Conference Themes

Mountainous regions like the Himalayas face increasing geohazards—landslides, rockfalls, debris flows, and GLOFs—intensified by climate change through heavier rainfall, glacier retreat, and permafrost loss. This theme focuses on innovative approaches for risk assessment, mapping, and climate-resilient geotechnical solutions. Key areas include advanced hazard modeling, early warning systems, climate-responsive slope stabilization, low-cost community-based practices, and integration of climate projections in design codes. The session aims to connect research, engineering, and policy to develop safe, sustainable, and resilient mountain infrastructure.

Tunneling in the Himalayas faces challenges from complex geology, fault zones, groundwater inflow, and seismic risks. This theme explores advanced design, excavation, and monitoring methods for hydropower, transport, and utility tunnels. Key focus areas include geotechnical investigations, fault zone management, modern tunneling techniques (NATM, TBM), seismic risk mitigation, and lessons from real projects to enhance safe, efficient, and sustainable underground construction.

Mountainous regions face frequent slope failures due to rainfall, seismic activity, and fragile geology. This theme highlights innovative and eco-friendly stabilization methods, including bioengineering, MSE systems, geosynthetics, and climate-responsive designs. It promotes low-cost, sustainable solutions using local materials and showcases practical applications for roads, hydropower, and urban development to ensure long-term safety and resilience.

Building infrastructure on steep slopes in mountain regions poses challenges of instability, erosion, and seismic risk. This theme addresses advanced site investigation methods, deep foundation solutions, slope–foundation interaction, and seismic design considerations. It highlights innovative, site-specific, and sustainable approaches to ensure safe and resilient construction for bridges, hydropower, and hillside structures.

Mountainous regions face high earthquake risks that trigger landslides, slope failures, and infrastructure damage. This theme focuses on seismic hazard assessment, earthquake-resistant design, liquefaction mitigation, and post-earthquake restoration for mountain roads, bridges, tunnels, and hydropower projects. It promotes innovative, site-specific solutions to enhance resilience and reduce disaster impacts.

Mountain regions face increasing geo-environmental challenges due to rapid urbanization, tourism growth, infrastructure expansion, and climate change impacts. Unmanaged construction waste, poorly designed landfills, improper disposal of solid waste, and mining residues threaten fragile ecosystems, water resources, and community health. The steep topography and limited land availability further complicate sustainable waste management and geo-environmental practices in these areas. This theme focuses on landfill design, mine waste stabilization, sustainable construction waste practices, and nature-based solutions to protect fragile ecosystems. It highlights geotechnical approaches for resilient, eco-friendly waste management in mountainous terrains.

Mountain rivers are dynamic systems characterized by steep gradients, high sediment loads, and frequent flash floods. In regions like the Himalayas, riverbank erosion and uncontrolled sedimentation pose significant threats to infrastructure such as roads, bridges, hydropower plants, and riverine settlements. These challenges are further intensified by climate change, which alters river flow regimes, accelerates glacial melt, and increases the frequency of extreme weather events. This theme addresses riverbank stabilization, sediment control, and climate-resilient protection measures, including bioengineering and structural methods. It focuses on integrated management approaches and case studies to safeguard infrastructure from flash floods and GLOFs.

Rural roads are vital for connecting remote communities but often face geotechnical challenges like unstable soils, landslides, and erosion. Proper geotechnical investigations help in selecting road alignments, designing stable pavements, and implementing slope protection measures. Techniques such as soil stabilization, drainage management, and bioengineering can enhance road durability. Sustainable rural road development ensures safe, accessible, and low-maintenance transportation networks that support socio-economic growth in rural areas.

Digital technologies and remote sensing enhance geotechnical engineering by providing accurate, large-scale, and real-time data. Tools such as GIS, IoT sensors, LiDAR, and satellite imagery help in terrain analysis, slope stability assessment, and hazard monitoring. Integration of these technologies enables predictive modeling, efficient planning, and safer infrastructure development.