Paper Proposal Submission – DEADLINE 2nd April 2024

This years themes include:

• Dam foundations
• Dam engineering theory and practice, including risk and materials Asset lifecycle: procurement, construction, dam operations, maintenance and decommissioning
• Dam hydrology and hydraulics
• Dam safety management guidelines, regulation, emergency management
• Tailings dams (all aspects including guidelines, technology, performance, risk, closure and rehabilitation

The Organising Committee is keen to receive paper proposals on:

1. applying Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence in the dams industry
2. practical management of uncertainty in design, construction and surveillance

• Indoor and outdoor exhibitor stands/booths
• Onsite equipment and machinery
• Outdoor demonstrations
• Presentations on projects and innovative initiatives (held in the Fettlers Shed – their outdoor stage)

Attendees includes senior representatives from industry and government, as well as a wide range of roles such as engineers, project managers.

The Construction Industry is contributing significantly to CO2 emissions, and so is the Deep Foundation Industry. Decarbonization is the first option: more efficient design reducing volumes of e.g. concrete or steel, and the use of different materials with lower carbon footprint. However, this should not be viewed as the only option available: the reuse of existing foundations must be considered as well, and even preferred as the most sustainable option.Four topics will be covered:

1. overall concept of foundation decarbonization and reuse
2. assessment of existing foundations
3. design aspects associated with foundation decarbonization and reuse
4. impact this approach will have on the construction phase.

A special focus will be given to contractual and insurance aspects.

Workshop – Earthworks: Theory to Practice – Design and Construction – Brisbane – 29-30 May 2024

This two-day workshop is for civil and geotechnical engineers, project managers, site engineers and other construction staff involved in the investigation, design, and construction of earthworks.Delivered by Dr Burt Look OAM (received for 42 years of service to geotechnical engineering), a case study approach is adopted to examine everyday design and construction earthworks practices and to make the learnings immediately applicable.

The focus is to encourage critical thinking to add value, and not on using numbers in an equation. Case studies are used to show how earthworks theory is applied in day-to-day practice.

Some of the topics include:

• Compaction mechanics – common misunderstandings are still occurring with the application of this simple concept – from theory to practice.
• Many measurements have become targets rather than part of a decision-making process. This targeting simplification can lead to either over conservatism or unstable works.
• Subgrade and expansive clay assessment and treatment
• Useful design practices as well as the development and application of specifications.
• A specification, test, or design in one climatic condition or geology may not apply in another.

The theme – “Sustainable and Evolving Technologies for Urban Transport Infrastructure” is the creation of ISSMGE technical committees (TC202-Transportation Geotechnics, TC211-Ground Improvement and TC307-Sustainability) who have linked up to make this conference the enlightening and thought provoking experience it is set to be.