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Proceedings of the 18
th
International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013
CTGA Scientific Seminar on “African Infrastructure
for the New Millennium”, In conjunction with CTGA
General Assembly , Kribi; 25th – 29th June 2012.
The general theme of the seminar was: "
Infrastructures
africaines du nouveau millénaire
" (African infrastructure for the
new millennium).
About 52 papers were received by the scientific committee,
but only 30 were accepted. 16 papers and 5 major lectures were
presented, divided in three sub themes namely:
(i)
Specific geotechnical innovations in road
techniques;
(ii)
Building materials: characterization, innovation,
maintenance;
(iii)
Impact of geotechnical engineering on constructions:
cases histories;
About 150 participants attended.
Prior to this, the CTGA held the following events in 2010
and 2011:
(i)
A colloquium from 17th to 18th February 2010 in
Yamoussoukro, (Ivory Coast) which was well-
attended by participants from Franco-phone countries
in Sub-Saharan Africa. The theme of the colloquium
was: “Foundations of infrastructures in Sub-Saharan
Africa – Design and Case Histories”. About 50
delegates from 9 countries attended.
(ii)
Training courses in laboratory and in-situ testing by
the Cameroonian CTGA national group (CNGC) in
April 2010.
(iii)
Technical colloquium on the theme: “Soil stability
and its impact on construction in Sub-Saharan
Africa”, in March 2011, in Bujumbura (Burundi).
Almost 70 experts from 9 countries attended this
colloquium.
3rd African Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference
(3AyGEC), Cairo, Egypt; 11 – 14th November 2012.
The Conference was well-organised and very successful. It
provided an atmosphere conducive for vibrant, mutually
beneficial, and scientific interaction and discussion among
young geotechnical engineers, researchers and graduate students
within Africa Region. The programme incorporated five
outstanding keynote lectures delivered by renowned senior
professional geotechnical engineers on the first two days. The
Young Geotechnical engineers also were given ample
opportunity to present their research works on a variety of
geotechnical engineering topics. The accompanying question
and answer sessions were very enlightening; and so also was the
technical visit to the site of an on-going Multi Storey Garage
project below El-Tahrir Square, which took place on the third
day. The Conference recorded an impressive number of
participants. The enthusiasm was so high that at the end they
unanimously craved for the conference to hold in Africa at least
once every one or two years instead of the present quadrennial
cycle.
3rd International Geotechnical Engineering
Conference, Hammamet, Tunis; 21st – 23rd February
2013.
The Conference had as its Theme:
“New Developments in
Analysis, Modelling and Design”
and was organized by the
Geotechnical Engineering Research Team of the National
Engineering School of Tunis. It was very successful like the
preceding 2nd International Conference and attracted a large
number of participants.
ISSMGE International Seminar, Khartoum, Sudan;
29th June – 1st July, 2013. Theme: “Construction on
Weak Rocks”.
This event was organized under the auspices of the Sudanese
Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
(SSSMGE) in conjunction with ISSMGE. It was intended to
resurrect the Sudanese Society and to spotlight the importance
of the society in solving the major geotechnical problems in
Sudan. This seminar was very well-organised and attracted 184
participants. It was graced by international experts who served
as resource persons, including Prof. Jean-Louis Briaud
(ISSMGE President), Prof. Pedro S. Pinto (ISSMGE Immediate
Past President), Prof. Samuel Ejezie (ISSMGE Vice- President
for Africa), Prof. Askar Zhussupbekov (ISSMGE Vice-
President for Asia) and Prof. Antonio Bobet of Purdue
University, USA.
The Government of Sudan was fully involved and
represented as attested to by the presence, at the opening
ceremony, of His Excellency the Vice – President of Sudan, Dr.
Eng. Elhaj Adam Yousif. Also present was a representative of
the Governor of the State of Khartoum – Minister of Physical
Planning and Infrastructure Eng., Alrasheed Osman Fageery.
A round-table discussion took place on the second day on
the theme, “Construction on Weak Rocks – Challenges and
solutions.” The third day offered the guests a field visit
sponsored by the Dams Implementation Unit (DIU) to the Dam
Complex of Upper Atbara and Setit which is currently under
construction.
Detailed reports of these events have already been released by
the organisers in the various countries. As summarised above,
each of them was resoundingly successful and adequately
reflected the rekindled zeal in ISSMGE member societies of
Africa Region.
To conclude the discussion on the activities in the Region I
wish to accord special recognition to the respective member
societies which were instrumental to our success story. They
succeeded in ensuring that Africa Region remained visible even
in the face of serious challenges. Additional reports on the
activities of individual member societies, as submitted by them,
are attached herewith as appendix.
3
CHALLENGES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE
ISSMGE IN AFRICA REGION DURING 2009 – 2013
The ISSMGE in Africa Region faced various challenges and
issues of serious concern which constituted stumbling blocks to
efforts made to promote the profession in the continent. These
problems needed to be tackled for meaningful progress to be
made. Unfortunately however, they are still very much there as
can be inferred from the summary itemised subsequently.
1.
During the period under review the ISSMGE in Africa
Region was confronted with problems related to
membership. The ratio of the number of national member
societies to the number of independent nations in the
Region remained slightly less than 20%. Concerted efforts
to improve on this have not yet yielded the desired result.
The struggle therefore continues.
2.
Communication barrier imposed by linguistic dichotomy in
the Region has adverse impact on ISSMGE activities. This
is so pronounced that all the Francophone countries in Sub-
Saharan Africa have decided to lump themselves together
into one single member society, even when some of them
are potentially capable of existing independently.
3.
Internal movement in the Region is hampered by lack of
adequate road and air travel links. This hikes the cost of
transportation to a level that is almost unaffordable by
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