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Proceedings of the 18
th
International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013
Appendix 2: Regional Reports
Report from the Vice-President for Europe
I.
Vaníček
ISSMGE Vice-President Europe
1
INTRODUCTION
This report contains a summary of the highlights of the
activities in Europe for the period since the last Council
Meeting in Alexandria, in October 2009.
At the moment in Europe is 34 ISSMGE National Societies.
Situation is stable; many activities are spread between nearly all
national societies. The exception is Georgia and Iceland, where
is practically zero contact. Three other societies lowered their
activity as well, probably due to economic crises, Bulgaria,
Latvia, Lithuania, however their representatives are still visible
on some European activities. In May 2011 the Israel Society
asked to be part of European group, not Asian. Members of the
board accepted this proposal which will be on the ISSMGE
Council Meeting programme in Toronto.
2
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ISSMGE
Next 18th International Conference will be held in France,
Paris, between September 1st and September 5th 2013. Main
theme: “Challenges and Innovations in Geotechnics”. Proposed
format and proposed themes were defined in very early stage of
preparation and the French Society for Soil mechanics and
Geotechnical Engineering is working very hardly on, first of all
members of the Executive Committee Dr. Alain Guilloux, Prof.
Pierre Delage and Dr. Philippe Mestat. Much more details
about 18th IC ISSMGE will be discussed under the items 21.
Only small note can be added, many Technical Committees are
planning to have special Workshops or Seminars on this
occasion, mostly before the IC will start.
3
EUROPEAN CONFERENCES
XV European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical
Engineering will be held between September 12 – 15, 2011 in
Athens, Greece. So in time of preparation of this report we are
still in the phase of preparation while during Council Meeting in
Toronto this activity will be closed and can be discussed in
more details. Right now all written papers are collected and
will be printed before the conference will start. Main theme
“Geotechnics of Hard Soils – Weak Rocks” can attract many
professional colleagues, as the technical problem is sensitive for
many countries in Europe as well in the entire world.
Organizing committee, headed by triumvirate composed from
Professors Anagnostopoulos, Tsatsanifos and Pachakis is
working very hardly. Into main technical programme two
heritage lectures are included (Prof. Robert Mair and Prof.
Antonio Gens), as well one Heritage Lecture by Prof. Th.
Tassios. One hour will be also devoted to the 75th Anniversary
of our society. The main programme will include main sessions
followed by Discussion Sessions:
- Investigations, Classification and Testing;
- Selection of Parameters Modelling;
- Foundations and Ground Improvement;
- Embankments and Dams – Slopes and Landslides;
- Excavations and Tunnelling;
- Role of Geotechnics for the Protection of the
Environment.
Very interesting Workshops, combining activities of
individual European Regional Technical Committees will be
organized on Sunday, September 11.
On Tuesday, September 13, European Societies Meeting
will be held, where one of the main items will be the
presentation of the British Geotechnical Association to present
first view on the programme of the next XVI European
Conference ISSMGE in Edinburgh, Scotland from 13th to 17th
September 2015. The BGA prepared bid for this conference
just in time, before May 31st, 2011. No other European Society
asked for, as probably accepted hard work of the BGA, which
prepared first proposal in 2006. The BGA bid has been put
together by a small sub-committee led by co-Chairmen Dr.
Mike Winter (Transport Research Laboratory, Edinburgh) and
Mr Derek Smith (Coffey Geotechnics Ltd.). Main theme:
-
Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and
Development
Many supporting organisations have expressed a wish to
assist on the Organising Committee. Conference venue -
Edinburgh Convention Bureau, first proposal of the Technical
programme and Conference Budget are specified in details.
4
EUROPEAN REGIONAL CONFERENCES
4.1
Danube European conferences
14th Danube-European Conference on Geotechnical
Engineering, June 2nd-4th 2010, Bratislava, Slovakia
After thirty-three years the Danube-European Conference
on Geotechnical Engineering had came back to Bratislava, the
capital city of Slovak Republic. The 14th conference took place
on June 2nd-4th 2010 in the premises of the Faculty of Civil
Engineering of University of Technology, The main topic of the
conference was
"From Research to Design in European Practice".
The topic was discussed in one keynote lecture session
(Chairman Prof. J. Hulla from Slovakia) and seven sessions:
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