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Proceedings of the 18
th
International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013
4.4
Task 4: ISSMGE Website
To improve the content and impact of the ISSMGE website
(term of reference “b”) the IDC formed a task force to evaluate
the current ISSMGE website. A review of the ISSMGE website
has been made by members of the IDC. Based on the findings
of this evaluation and a subsequent request by the Board, a
formal proposal to the ISSMGE Board for collaboration with
Geoengineer.org was made. According to the proposal, the
Geoengineer.org Information Technology staff will support the
maintenance and upgrade of the ISSMGE website and advanced
applications (such as the Lexicon). The Board has approved this
proposal, and discussions on improvements of the ISSMGE
website are scheduled to initiate during the summer and fall of
2011.
4.5
Task 5: Information Technology in Geoengineering
The IDC recognized the need for ISSMGE to better use
information technology tools in geotechnical engineering. This
need is also the underlying theme behind terms of reference a, b
and c. Although a number of small scale activities are also being
considered, the IDC discussed the development of a modern
information technology tool that will support the efficient
information dissemination in geotechnical engineering, will
facilitate professional networking at a global scale and will
allow ISSMGE to promote its activities, committees and
resources. Geoengineer.org has been working on the
development of such a platform for the last two years. The IDC
proposed to support this platform and modify it to optimize
ISSMGE’s needs. Following the President’s recommendation
and the Board’s vote, this platform will be partially funded by
ISSMGE, and ISSMGE and Geoengineer.org will be the co-
founders, with ownership and liability remaining with
Geoengineer.org.
4.6
Task 6: Integrate ISSMGE – International Journal of
Geoengineering Case Histories
The IDC is charged with supporting the International Journal of
Geoengineering Case Histories (terms of reference f). To that
end, the IDC initiated efforts to interwove the journal with the
ISSMGE activities. Specifically, each TC has been asked to
identify a representative who will operate as the tie between the
journal and the TC and will support the journal. The "TC
appointed representative" may help also support special issues
on case histories related to the interests of the TCs. Currently
about half of the Technical Committees have appointed
representatives and this activity is ongoing.
5
FUTURE PLANS
The IDC intends to continue and complete Tasks 1-6 and pursue
7-10, if time allows.
New ideas are being discussed and could be added to the
task list of Table 1 above.
Next IDC meeting #5, is scheduled around mid July, 2011.
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