of large-scale analog systems to simulating karst collapse processes and led 1:50,000 karst collapse survey and risk assessment in provinces including Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Chongqing. He is a recognized geological disaster prevention expert by China’ Ministry of Natural Resources. Dr. Lei has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers, served as the editor-in-chief of Karst Ground Collapse Prevention Engineering Survey Specification T/CAGHP076-2020, and co-edited Karst Ground Collapse Monitoring Specification T/CAGHP075-2020. Dr. Lei is recipient of more than 10 scientific and technological achievements awards from Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Transport, and Ministry of Water and Electricity, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and China Geological Survey. Dr. Lei serves on editorial boards of Carsologica Sinica, Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, and Journal of Geological Hazard and Control of China.Dr. Wanfang Zhou has more than 30 years’ experience in research and investigations related to karst geology and hydrogeology. He has completed projects encompassing karst collapse investigations, waste disposal in karst terranes, geohazards control and prevention in mines, and groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling. He authored or co-authored eight professional books, six topical journal issues, and more than 80 peer-reviewed articles. He serves as an associate editor of Mine Water and the Environment and on editorial boards of Environmental Earth Sciences and Carbonates and Evaporites.Dr. Xiaozhen Jiang is a Professor of Institute of Karst Geology of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and Deputy Director of Key Laboratory of Karst Collapse Prevention and Control of China Geological Survey. Dr. Jiang has over 30 years’ experience with prevention and control of karst collapse and other geological disasters. She has completed more than 30 projects sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Natural Resources, and industries. Dr. Jiang developed the theory that sudden karst collapse is caused by water and gas pressures in a karst system and established indicators associated with collapse occurrence and prevention. She has successfully constructed eight karst collapse monitoring and early warning demonstration stations across China. She published more than 30 peer-reviewed papers and a monograph on Karst Collapse Monitoring Technology. Dr. Jianling Dai is an Associate Professor of Institute of Karst Geology of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and Secretary of Key Laboratory of Karst Collapse Prevention and Control of China Geological Survey. She has been engaged in karst collapse investigation and risk assessment for more than 20 years. She has published more than 10 peer-reviewed papers and edited the 1:50,000 Karst Collapse Investigation Specification. Dr. Meng Yan is a Professor of Institute of Karst Geology of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and Deputy Director of Key Laboratory of Karst Collapse Prevention and Control of China Geological Survey.He has more than 20 years’ experience with prediction of water inrush and mud outburst in tunnels constructed in karst and prevention and control technology of karst collapse. He has published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers and obtained seven national patents and three software copyrights.
