The 17th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering is being held in Astana under the auspices of the ENU Geotechnical Institute

For the first time in 60 years, the Asian Regional Conference on Geotechnics, organized in Astana, is being held in Central Asia and in the CIS countries. This is especially important in the year of the 25th anniversary of the Kazakh capital. Astana has become the first city in the CIS to host the 17th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering – 2023 from August 14 to August 18, 2023.

The organizers of the event are the L.N. Gumilyov ENU Geotechnical Institute, the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society (KGS), the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE).

The conference was attended by over 600 scientists and experts from 90 countries, including leaders in the pace and scale of construction in the Asian region: Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Turkey, India, etc.

The participants of the conference were welcomed with a video message by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek, thanking the organizers of the forum for their contribution not only to the geotechnical community in Asia, but also the whole world.

ENU Vice-Rector Serik Makysh also took part in the conference, noting that the 17th Asian Regional Conference held today in Astana will allow its participants to share modern knowledge in the field of mechanics and geotechnics, as well as make a great contribution to this field.

In turn, ISSMGE President Marc Ballouz noted the peculiarity of the current conference, which includes 4 main events.

“The Asian regional conference held in Astana actually brought together outstanding geoengineers from all over the world, and therefore this event can be called international. I am grateful to the 17 ARC organizing committee for the painstaking work and huge efforts they are making to hold such a successful event,” the ISSMGE President said.

As noted by ISSMGE Vice President for Asia Keh-Jian Albert Show, the ISSMGE Asian region has 26 member societies located in good or difficult geotechnical conditions.

“ISSMGE member societies in the Asian region demonstrate a good model of cooperation with other regions at joint conferences, seminars and webinars, especially in Southeast Asia, Far Eastern countries and the central part of the Asian region,” he said.

According to the ISSMGE Vice-President, the conference will include 6 sessions of the Asian Regional Technical Committee and 2 sessions of the ISSMGE TC, where issues of geotechnical engineering that have a significant impact on the geotechnical engineering industry will be discussed, and an exchange of views will take place.

Askar Zhussupbekov, Chairman of the organizing committee of the 17th ARC, Director of the ENU Geotechnical Institute and President of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society said that Astana became the venue for the 17th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering during the 16th conference in Taiwan in October 2019 by secret ballot of 26 Asian geotechnical associations. The opponent was Bangkok (Thai Geotechnical Society).

“The choice is explained by the fact that the L.N. Gumilyov ENU Geotechnical Institute and the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society are active organizations that in recent years have solved many geotechnical problems related to the construction of megaprojects in difficult ground conditions of Kazakhstan, and also organized international geotechnical forums in Kazakhstan and abroad related to the activities of the technical committee of the International Geotechnical Society. Being the largest project of Independent Kazakhstan, Astana today has every chance to become a megacity on a par with Singapore, cities of Japan, South Korea, etc.,” Askar Zhussupbekov commented.  

The main topic of the conference is “Smart Geotechnics for Smart Societies”.  During the forum, several sections on modern geotechnologies and types of geotechnical activities will be covered. This will give a new impetus to the development of the geotechnical infrastructure of megacities and new capitals, as well as the exchange of scientific ideas and achievements in the field of design and construction in the complex engineering and geological conditions of Kazakhstan.

Guest lectures and breakout sessions will be held during the first four days of the conference. Among the issues raised are earthquake-resistant construction and the stability of buildings and structures to the elements, geoenergy, mining, problems of underground space development, soil study, engineering and technical expertise, personnel training for the construction and geotechnical industry, etc.

Also these days an exhibition of geotechnical and construction equipment, technical tours of the iconic objects will be held in Astana and Almaty.

Following the results of the conference, Kazakhstani and foreign experts will develop practical recommendations for the development of infrastructure in Asian countries.

ENU is a corporate member of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society (KGS).

Astana continues the baton of holding Asian Regional Conferences on Geotechnics, following the experience of past ARCs (New Delhi 1960, Tokyo 1963, Haifa 1967, Bangkok 1971, Bangalore 1975, Singapore 1979, Haifa 1983, Kyoto 1987, Bangkok 1991, Beijing 1995, Seoul 1999, Singapore 2003, Calcutta 2007, Hong Kong 2011, Fukuoka 2015, Taipei 2019).