The Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS) warmly invites geotechnical
engineers, geoscientists, professionals, and researchers from around
the globe to participate in “GeoMandu 2027: An International
Conference Series of the Nepal Geotechnical Society.” This special
edition of the GeoMandu series held in conjunction with the 11th
Asian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (AYGEC), event of
ISSMGE, and the 1st South Asian Conference on Geotechnics (SACG)
under Association of Geotechnical Societies of South Asia (AGSSA)
will take place in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 17–19 March 2027, under
the central theme “Mountain Geotechnics for Infrastructure
Development.”
In recent years, civil engineering has
increasingly emphasized sustainable, resilient, and environmentally
conscious infrastructure, driven by rapid urbanization, climate
change, and evolving global development priorities. Nepal reflects
this global transition through significant achievements: expanding
its road network from less than 10,000 km to nearly 45,000 km,
advancing hydropower generation capacity toward national targets of
25,000 MW, and accelerating progress in road tunnels, rail
connectivity, irrigation systems, water supply projects, and modern
urban development initiatives.
Yet, these advancements especially within steep and fragile
Himalayan terrains—face persistent challenges from geohazards such
as landslides, earthquakes, and the escalating impacts of climate
change. In this context, geotechnical engineering stands at the
forefront of civil engineering practice, addressing the behavior of
earth materials, their interaction with infrastructure, and the
overall resilience of development efforts in mountainous regions.
The effective application of mountain geotechnics ensures
infrastructure that is not only functional and efficient but also
safe, sustainable, and capable of adapting to future environmental
uncertainties.
GeoMandu 2027,together with the
11th AYGEC and 1st SACG, will
serve as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, technical
dialogue, and regional and international collaboration. The
conference will bring together experts, researchers, and young
professionals to explore innovative approaches that strengthen
mountain infrastructure across Asia and beyond.
We
extend our heartfelt invitation to join us in the scenic landscapes
of Nepal as we collectively advance this important mission.
Together, through
“Mountain Geotechnics for Infrastructure Development,”
we can contribute to building a safer, greener, and more resilient
future for generations to come.
The key objectives of GeoMandu 2027 are as follows:
In summary, the “GeoMandu” conference series aims to promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and sustainable solutions within the geotechnical engineering community, with a focus on sustainable infrastructure development on a global scale.
Nepal Geotechnical Society
is a scientific forum of engineers and scientists involved in the
fields of general civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, and
geosciences. It was established by an enthusiastic and truly
dedicated group of geotechnical engineers and academics of Nepal
back in 1994 so as to deal with massive geotechnical challenges and
bring into effect geotechnical engineering design and practices
together with the development of education and research in the
country. Although the membership strength of the society is still
far below initial expectations, starting from only 10 in the
beginning, today it has gone to about 200 and is expected to
increase every year.
Apart from various national
seminars and guest lectures, NGS is involved in international
activities through its affiliation with the International Society
for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) for more
than two decades. However, because of many a number of difficulties
including the largely lagging infrastructure development activities
in the nation, we in NGS have not been able to frequently exchange
our experience with the international geotechnical experts through
any regular international events in Nepal itself. Despite our
attempts to hold international events in the country on a regular
basis, most of our activities so far have been willingly or
unwillingly limited to the national level and on a smaller scale.
Among the Asian national geotechnical societies too, we are yet to
emerge as an active society in the region. The first ever NGS
international symposium we organized was in 2014. But starting the
first GeoMandu 2023 from March 2023, we plan to hold the NGS
international conference series on a regular basis every two years
in the name of GeoMandu.
The International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical
Engineering
originated from the First International Conference on Soil Mechanics
and Foundation Engineering held at Harvard in 1936, attended by 206
delegates from 20 countries. Following this success, an Executive
Committee with Karl Terzaghi as President and Arthur Casagrande as
Secretary was formed. Despite delays due to World War II, the
society was firmly established after the Third ICSMFE in Zurich in
1953. The Society's name was changed in 1997 to better reflect its
scope.
ISSMGE is a leading professional body
representing engineers, academics, and contractors in geotechnical
engineering worldwide. It comprises about 90 Member Societies and
around 20,000 individual members. The Society organizes
international and regional conferences, publishes research, and
supports professional development. As a global organization, it
plays a crucial role in advancing geotechnical engineering practices
and standards. Dr.Marc Ballouz is the current president of ISSMGE.
For more information please visit ISSMGE home page at
https://www.issmge.org/ .
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