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Proceedings of the 18
th
International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013
followed by a visit to all ongoing construction activities in the
site. The visit lasted for three hours
where the participants
expressed great pleasure and joy to witness a project with such
magnitude.
Photographs taken during the conference are presented below.
Photo 1 Reception of ISSMGE members
Photo 2 Session on-going
ii) NIGERIA
NIGERIAN GEOTECHNICAL ASSOCIATION (NGA)
(A Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers)
WORKSHOP ON NEW TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, April 29-30 2012
The Nigerian Geotechnical Association (NGA) recently hosted
the Board Meeting of the International Society for Soil
Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) in Nigeria
– a rare opportunity and first time ever in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In conjunction with this highly esteemed Board meeting the
NGA mounted a Technical Workshop titled: “New Trends and
Developments in Geotechnical Engineering”. The event took
place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos. The
ISSMGE Board members fully participated as the main resource
persons. Each used the opportunity provided by the forum to
showcase his latest research findings and breakthroughs in
Geotechnical Engineering.
In attendance to listen to the presentations of the ISSMGE
Board members and other supporting resource persons at the
workshop were the entire NGA Executive and members, as well
as Civil and Geotechnical Engineering post graduate students
and other stake holders in the Ground Engineering sector of the
academia,
Foundation
Construction
Industry,
Geo-
environmental practice, and Governmental agencies and
departments.
The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)
was represented by the Deputy President, Engr. Isaac A.
Olorunfemi.
The ISSMGE Board members present included the
President of ISSMGE, Prof. Jean-Louis Briaud, the Secretary
General of ISSMGE, Prof. Neil Taylor, and the Vice-Presidents
for Asia, North America and South America Regions in the
persons of Professors Askar Zhussupbekov, Gabriel Auvinet,
and Roberto Terzariol respectively. Also in attendance were the
ISSMGE appointed Board Members namely, Professors Roger
Frank, Ikuo Towhata, and Charles W. Ng. Not left out and of
course, very actively involved in the Workshop, are the
Chairman of ISSMGE Public Relations Committee, Professor
Marc Balouz and the Vice President for Africa Engr. Professor
Samuel U. Ejezie (the host).
On behalf of the Nigeria Geotechnical Association (NGA),
the Chairman, Prof. S. U. Ejezie welcomed all the ISSMGE
Board members and other participants to the technical
workshop.
After Prof. Ejezie’s welcome address/opening remarks a
Keynote paper was delivered by the President of ISSMGE
titled, “
Soil Compaction: Recent Developments”.
Thereafter,
other technical papers were presented by the Vice Presidents
and Appointed Board members of ISSMGE. Some Nigerian
geotechnical practitioners and researchers also made
presentations.
Altogether, there were eleven technical papers and
presentations, divided into three major thrust areas of recent
developments in ground engineering and construction thus: (i)
Underground Constructions
; (ii)
Case Histories in Slope
Failures, Land Reclamation and other Recent Findings
; (iii)
Problem Soils of Nigeria and other Soft Soils
. In all, Nigerian
geotechnical engineers and researchers contributed five out of
the eleven papers.
At the end of the deliberations, the following important
conclusions and points were made:
• In recent times, Nigeria is acclaimed to be the country with the
largest investment in new infrastructure (competing favourably
with Brazil). This surge in investment by both government and
private institutions in infrastructure development opens a
window of opportunity for geotechnical engineering
professionals to partner with professionals in other disciplines
and ensure that this aspect of ground engineering is practised to
meet design specifications and acceptable standard.
•
The road failures and building collapses being experienced all
over the country are not acceptable. All geotechnical
engineering practitioners must come together to fight this
menace by being more active in reporting any default observed
during quality control of construction materials and ground
engineering works.
•
Three zonal offices should be opened immediately, each in the
Northern, Eastern and Western zones of the country so as to
promptly furnish NGA and NSE reports on aspects of ground
engineering and materials quality control in road failures and
building collapses.
•
There is need for collaboration between Nigerian and
international professionals in ground engineering for a mutually
beneficial relationship and exchange of relevant ideas on recent
developments in ground engineering.
Volume 6 - Page 252