ISSMGE

President Report of Activities

2005-2009

September 2009

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1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 3 2. MEMBERSHIP.................................................................................................................... 3 3. TECHNICAL COMMITTEES ............................................................................................ 6 4. REGIONAL CONFERENCES ........................................................................................ 10 5. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES ............................................................................. 22

5.1 XVII ICSMGE, Alexandria....................................................................................... 22 5.2 International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics ............................................ 23

6. YOUNG GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS - The ISSMGE FUTURE ........................ 24 7. OTHER REGIONAL CONFERENCES ......................................................................... 25 8. FEDIGS.............................................................................................................................. 26 9. SECRETARY GENERAL ................................................................................................ 30 10. TASKS FORCES............................................................................................................ 31 11. BOARD MEETINGS ...................................................................................................... 33 12. COUNCIL MEETINGS .................................................................................................. 33 13. TOURING LECTURES/INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS........................................... 34 14. ISSMGE BULLETIN....................................................................................................... 40 15. ISSMGE JOURNAL ....................................................................................................... 41

15. 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 41 15. 2. Exchanged e.mails ................................................................................................. 42 15. 3. Current Situation ................................................................................................... 44 15. 4. Actions to be Implemented.................................................................................... 44 15. 5. Programmed activities ........................................................................................... 45

16. MEETINGS WITH MEMBER SOCIETIES and GEOTECHNICAL GROUPS....... 46 17. RELATIONSHIP WITH SISTER SOCIETIES AND OTHER SOCIETIES ............. 50 18. FINANCIAL SITUATION ............................................................................................... 51 19. ISSMGE – 75 Years Celebration ................................................................................. 52

19.1) Introduction ............................................................................................................ 52 19.2) Special Number of Case History Journal ............................................................... 52 19. 3) Conference Special Sessions................................................................................. 52 19. 4) Conference Dates .................................................................................................. 53

20. FINAL COMMENTS....................................................................................................... 53 21. THANKS .......................................................................................................................... 54

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1. INTRODUCTION It is important to recall that in my programme of candidature for ISSMGE president, submitted in 2005, in item Motivation I have stated: ”To deal with ISSMGE activities using not only my knowledge, but also my heart and passion to keep the fire burning. I will assume the responsibility to act with efficiency, honesty, judgement and equilibrium and to be able the "resonant box" of all the requests, wishes, proposals and expectations of the 76 Geotechnical Societies that integrate the ISSMGE. The time demands all arise as we are now on the brink of a new era for ISSMGE. Over the past years a number of developments have taken place and we need to mould the ISSMGE for this momentum to capitalise on the potential benefits. I know what I do not know, I seek available knowledge, acknowledging my limitations, but I am confident that joining our efforts we will reach our goals and targets and develop our capacity to transform the projects in actions. These actions will increase the hope and will show that new changes are going to be implemented reaching consensus solutions and contributing for the unity and strength of ISSMGE. The Societies with large number of members shall feel that their proposals will contribute for the decisions of ISSMGE, but all the Societies shall feel that their voice can contribute for the role of ISSMGE. The diversity of all 76 ISSMGE Societies is our great richness and a source of inspiration. It is our great challenge, but also a unique opportunity to rethink ISSMGE, in order to reach a new model, to give our hands and to work together. ISSMGE is complex and we need to recognise the importance of dialogue and pursue perfection to reach the optimum solution. I hope that my proposals will find echo in your ideas and with the advice and support of the seventy six Societies and the Board Members, I am confident to overcome the difficulties working together with enthusiasm to reach our common goal to serve better our Society”. Since my election in Osaka Council meeting, 11 September 2005, followed by my Message in ISSMGE News, Nº4, November 2005, until Alexandria Council meeting, 4 October 2009, I feel that it is my duty to make a balance of this period of 4 years and to submit to your knowledge, in order to receive your comments and suggestions to improve ISSMGE activities that are our common goal. To all ISSMGE members I express a word of praise and gratitude for your contribution, wishing that ISSMGE continue to be a space of scientific interaction, sharing of experiences and launching of innovative ideas to open new avenues. I believe that we, as human beings, have an enormous amount of choice to create the beautiful lives of our dreams. Fate and our choices work in concert to sculpt the look of our lives. 2. MEMBERSHIP Member Societies The accompanying Table indicates that the present ISSMGE membership is 18530 in 86 Member Societies with the following regional distribution: Africa: 11 Member Societies, 695 Individual Members; Asia: 23 Member Societies, 3431 Individual Members; Australasia: 2 member Societies, 1163 Individual Members; Europe: 35 Member Societies, 8067 Individual Members; North America: 3 Member Societies,

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3976 Individual Members; South America: 13 Member Societies, 1196 Individual Members. There are 6 countries that are more than one year in arrears with their subscription fees, namely Azerbaijan Republic, Kenya, Morocco, Peru, Vietnam and Zimbabwe and should therefore be considered suspended, as specified in the Statues and Bylaws(4H, 4I, 4J, 4H1, 4H2, 4I1). Membership Lists The letter distributed by the Secretariat to Member Societies in September 2008, which detailed a number of administrative matters in the run-up to the Alexandria Council Meeting (October 2009), included an item on the Membership Lists CD to be produced and distributed in time for the International Conference in Alexandria. Member Societies were reminded that, at the same time as the 2009 invoices would be distributed, they would also receive a template for their membership information. The contents for the CD was assembled since January 2009 and will be presented at the Council meeting. Corporate Members: The current list of Corporate Members is: Acciona Infraestructuras, Spain Bauer Spezialtiefbau GMBH, Germany Deltares, Netherlands (previously GeoDelft) Fugro N.V., Netherlands Georeconstruction-Fundamentproject, Russia Geo-Research Institute, Japan Geoteknik SA, Turkey (joined in February 2008) gINT Software, USA Golder Associates, Canada Huesker Synthetic GmbH, Germany (joined in February 2008) Jan de Nul, N.V., Belgium Kiso-Jiban Consulting Engineers, Japan Naue GmbH Co KG, Germany Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway Sinotech Engineering Consultants, China Soletanche Enterprise, France S. N. Apageo S.A.S., France Tensar International, UK Terre Armee Internationale, France Tractebel Development Engineering S.A., Belgium Zetas Zemin Teknolojisi AS, Turkey (joined May 2008). MEMBER SOCIETIES/ No of Members 1 ALBANIA 31 2 ARGENTINA 56 3 AUSTRALIA 870 4 AUSTRIA 95 5 AZERBAIJAN REP. 13 6 BANGLADESH 33 7 BELGIUM 200 8 BOLIVIA 25 9 BRAZIL 741 10 BULGARIA 63 11 CANADA 723

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12 CHILE 74 13 CHINA 200 14 COLOMBIA 22 15 COSTA RICA 30 16 CROATIA 154 17 CTGA 28 18 CUBA 30 19 CZECH & SLOVAK

REPUBLICS 43 20 DENMARK 345 21 DOMINICAN REP. 32 22 ECUADOR 46 23 EGYPT 125 24 EL SALVADOR 30 25 ESTONIA 26 26 FINLAND 181 27 FRANCE 473 28 GEORGIA 38 29 GERMANY 654 30 GHANA 21 31 GREECE 156 32 HONG KONG 256 33 HUNGARY 115 34 ICELAND 10 35 INDIA 239 36 INDONESIA 90 37 IRAN 191 38 IRAQ 11 39 IRELAND 22 40 ISRAEL 35 41 ITALY 267 42 JAPAN 1362 43 KAZAKHSTAN 40 44 KENYA 21 45 KOREA 315 46 KYRGYZSTAN 30 47 LATVIA 31 48 LITHUANIA 40 49 MACEDONIA(see The

FYROM) 50 MEXICO 372 51 Morocco 12 52 MOZAMBIQUE 32 53 NEPAL 22 54 NETHERLANDS 729 55 NEW ZEALAND 363 56 NIGERIA 43 57 NORWAY 359 58 PAKISTAN 80 59 PARAGUAY 53 60 PERU 25 61 POLAND 312 62 PORTUGAL 214 63 ROMANIA 140 64 RUSSIA 319

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65 SERBIA 30 66 SINGAPORE 191 67 SLOVENIA 105 68 SOUTH AFRICA 315 69 SOUTH EAST ASIA 200 70 SPAIN 388 71 SRI LANKA 34 72 SUDAN 25 73 SWEDEN 730 74 SWITZERLAND 208 75 SYRIA 17 76 TAJIKISTAN 23 77 THAILAND 32 The FYROM 72 78 TUNISIA 30 79 TURKEY 167 80 UKRAINE 142 81 UK 1190 82 USA 2924 83 UZBEKISTAN 38 84 VENEZUELA 25 85 VIETNAM 18 86 ZIMBABWE 17 Since 15 September 2005 in Osaka to 9 October 2009 in Alexandria where this Board ends his mission we can notice an increase of 10 Member Societies from 76 to 86, i.e. a 11,3% increase in the Membership and an increase of Individual Members from 16330 to 18594, i.e. a 11.1% increase. In this period of 4 years the following Member Societies have joined: Cuba (March 2007), Georgia (May 2007), Uzbekistan (August 2007), Mozambique (September 2007), El Salvador (October, 2007), Thailand (February 2008), Singapore (April 2008), Kyrgyzstan (September 2008), Tajikistan (October 2008), Dominican Society for Geotechnics, Foundations and Materials (June, 2009). In my interaction with the Member Societies and Individual Members I have listened twice as I have spoken. As I strongly believe that listening intently to someone is one of the best ways I know of to honour that person and forge a deep human connection. I wish to the Member Societies, to the Corporate Members and to the Individual Members immense blessings along this voyage called a life. 3. TECHNICAL COMMITTEES ISSMGE wants to play an important role helping the geotechnical community to explore the best ways for research, design, construction and assessment of geotechnical structures safety in order to reach the expectations and targets of our Society during the third Millennium. Since September 2005 I have worked in all TCs, based in the Technical Committees Administrative Reports (2001-2005), proposals from Member Societies and suggestions from key persons. I have also interacted with the potential Chairpersons,

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Host Members Societies, Regional Vice Presidents and Secretary General, with whom I worked closely in these matters. Fig. 1 shows ISSMGE Membership.

Fig.1 ISSMGE Membership In my letter addressed to the presidents of Member Societies on 7 February 2006 I attached a summary of this work, and informed about the current state of TCs, the appointed chairpersons, the host Member Society, the Core Members, Terms of Reference and Planning of Activities. For a better clarification of my proposal I informed that: i) Some TCs were re-activated with up-dated ToRs; ii) The chairpersons were requested to put considerable efforts in the Planning of Activities, dissemination of the work and the out coming technical reports; iii) Some TCs were discontinued due the creation of new JTCs; iv) Some new TCs were created, in order to innovate; v) A better involvement of Member Societies and geographical distribution has deserved considerable attention; vi) Participation of young engineers was requested; vii) Cooperation between ISSMGE and Industry was encouraged. I have requested to the Member Societies confirmation related the appointment of Chairpersons, Host Member Societies and Core members.

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Through our 24 Technical Committees and our Conferences we have the responsibility to interact with the Society. Very recognisable topics, such as: transportation, environmental, geo hazards, preservation of historic sites, education, professional practice and safety evaluation are a good opportunity. The geographical distribution of the Technical Committees is shown in Fig. 2. The TCs are the spine of ISSMGE, a forum of discussion contributing for the advancement of knowledge in geotechnical engineering. The TCs should disseminate their work, during ISSMGE Conferences, e.g. a Workshop, or Satellite conference. At the end of each tenure each Technical Committee should produce an ISSMGE

report. Within this framework a great contribution came from the role of 24 ICSMGE Technical Committees e.g. - For Transport Systems (TC3 "Geotechnics of Pavements", TC17 "Ground Improvement", TC18 "Deep Foundations", TC28 "Underground Construction in Soft Ground Conditions", TC33 "Geotechnics of Soil Erosion", TC36 "Foundation Engineering in Difficult Soft Soil Conditions", TC37 "Interactive Geotechnical Design", TC 38 “Soil-Structure Interaction”, TC 40 “Forensic Geotechnical Engineering”); - To support Environmental Policy (TC1 "Coastal Engineering and Dike Technology", TC5 "Environmental Geotechnics", TC 41 “Mega Cities”); - For natural disasters (TC4 "Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering and Associated Problems”, TC19 "Preservation of Historic Sites", TC 39: “Geotechnical Engineering for Coastal Disaster Mitigation and Rehabilitation”); - Education in Geo-Engineering (TC 23 "Limit State Design in Geotechnical Engineering", TC32 "Engineering Practice of Risk Assessment and Management", - For basic sciences e.g. TC2 "Geotechnics of Physical Modeling", TC6 "Unsaturated Soils", TC8 "Frost Geotechnics", TC16 “Ground Properties from in-situ Testing”, TC 29 “Laboratory Stress Strain Strength Testing of Geomaterials”, TC34 "Prediction Methods in Large Strain Geomechanics", TC35 "Geotechnics of Particulate Media". In a world that moves in the direction of the global village it is very important the universality of the knowledge and the need for a permanent renewing. It is important to communicate, to share experiences, to compare methodologies and to monitor the results. The benefits of an open dialogue between academicians, researchers, practitioners, contractors and owners are huge. We should not forget that it is not the lack of knowledge that provoke problems, but our obstinacy in having certainties and that: “The important thing in science is not So much to obtain new facts, as to discover New ways of thinking about them”. By my letter of 24 April 2006 I have stressed my wish to continue with the regular contacts with TCs chairpersons. I sent the “Guidelines for the Creation and Operation of Technical Committees” approved by Osaka Council on 11 September 2005 and also the “Manual for ISSMGE Conferences” approved by ISSMGE Council in Prague, on 24 August 2003. I have reminded that all of us have the responsibility and the duty to implement these documents.

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I have emphasized in my Message to ISSMGE News, Nº5, June 2006 that the success of the TCs demands the combined efforts of the TC Chairpersons, the Core Members and the Appointed Members. The Member Societies and particularly Host Member Societies were requested to give all necessary support, in particular with the issue of deliverables and final Report at the end of the TC term. By my letter of February 2007 I have requested a report of progress to all TCs Chairpersons, to be distributed to the Member Societies, by end of April 2007, in order to be approved by the Council meeting in Brisbane, on 21 October 2007. In order to harmonize TCs reports should cover the following aspects: (i) Composition: Chairperson, Secretary, Host Member Society, Core Members and appointed Members; (ii) Terms of Reference; (iii) Planning of Activities: meetings, workshops and conferences held, as well meetings, workshops and conferences planned; (iv) - Deliverables: reports, initiated and planned;(v) Any other eventual interesting item. By my letter 27 September 2008 I have informed TCs chairpersons about the possibility to organise a Satellite conference or Special Session in Alexandria for the occasion of XVII ICSMGE. I have encouraged them to profit this opportunity, as this close the period of TC activity of 4 years. By my letter of 3 May 2009 I have requested the Technical Committees chairpersons to send me a Administrative Report covering the activities of TC in the four year period September 2005 – October 2009. The report should include: (i) TC composition; (ii) Terms of Reference; (iii) Activities initiated; (iv) Activities completed and reported e.g. in published reports or conference proceedings, seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.; (v) Activities in hand and to be completed soon such as an imminent conference or report publication; (vi) Recommendations about the future of TC. These Reports will be available on the ISSMGE web site and will be published in Volume 5 of the Alexandria Conference Proceedings. In summary I have appreciated very much the continuous and regular contacts, my attendance to several meetings and Conferences organized by the Technical Committees. I had the opportunity to attend and deliver messages for the occasion of Opening Ceremonies and Closing Ceremonies of Conferences organized by TC 4 (Thessaloniki, June 2007, Tokyo, June 2009), TC 5 (Cardiff, May 2006), TC 16 (Taipei, April 2008) , TC 18 ( Lisbon, September 2008, Frankfurt 2009), TC 23 (Gifu, June 2009), TC 28 ( Shanghai, April, 2008), TC 38 (St. Petersburg, June 2008), TC 39 (Nanjing, May 2008), TC 41 (Buzios, August 2008, Astana May 2009). In the great majority of these Conferences I was invited to chair Sessions and to deliver Lectures. We should not forget that failure is an essential ingredient for high achievement. We can not win without leaving our safety zone and taking calculated risks. The most risks we take to pursuit our dreams, the more we are going to fail. But we should not forget there is nothing so useless as doing efficiency that which should not be done. Following the memorable words of Anatole France: “To accomplish great things we must not only act, But also dream, not only plan, but also believe, And the belief in a thing makes it happen”.

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Fig. 2 Technical Committees

4. REGIONAL CONFERENCES The Regional Conferences take place with a periodicity of 4 years. I had the opportunity to participate during 2006 and 2007 in CAC meetings of Madrid, Isla de Margarita and Yaoundé Regional Conferences. I have also attended and delivered Messages at Opening and Closing Ceremonies, chaired sessions in the following Regional Conferences: 2007 (July 16-20) - Isla Margarita - XIII PCSMGE - Venezuela 2007 (September 24-28) - Madrid - XIV ECSMGE - Spain 2007 (October, 20-24) - Brisbane - X ANZCG - Australia 2007 (November 26-30) - Yaoundé- XIV ARCSMGE - Cameroon 2007 (December, 10-14) - Kolkata- XIII ARSMSGE – India. In 2011 the following Regional Conferences will take place: 2011 (May) - Hong Kong - XIV ARCSMGE-China 2011 (June, 13-16) - Maputo - XV ARCSMGE-Mozambique 2011 (September, 13-18) - Athens - X V ECSMGE-Greece 2011 (October, 2-6) - Toronto - XIV PCSMGE-Canada 2011 (November, 8-11) – Melbourne - XI ANZSMGE-Australia. I have participated in CAC meetings of the Regional Conferences that will take place in Toronto and in Mozambique. In addition I have interacted with the Organizing Committees of Hong Kong, Toronto, Athens and Maputo Regional Conferences, during the stage of preparation of Bulletin 1.

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ISSMGE COUNCIL MEETING

Technical Committees Report

Designation Composition Term of References Planning of Activities Evaluation

TC1: COASTAL ENGINEERING

AND DIKE TECHNOLOGY

Chairman: Dr. M.A. Van (The

Netherlands) Secretary: Dr. C.

Zwanenburg (The Netherlands)

•To increase fundamental understanding and modelling of strength, deformation and erosion behaviour of soils and failure processes of dikes, dunes, (underwater) dams, reclaimed land, man-made islands and ports in river and coastal zone. • Contributions to the international congresses with case histories, failures, measurements, simulations and artificial knowledge. • Encouraging of new techniques for constructing and maintenance and reliable protection works. • Producing technical reports.

• September, 2007 24th-28th: Launch TC1 in Madrid for the occasion of the XIVth ECSMGE • 2008 encouraging task forces and technical meetings; • 2009 4th committee meeting on the occasion of the XVII ICSMGE in Alexandria.

• Presentation of a volume on ‘coastal engineering and dike technology’. •The activity of TC1 based in the meetings and conferences organized and produced documents can be classified as Good.

TC2: PHYSICAL MODELLING IN GEOTECHNICS

Chairman: Professor Sarah

Springman (Switzerland)

Secretary: Dr. D White (UK)

• To promote exchange of geotechnical physical modelling (including centrifuge testing). • To support the profession- academics and industry- to obtain reliable information on geotechnical physical modelling. • To encourage effective dissemination of applications of physical and to promote the International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, •To develop with other ISSMGE TCs, including TC1, TC4, TC6, TC28 and TC35 understanding of the role of physical modelling •To co-operate with other national and international groups interested in geotechnical physical modelling,

• Organisation of 6th IC on Geotechnical Physical Modelling in Hong Kong, 4-6 August 2006 • ISOPE07 in Lisbon, 1-6 July 2007, www.isope.org • XIV ECSMFE "Spirit of Krebs Ovesen session - Madrid, 2007 • IIT Bombay, India: 2007. •13 ARC 2007: "Physical modelling for infra-structure development", Kolkata, India, • Eurofuge 2008, at City University in London, May 2008.

.

• Papers for XVII ICSMGE, 2009 in Alexandria • Organisation of 7th Intern.Conf. on Geotechnical Physical Modelling in Zurich in 2010 •TC2 activity related meetings and conferences and produced documents can be classified as Excellent.

TC3:

Chairman: Professor Antonio

• Design parameters for foundation layers of pavements (roads, railways and airports). To

•To promote TC3-sponsored sessions on Geotechnics of

•Compilation of specifications.

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GEOTECHNICS OF PAVEMENTS

G.Correia Portugal) Secretary: Dr Dietmar Adam (Austria) Website: http://www.geoforum.com/tc3

compile worldwide information about reliable existing data of modulus and damping. •Application of “Artificial Neural Networks” to automate the prediction of design parameters” (Earth structures in pavement and railway construction. •Synthesize the knowledge about current state of the art techniques (GPR, SASW, IR, etc.).

pavements in transportation infrastructures at ISSMGE international and regional, geoenvironmental and unsaturated soils conferences on pavements in transportation infrastructures.

•Work at CEN level to standardize continuous compaction control. •TC3 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC4: EARTHQUAKE

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS

Co-Chairmen: Takaji Kokusho / Atilla Ansal (Japan/Turkey) S.G/Assis.: N. Yoshida/Hemanta Hazarika (Japan) Website: http://www.civil.tohoku-gakuin.ac.jp/yoshida/tc4.html

•To promote the development of the state of the art and practice in earthquake geotechnical engineering and associated geo-hazards. •To exchange knowledge and information on geotechnical natural/man-made hazards associated with recent earthquakes. •To develop or improve design methodologies of buildings and civil engineering structures by performance-based and probability-based approaches.

•To organize International Conferences on earthquake geotechnical engineering and associated problems in Greece in 2007 and encourage other international forums on the same topics. •(4ICEGE). http://www.4icege.org. •Internat.Geotech. Symp. Sakhalinsk. •Int. Work. on Earth. Hazard and Mitig. (2007), India

,. • 2nd ICGEDMR

Nanjing, China. •CHEGE 2008. •. PBD”Conf. IS Tokyo, 2009. •TC 4 activity related meetings and conferences and produced documents can be classified as Excellent.

TC5: ENVIRONMENTAL

GEOTECHNICS

Chairman: Mario Manassero (Italy) Secretary: Evelina Fratalocchi (Italy)

•To promote the knowledge in the area of Environmental Geotechnics. •To promote research activities, professional applications and standardization. •To cooperate and contribute to the organization of congresses, conferences and symposia. •To establish co-operation and exchange of knowledge with national, international and public •To promote preparation and updating of laws and regulations by government agencies and public institutions. •To contribute to new technologies for alternative energy sources, pollutant control and disposals. •To promote sustainable Environmental Geo-

•Core-Members Meeting, in •Osaka, 2005, Cardiff, 2006, Yokohama, 2006- •Plenary Meeting, Cardiff, 2006 •V Int. Con.. Envir. Geotech, 2006. VIII Int.Conf.Geosy.Japan, 2006. • 2nd Works. Hydro-Physico-Mech.of Wastes,Southampton 2007. 1st Pan-American Geosynthetics Conf. (Mexico), March 2008. 14th African Reg.l Conf., Nov. 2007, Cameroon).

•Workshop “Envir. Geot. TC5 Report”, Osaka,2005.

•TC5 report devoted to Env. Geot..at the 5th ICEG (Cardiff, 2006), as CD.

•6th ICEG, 2010. New Delhi, Nov

•TC 5 activity related meetings and conferences and documents can be classified as

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technology applications and to share knowledge between countries.

2nd Chem.Physical Hydro-Mech. Pheno.Envir. Geot., Ghent ( 2008) Symposium 7-10 Sept. 2009-Huanzhou. ,

Excellent.

TC6: UNSATURATED

SOILS

Chairman: Prof. Eduardo Alonso (Spain) Secretary: Dr. Gerald A. Miller (USA) web site can be accessed at www.dur.ac.uk/~des0www4/unsaturated/

•Cooperation and exchange of knowledge in mechanics of unsaturated soils, expansive, collapsible, residual, arid, and compacted soils, and its relevance to the solution of engineering problems. •To promote the exchange of information about testing of unsaturated soils. •To promote benchmark exercises to establish the capabilities and prediction methodologies in unsaturated soil mechanics. •To cooperate actively with other technical committees, namely, TC5 and JTC1 on Landslides.

•UNSAT 2006 in Carefree, AZ (over 400 attendees, Two volume proceedings. •3rd Asian Conf. Unsaturated Soils, Nanjing, China, 2007 •USS 2007. 2nd Int. Conf.on Mecha.of Unsat.Soils, Weimar, •Host Workshop at the 14th ECSMGE •1st European Conference on Unsaturated Soils, UK, 2008. .

•5th Intern. Conf.on Unsaturated Soils, Barcelona, Spain, 2010. •TC 6 activity related meetings and conferences and produced documents can be classified as Excellent.

TC8: ON FROST

Chairman: Dr Seppo Saarelainen (Finland) Secretary: Henry Gustavsson, (Finland) Website: http://www.tkk.fi/Yksikot/Osastot/R/Pohja/TC8/

•Permanent deformations in thawing subgrades under traffic loading. •Determination of frost susceptibility. •Performance of insulation materials, by-products and waste materials in relation to frost action. •Influence of climate change on frost action. •To co-operate with the working group on “Permafrost Engineering” of the International Permafrost Association (IPA).

•Cooperation with the Intern. Symp. on Ground Freezing •Bangor Conf. ( XII ICCRE), 2006 •Meeting in Orono, USA 2007 for Conf. Cold Regions Engin. •Involvement in technical sessions of ISCORD 2007, Tampere •IX Int. Conf. Permafrost, June 29- July 3, 2008 in, Alaska. • Workshop on frost Geotech. in XVII ICSMGE, Alexandria, 2009.

•The activity of TC8 based in the meetings and conferences organized and produced documents can be classified as Good.

TC16: GROUND PROPERTY

CHARACTERIZATION BY IN-SITU

TESTS

Chairman: Prof. Paul Mayne (USA) Secretary: John Powell (UK): Website:

•To promote in-situ tests to enhance the determination of soil and rock properties, use of borehole techniques, penetration tests, and geophysical methods, and their variance. •Maintain an website and email network, •Upgrade the social importance to the public,

•Host the 3rd international conference on site characterization (ISC-3) to exchange theoretical, practical, and applied research in the area of in-situ testing, Taywan, 2008

•Set of internat. guidelines and standards for in-situ testing methods. •TC 16 activity related meetings

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http://www.geoforum.com/tc16

private, commercial, industrial, and military communities. •Interaction with TC 1 and TC 29.

•Host the 4th international conference on site characterization (ISC-4, Brazil 2012).

and conferences and produced documents can be classified as Excellent.

TC 17 – GROUND IMPROVEMENT

Chairmen: Serge Varaksin / Prof. Jan Maertens (France/Belgium)) Secretary: ir Noel Huybrechts (Belgium) website of TC 17 ( = ISSMGE Website);

•Creation of the following Working Groups WG A – Concept & Design , WG B – Ground Improvement without admixture in non cohesive soils, WG C – Ground Improvement without admixture in cohesive soils, WG D – Ground Improvement with admixtures, WG E – Ground Improvement with grouting type admixtures, WG F – Earth reinforcement in fill, WG G - Earth reinforcement in cut •Working Groups to prepare brief descriptions of the appropriate techniques and a list of publications before end 2006 in order to put this information on the website

• a meeting per year and the chairmen of the working groups will be invited. •Meetings took place at European Conference on Numerical methods in Geotechnical Engineering in Graz. The TC 17 meeting in Graz is provided on 9 September 2006. •16th SEAGC (8-11 May 2007, Kuala Lumpur) •4th ECSMGE (24-27 September 2007, Madrid).

•The state-of-the art reports prepared by the different working groups will be used as the basis of a number of regional conferences in 2010 and 2011 and ICSMGE 2009. •TC 17 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC18: DEEP

FOUNDATIONS

Chairmen: Prof. Alain Holeyman / Prof. Dr. Ing. Rolf Katzenbach (Belgium / Germany) Secretary: Ir. Maurice Bottiau (Belgium)

•To promote co-operation and exchange of information on the design principles of pile groups and Combined Pile Raft Foundations (CPRFs) and on understanding of installation methods of piles; •To finalise and disseminate survey reports on the design and case histories of CPRFs, giving a overview of present-day design methods; •To compile and disseminate case studies of static and dynamic tests on instrumented piles to get insights about the pile installation process and its resulting influence on the load-bearing behaviour of piles and to use the tests for a benchmark for design methodologies.

8th International Conference on the Application of Stress-Wave Theory to Piles, Lisbon, September 2008. International workshop on “Design and Performance of Deep Foundations”, Airport of Frankfurt am Main, May 2009.

•TC 18 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC19:MONUMENTS •The main reason for the reactivation of the TC19 is •Part 1 Ground monument •The activity of

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AND HISTORIC PLACES

to bring to completion the task of drafting Guidelines for Geotechnical Investigations, Analysis and Interventions for Monuments and Historic Sites.

system; Peculiarities of monuments–Diagnosis (Investigat. include History; Monitoring; Analyses) Interventions (respect of the integrity; durability); Monitoring. Part 2 - Specific Problems Foundations, Cliffs, Urban areas, Landslides., General subsidence, Effects of new structures on old monuments. Part 3 - National Reports (Collection of regulations and codes of practice; List of the main problems; Relevant Case Histories.

TC19 based in the meetings and conferences organized and produced documents can be classified as Good.

TC 23 LIMIT STATE DESIGN IN

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

PRACTICE

Chairman: Y.Honjo (Japan) Secretary: L.M.Zhang (Hong Kong) Website: http://www.cive.gifu-u.ac.jp/~tc23/index.html

•Discuss the performance based design concept in conjunction with geotechnical limit state design. •Information concerning iimplementation of limit state design codes in various countries and regions.•Discussion of 'test values', 'derived values' and 'characteristic values'. •Review and advance the reliability based methodologies on determination of partial factors. •Discuss how partial factors be used in numerical design calculation, especially in FEM, and highly non-linear force-deformation behaviors. •Issues concerning geotechnical design codes in the small and/or developing countries.

•June, 2006, Geo-Shanghai Inter. Conf. – Session on Limit State Design in Geotec. Engin. 2006, Taipei, Symposium on New •Generation Design Codes and Geotechnical Engineering Practice. •2007, Tokyo, 10th Internat, Confer. on Application of Statistic and Probability in Civil Enginering •September, 2007 Madrid, Special Session sprit of Niels Ovesen, XIV ECSMGE, Co-organized with DGS and ETC10 •A Symposium on Georisk in corroboration with TC32 and GI-RAM. (Geo-risk 2008) . Gifu Conference 11-12 June 2009

•Limit State Conf. Gifu, June 2009 •Workshop during ICSMGE in Alexandria, Egypt. An opportunity to conclude the 8 years of activities on Tasks set by ITC23. •TC 23 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC28: Chairman: •Forum for interchange of ideas and discussion in •Workshop in Budapest (planned •Workshop during

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UNDERGROUND

CONSTRUCTION IN SOFT

GROUND

Professor Richard Kastner (France) Secretary: Dr Jamie Standing (UK)

tunnelling and deep excavations. •Information concerning the design, construction and analysis of deep excavations and tunnels with emphasis on effects and control of ground movements and mitigation measures. •Publication of well documented case histories and reports on the design and monitoring of deep excavations and tunnels •To contact with TC37 (Interactive geotechnical design), TC2 (Physical modelling).

for 2007, now postponed) •Workshop in Perth, 2007 •Meeting of TC28 during European Conf, Madrid, 2007. Intern.l Symposium in Shanghai (10th to 12th April 2008) •Database for tunnelling and deep excavations. •Guidelines for comparing field or physical model observations with numerical simulations.

XVII ICSMGE, Alexandria 2009. •TC 28 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC29: LABORATORY

STRESS STRAIN STRENGTH TESTING OF

GEOMATERIALS :

Chairman: Professor Richard Jardine (UK) Secretary: Prof. Satoru Shibuya (Japan)

•To promote co-operation and exchange of information concerning research and developments in advanced laboratory geotechnical testing, including apparatus, techniques, data acquisition and interpretation. •To encourage the application of advanced laboratory testing in research in integrated site characterisation studies and in ground modelling. •To explore how advanced testing can be used most constructively in practical geotechnical engineering. •Collaboration with TCs and specialists working in laboratory and field testing, sampling, theoretical and numerical analysis, and in project engineering and full scale observation.

•A one day symposium, Imperial College London (20th March 2006) •One day symposium was held in Hong Kong (3rd June 2006) •A second-part day symposium at Imperial College in London (21st March 2007) •4th Int. Symposium on Pre-Failure Deformation Properties of Geomechanics at Atlanta, Georgia, USA between Sep. 21st-24th 2008.

•TC 29 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC32 – ENGINEERING PRACTICE OF

RISK ASSESSMENT AND

MANAGEMENT

Chairman: Farrokh Nadim (Norway) Secretary: Gordon A. Fenton (Canada) Website: http://www.engmath

•To promote activities to Geostatistics and probabilistic site characterisation. Quantification of uncertainties in performance prediction- •Reliability-based design. •Risk-based decision analysis. •Calibration of LRFD-type geotechnical design

•Special sessions and short courses in international conferences and seminars and assemble a set of course notes. •Develop Guidelines for risk assessment and management in geotechnical engineering,

The activity of TC 32 based in the meetings and conferences organized and produced documents can be

17

.dal.ca/tc32/index.html.

codes. •Risk evaluation and risk mitigation. •To reach a consensus related acceptable risk assessment and management involving geotechnical and structural designers, contractors, owners and decision-makers. •Update the Glossary of risk terms and definitions.

•Organise an International Conference on Risk Assessment and Management in 2008. •Develop a bibliography for risk assessment and management.

.

classified as Good.

TC 33: GEOTECHNICS OF

SOIL EROSION

Chairman: Prof. Jean L. Briaud (USA) Secretary: Dr. Michael Heibaum (Germany) Website: http://www.civil.tamu.edu/Research/Scour-tc33

•The erosion-advanced organizations (academia, government, private firms) in selected countries share their knowledge on Geotechnics of Soil •Erosion including practice and applied engineering research with other countries interested in the topic. Deliverable = regional short courses, web pages. Schedule = yearly. •Global guidelines are developed. Deliverables = reports, web based documents. Schedule = about 3 years.

•Exchanges take place on the international research progress. Deliverables = conferences and proceedings. Schedule = every 2 years. •A new web site is developed. Deliverables = a web site. Schedule

TC 33 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC34: PREDICTION AND

SIMULATION METHODS IN

GEOMECHANICS

Chairman: Fusao Oka (Japan) Secretary: Akira Murakami (Japan)

•Prediction of chemo-thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled instabilities to progressive failure, liquefaction, chemo-thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled problem, erosion and rapid flow of complex fluidized geomaterials. •Advanced constitutive models of geomaterials and development of new numerical methods incorporating degradation and formation of soil structures, rate dependency, anisotropy, grain damage etc. •Calibration of constitutive and numerical models, and verification of analysis methods. •Reevaluation of existing practical prediction methods by advanced and comprehensive numerical analysis methods.

•Workshop during the European Conference on SMGE, 2007 in Madrid, Spain. •Workshop during the Asian conference on SMGE in Kolkata, 2007, India. •Int. Symposium on Prediction and simulation methods for Geo-Hazard mitigation, 2008 Osaka, Japan: co-organization of JGS. •Short course for training and education of advanced prediction and simulation methods in geotechnical engineering, 2006-2009.

•Workshop during or before the 17th ICSMGE in Alexandria, Egypt. •TC 34 activity can be classified as Very Good.

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•Transfer of knowledge activities and training; •Training and education on the existing applicable and comprehensive methods and new findings and cooperation with practitioners.

TC35:GEO-MECHANICS

FROM MICRO TO MACRO

Chairman: Prof. Malcom Bolton (UK) Secretary: Prof. Masayuki Hyodo (Japan)

•To promote co-operation about the behaviour of soil grains to clarify the micro-mechanisms of the behaviour of soils. •To promote improved Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) of soil aggregates, through laboratory tests, to observe grain crushing and rearrangement. •To encourage a micro-structural understanding of significant macroscopic behaviours such as compressibility, anisotropy, yielding, creep, cyclic liquefaction, shear rupture and tensile fracture. •To discuss use of micro-structural measurements to enhance soil characterisation procedures (grading, plasticity index, CPT / SPT etc). •To the study the application in rock mechanics, metal powders, ceramic pressings, and food processing. •To co-operate with other Technical Committees where the granular perspective is valuable .

.

•IS-Yamaguchi ’06 http://web2.cc.yamaguchi-u.ac.jp/~isy06/ •International Symposium on Geomechanics and Geotechnics of Particulate Media (12th -14th September 2006, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan) •To encourage local working groups on particulate mechanics, to organise regional workshops and international symposia, and to negotiate with major journals for the creation of special issues devoted to progress in this topic

•TC 35 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC36:FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

IN DIFFICULT SOFT SOIL

CONDITIONS

Chairman: G. Y. Auvinet (Mexico)

•Cooperation and exchange of information on characterization of difficult soft soil sites, focusing representative soil profiles and static and dynamic properties to be considered in foundation design. •To elaborate recommendations for in situ and laboratory testing of soft soil in extreme conditions. •Contributions of design method and technology related foundations in soft soils taking into account regional subsidence and seismic amplification. •To prepare proposals for monitoring schemes as well as for pile testing, in cases of foundation in

•Intern. Symp.on Rigid Inclusions in Difficult Soft Soil Conditions (2006). •Touring lectures (2006) in: Chile, Paraguay, and Korea. • To participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of Mexican Society of Soil Mechanics, October 2007. •Meeting during the Pan-American Conf., Isla Margarita,

•Foundation Engin. .in Difficult Soft Soil Conditions”, ed-by G. Auvinet, B. Indraratna,.XVI ICSMGE . •The proceedings of the “Intern. Symp. on Rigid Inclusions in Difficult Soft soil

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extreme soft soil and/or earthquake conditions. •To collect and publish well-documented case histories regarding analysis, design, construction and behaviour of foundations and earth structures built on soft soils.

July 2007 •Meeting during European Conference in Madrid, 2007. •Meeting during ISSMGE International Conference in Alexandria, Egypt, 2009.

Conditions (2006)” ed. by G. Auvinet, J.L. Rángel and M. Juárez •TC 36 activity can be classified as Very Good.

TC37: INTERACTION

GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN

Chairman: Ken Been (Canada)

•To determine the extent of use of Interactive Geotechnical Design in different regions of the world, and how it has been incorporated in geotechnical design codes and guidelines. •To promote general awareness of the advantages of interactive geotechnical design, including related legal aspects and risk analyses. •To work with International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineers to understanding and assessment of potential failure and deformation modes associated with soil-structure interaction. •To promote the benefits of active monitoring in projects involving displacements resulting from settlement and stability. •To formulate a good approach to the Observational method for complex geotechnical projects.

•Survey to determine the current status of the observational method, its application and barriers to wider application. •Approach the IABSE (Inter. Assoc. of Bridge and Structural Engin.) to determine their interest in a joint conference or workshop on Interactive Geotechnical and Structural Design. •Organise a conference in end of 2008 or in 2009 (with IABSE, and with TC 32) to:disseminate the results of the survey. •Provide more case histories and examples of interactive design

Note: Only scarce news

TC38: SOIL-STRUCTURE

INTERACTION

Chairman: Professor Vladimir Ulitsky (Russia) Secretary: Dr. Michael Lisyuk (Russia)

•To promote co-operation and exchange on soil-structure interaction to enhance overall engineering and research expertise within this area. •To identify examples of well-documented case histories involving soil-structure interaction. •Analyse of case histories using soil-structure interaction models and to compare results with observations. •To serve as an organizational support in promoting and advancement of new calculation methods in soil-structure interaction, as well as in development

•Participation in XIII Danube-European Conf. Ljubljana, 2006. •Meeting of members of TC 38 (XIII Danube Eur. Conf.). •Workshops 2006 – Saint Petersburg, and in Ghent). •Workshops “Use of soil-structure interaction principles for design of high-rise buildings” 2007 – Saint Petersburg, and Shanghai. •TC 38 Meeting (XIV European

•After collecting the data on the case histories analyses to continuously work on preparation of a guide giving recommendations for practitioners. •Preparation of the technical report on TC 38 activities and

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of related interactive monitoring and application of the observational method. •To organize workshops and conferences on soil-structure interaction, and further inclusion of related sections into international (regional) scientific geotechnical conferences.. •To prepare a guide giving recommendations for practitioners’ approach to soil-

Conf. 2007, Madrid). •Participation of TC 38 in the Touring lectures in Indonesia on Soil-Structure Interaction (17-19 October 2007, Jakarta) by invitation of ISSMGE President Prof. P. Sêco e Pinto. •International geotechnical conference “Development of cities and geotechnical engineering” (S. Petersburg, June 2008). •Session “Soil-Structure Interaction”. Meeting of members of TC 38.

•

achievements to the XVII ICSMGE in Alexandria, Egypt,

2009. •TC 38 activity related meetings and conferences and produced documents can be classified as Excellent.

TC39: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING FOR COASTAL

DISASTER MITIGATION AND

REHABILITA TION

Chairman: Dr Jian Chu, Singapore (SEAGS) Secretary: Dr KK Phoon, Singapore (SEAGS), Website: http://reliability.geoengineer.org/TC39/

•To conduct and coordinate research and development activities on coastal related disaster prevention, mitigation and rehabilitation works. To work with local professional bodies and governments to provide technical supports and assistance to the planning, coordination and implementation of disaster rehabilitation and disaster mitigation works •To develop pamphlets for public education and documents or design guides for geotechnical works related to coastal disaster prevention, mitigation and rehabilitation, •To coordinate and provide trainings and promote international research collaborations and cooperation through conferences, workshops, short courses, special training sessions, and other activities conducted jointly with local and international communities.

•Supporting the Int- Symposium on New Generation Design Codes for Geot. Engin. Practice, Taipei, Taiwan, Nov 2006. •Supporting the Int. Conf. on Mitigation of the Risk of Natural Hazards, Sri Lanka, March 2007. •Organising Special Session on Geo-hazard Mitigation at the 13th Southeast Asian Geotechnical Conf.in Kuala Lumpur, May 2007. •Organising a Special Session on Disaster Prevention Technologies at the Kyushu 2007, 5th Int-Conf. on Earth Reinforcement. •Organising a Spec. Session on Disaster Mitigat. and Management,13th Asian Reg. Conf on Soil Mech. and Geot.l Eng., Dec 2007, Kolkata, •2nd Int. Conf. Geot. Eng. for Coastal Disaster Mitigat. and

•Publishing a book on "Geo-disasters in Coastal Areas: Processes. Rehabilitation and Case Histories" by Thomson Learning. •Based on the book published, a State-of-the-Art Report will be submitted to ISSMGE before the next ISSMGE conference in Alexandria, Egypt, in 2009. •TC 39 activity related meetings and conferences and produced documents can be classified as

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Rehabilitation (GEDMAR08), Nanjing, 2008, jointly with TC4.

Excellent.

TC40: FORENSIC GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Chairman:Dr.V.V.S.Rao, India Secretary: Prof. G.L. Sivakumar Babu, India, Website: http://reliability.geoengineer.org/TC40/

•Project reconnaissance and characterization of the distress, including document search of plans, codes, and other technical specifications followed in the original design. •Diagnostic tests: Design and perform both field and laboratory tests using actual field parameters to evaluate the behaviour of soil / ground. •Back analysis: Selection of theoretical model and methods of analysis. •Instrumentation and Monitoring. •Development of the most probable failure hypothesis and cross-check with original design. •Performing reliability checks. •Legal issues involving jurisprudence system.

•Discussion session organized in Singapore on 30th May 2006 by Prof. K.K. Phoon. The conveners of the subcommittees attended the session. •A special session on Forensic Geotec. Engin. organized during 13ARC in Kolkata. Conveners of all subcommittees have prepared papers •A workshop is planned in USA during 2008 on legal issues in FGE. •It is proposed to hold a separate session on FGE during ICSMGE at Cairo.

Technical content to be considered by each subcommittee was discussed and a overall format of the proposed book on Forensic Geotech. Engin. was finalized. TC 40 based in the meetings and sessions organized and produced documents can be classified as Good.

TC41: MEGA CITIES

Chairman: Dr. Arsenio Negro (Brazil)

•Development of the state of the art and practice in geotechnical infrastructure engineering for Mega cities and associated geotechnical problems from technical and socio-economic viewpoints. •To exchange knowledge and information on geotechnical issues at during time of construction and reconstruction of Mega cities and new capitals, like Tokyo, Mumbai, Kolkata, St. Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico, New York, Istanbul, Cairo, Astana, Moscow, Brasilia, Berlin etc. •To develop or improve design conception and philosophy of Geotechnical infrastructures of construction of high store buildings and unique objects on new capitals and Mega cities. •To interact with JTC 1, TC 5, TC 18, TC 28, TC 32.

•Co-sponsor of the Intern.l Geotec.l Symposium in Sakhalin, Russia, in July, 2007. •Organize TC meeting in Kolkata, India, during ARC, December, 2007. • First Geotechnical International Symposium on Geotechnical Infrastructure for Mega Cities in 2008. Rio de Janeiro. • Organization of a Intern. Conf. on Mega Cities and New Capitals, Astana, May 2009. •Organize Technical Session in XVII ICSMGE, 2009.

•To publish a case history volume with data of good qualities, for developing geotech. enggineer.on problematic soil ground on Mega cities. •TC 41 activity can be classified as Very Good.

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We need to turn Regional Conferences more attractive to have the courage to address hot topics and case histories with failures. We should not forget that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to walk through your fear in pursuit of a goal that is important to you. Remember, on the other side of your fears you will discover your fortune. But do not forget that this world was built by people who felt some discontent with the way things were and knew they could be better. Greatness always arrives for those who are never satisfied even it looks nice. 5. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES The geotechnics torch from Cambridge in 1936, where took place the 1st International Conference of Soil Mechanics and Foundations Engineering has already cross the following cities: Rotterdam, Zurich, London, Paris, Montreal, Mexico, Moscow, Tokyo, Stockholm, S. Francisco, Rio de Janeiro, New Deli, Hamburg, Istanbul and Osaka, with a periodicity of four years, and will reach Alexandria for the 17 th International Conference of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering on 5-9 October 2009.

5.1 XVII ICSMGE, Alexandria There has been considerable effort in making sure that good progress is made with the arrangements for the 17ICSMGE, Alexandria, 5-9 October 2009. In addition to an extensive exchange of correspondence, a Conference Advisory Committee/ Conference Organising Committee meeting was held in Cairo and Alexandria on 19 th November 2006. At this meeting, a number of issues were discussed and agreed (as necessary) including: the conference format; the titles of main sessions, details of the Heritage lecture, Momentous Projects lectures and Practitioner/Academic forum; key dates; exhibition and sponsors; publication of proceedings; International Young Geotechnical Engineers’ Conference; Conference budget; Technical Committee workshops and meetings. Bulletin 2 was printed on June 2007 and distributed at all the ISSMGE Regional Conferences (13th Pan-American in Isla Margarita 16-20 July; 14th European in Madrid 24-27 September 2007; 10th Australasia in Brisbane 21-24 October 2007; 14th African in Yaoundé 26-28 November 2007; 13th Asian in Kolkata 10-14 December 2007. The Bulletin 2 is available on the conference website: http://www.2009icsmge-egypt.org/ ISSMGE President after consulting CAC and COC members has appointed SOA Lecturers and Co-Authors, as well Invited Lecturers. Also the President has appointed the Terzaghi Oration Lecturer. Conference Advisory Committee meetings (with partial number of members) took place in Madrid during the 14th European Regional Conference, in Brisbane during the 10 th Australasia Conference, in Kolkata during the 13 th Asian Conference. From page allocation pages the following information can be given: Initial allocated number of pages: 2516 Final allocated number of pages: 2802

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Number of expected papers: 702. The President has allocated extra number of pages to the following Societies: Albania, China, Colombia, Croatia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Macedonia, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, South East Asia, Spain and Turkey. Due the circumstance that abstracts were not received from Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Mozambique, Peru, Sri Lanka, Syria, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe, the President sent letters to those countries (with the exception of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Syria and Zimbabwe due difficulties to interact) reminding them to send abstracts. Positive responses were received from Estonia, Indonesia, Israel, Mozambique and Sri Lanka. The 2nd CAC meeting took place in St. Petersburg on 17th June 2008. The following items were discussed: (i) Analysis of the received abstracts; (ii) Distribution by the Theme Sessions; (iii) Members Societies that are missing. Actions to be taken. (iv) Technical Committees, Satellite Conferences and Workshops; (v) Initiation of the process of selection General Reporters and Panelists; (vi) Financial Aspects; (vii) Preparation of Bulletin nº 3; (vii) COC meetings; (viii) 4th International Young Geotechnical Conference. The President sent a letter to the Technical Committees chairpersons inviting them to organise a Satellite Conference or a Seminar for the occasion of XVII ICSMGE. The following TCs have responded positively: TC2, TC 4, TC 5, TC 6, T C8, TC 17, TC 23, TC 28, TC 29 and TC 38. The 3rd CAC meeting took place in Cairo on 28 February 2009. The following items were discussed: (i) Analysis of the correspondence exchanged with General Reporters. Future actions; (ii) Analysis of the current situation of SOA lectures, Terzaghi Lecture and Invited Lectures; (iii) Discussion of the process to select Panelists. Letters of invitation by COC; (iv) Selection of Chairpersons. Letters of invitation by COC; (v) Practitioners/Academia Forum; (vi) Technical Committees. Satellite Conferences and Workshops; (vii) Financial Aspects(viii) Current situation of Bulletin nº 3; (ix) Minutes of COC meetings; (x) 4th International Young Geotechnical Conference. Following the request of CAC the president has invited the General Reporters.

5.2 International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics The following International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics took place: 1st ICEG Alberta - Canada July 10-15, 1994 190 papers and 300 delegates • 2nd ICEG Osaka - Japan November 5-8, 1996 205 papers and 550 delegates • 3rd ICEG Lisbon - Portugal September 7-11, 1998 165 papers and 300 delegates • 4th ICEG Rio de Janeiro-Brazil August 11-15, 2002 155 papers and 220 delegates • 5th ICEG Cardiff - U K June 26-30, 2006

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194 papers and 310 delegates I had the opportunity to attend the 5th ICEG and delivered messages for the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony. The 6 th ICEG will take place in New Delhi - India, on 8-12 November 2010, The president chaired the CAC meeting that took place on 18 December 2008, in Bangalore. The following items were addressed: (i) Conference structure: Congress topics, Congress format, Poster sessions, Exhibitions; (ii) Consideration of invited speakers / keynote lectures / discussion leaders/panellists; (iii) Discussion of conference venue and facilities; (iv) Countdown to 2010; (v) Publication of proceedings-approach to be adopted, CD? Proceedings? Review procedure (selection of referees, TC5 members?); (vi) Financial matters: Registration fee, Sponsorship, Exhibition charges; (vii) Review of Conference committee structure for future ‘delivery’ of the Conference, Technical Review Committee?, Organising committee, National Advisory Committee, Role of TC5; (viii) Congress website. In dealing with International Conferences we should not forget the memorable lines of T.W. Huxlex “The known is finite The unknown is infinite Intelectually we are in the middle of an islet Surrounded by an imense ocean of inexplicability. Our business in each generation is to Reclaim a little more land To add something to the extent and solitude of our possessions”. 6. YOUNG GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS - The ISSMGE FUTURE ISSMGE should prepare the young geotechnical engineers to face the real needs of society and the new challenges. So it is important to help them to develop independent thinking and decision making skills trough practice, to reduce the gap between theory and practice, to help them explore their intuition and to teach them the importance of engineering judgement. From a balance of the Young Geotechnical Engineers Regional Conferences organised in Africa (2), in Asia (6), Australasia (8), in Europe (19) and in South America (3) it was recognised the great interest for the education of young geotechnical engineers. Related with the International Young Geotechnical Engineers Conferences (1st IYGEC was in UK and 2nd IYGEC took place in Romania) if they should be linked or not with ICSMGE became a topic of debate. The organising of 3rd IYGEC in conjunction with the 16 th ICSMGE in Osaka provide some lessons about this new experience. The list of the recent Regional Young Geotechnical Conferences and International Young Geotechnical Conferences is the following: 2007 Tunis - Tunisie 2 th AYGEC 2008 Bangalore – India 6 th AYGEC 2008 Wellington – Australasia 8 th AYGEC

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2008 Gyor - Hungary 19 th EYGEC 2009 Cordoba- Argentina 3rd SAYGEC 2000 Southampton - UK 1 th IYGEC 2003 Mamaia – Romania 2 th IYGEC 2005 Osaka – Japan 3 th IYGEC 2009 Alexandria - Egypt 4 th IYGEC I was invited to deliver lectures and also messages for the occasion of Opening and Closing Ceremonies of 2th AYGEC (Tunis, 2006), 6th AYGEC (Bangalore, 2008), 17th EYGEC (Zagreb, 2006), 18th EYGEC (Ancona, 2007), 19th EYGEC(Gyor, 2008) and 3rd SAYGEC (Cordoba, 2009), The President has interacted with the Chairperson of 4 IYGEC Dr. Fatma Baligh mainly to discuss the letter of invitation, the conference programme and the instructions for the authors. By e.mail 26 November 2008 the invitations were sent by the Organising Committee to all ISSMGE Member Societies. A CAC meeting of 4IYGEC took place in Alexandria on 26 February 2009. Intensive interaction took place between myself and the Chairperson of 4 IYGEC to discuss several technical and administrative issues. I would like to transmit the young geotechnical engineers the following message from Kahlii Gibran, The Prophet: “The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea; And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes. But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure; And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.” Remember that each day, life will send little windows of opportunity. Your destiny will ultimately be defined by how you respond to these opportunities. As you live your days, so you craft your life. 7. OTHER REGIONAL CONFERENCES The ISSMGE President has submitted for discussion his proposal in Riga meeting on 13 October 2005 for the occasion of Baltic Conference to extend the organization of Baltic Conferences to other Societies of Baltic Region, in order to turn these Conferences more attractive and to increase the participation. Also to avoid conflicting with ISSMGE International Conference(Y), with European Regional Conference(Y+2) and Danube Conference(Y+1), the President has proposed that the XI Baltic Conference should take place in (Y+3), with a periodicity of 4 years. This proposal was extensively discussed and was approved by unanimously. 13 th Danube European Conference on Geotechnical Engineering organized by Slovenian Geotechnical Society was held on 29 to 31 May 2006 in Ljubljana, Slovenia with 300 participants from 29 countries. The proceedings have integrated 187 papers from 34 countries.

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16 th SEAGS Conference took place in Kuala Lumpur 8-11 May 2007. This Conference was attended by 500 participants from 23 countries. The Conference Proceedings integrates Opening Keynote Address, Chin Fung Kee Lecture, 8 Keynote Lectures, 9 Special Lectures and 130 papers. The 11 th Baltic Sea Geotechnical Conference took place in Gdansk on 15-18 September with 280 participants from 30 countries. The Conference Proceedings integrate 124 peer-review papers in 2 Volumes and a CD-Rom. In the great majority of these Conferences I was invited to chair Sessions and to deliver Lectures. Troubles can transform, if we chose to allow them to do so. As Joseph Cambell wrote: “Where you stumble, there your treasures lies”. I appreciate very much the message of Bernard Shaw “Some men see things as they are and say “why”? I dream things that never were, and say “why not”. 8. FEDIGS Following the Council Meeting in Osaka, there have been 9 meetings with the Presidents, Immediate Past Presidents and Secretaries General of IAEG, ISRM and ISSMGE:

Paris - 11 November 2005 Amsterdam - 11 May 2006 Nottingham - 8 September 2006 Lisbon - 22 January 2007 Paris - 9 June 2007 London- 25 January 2008 Ghent-12 May 2008 Madrid – 19 September 2008 Cairo – 28 February 2009

The two main items under discussion were formulating a Cooperation Agreement for the Sister Societies and the development of Joint Technical Committees. In addition, there was discussion on the International Year of Planet Earth. My communications with ISSMGE Members were established, namely by: (1) My letter to the Member Societies giving information about FIGS, July 2006; (2) Correspondence exchanged with Member Societies (my letter November 2007); (3) My meetings with the Member Societies; (4) My messages in ISSMGE News Nº4, ISSMGE Bulletin Issue 1 and La Lettre de Geotechnique Nº 41 and Nº 44; (5) The Regional Vice Presidents have also interacted with the Member Societies; (6) Documents sent to Brisbane Council meeting and Alexandria Council meeting. The presidents of IAEG, ISRM and ISSMGE proposed to start the Federation of International Geo-engineering Societies (FIGS) in an informal way and only take the decision to modify it to a full legal status (with legalized Statutes and a complete set of By-laws) after one or two periods (of 2 years each) if it shows that such a formal status is indispensable for a proper functioning of FIGS. Such formalization will require the explicit approval of the Councils of the three organizations. Due to the presently proposed informal status no decisions will be taken yet on compliance with any national legal system.

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The Federation is founded on the principle that each of the participating associations/societies retains its identity and autonomy. The role of the Federation is to carry out functions for the international geo-engineering community that could not be carried out with the same effectiveness and efficiency by the three Members individually. The aim and responsibility of the Federation is to: - raise the awareness within the geo-engineering profession of the inevitable and essential interaction between geo-engineering practitioners from the Members; - coordinate the scientific and technical activities in areas with overlapping interest between the Members; - raise the public awareness and profile of the geo-engineering profession. Joint Technical Committees were established in cross collaboration with the Sister Societies and report on technical issues of common interest. The chairman is nominated by one of the Sister Societies and three core members are nominated by each of the Presidents. The guidelines for the creation of Joint Technical Committees were prepared. The Federation Board may appoint Joint Technical Committees for a maximum term of office of 4 years. Joint Technical Committees are composed by a chairperson, core members (together with the chair forming the core-group), co-opted members and corresponding members. The distribution of Joint Technical Committees by the Sister Societies ISSMGE, ISRM and IAEG is the following: JTC No Title Chairman Hosted by

JTC1 Landslides and Engineered Slopes Willy Lacerda ISSMGE

JTC2 Representation of Geo-Engineering Data David Toll ISSMGE

JTC3 Education and Training Prof. Gonzalez de Vallejo IAEG

JTC4 Professional Practice Harry Poulos ISSMGE

JTC5 Sustainable Use of Underground Space Ed de Mulder IAEG

JTC6 Ancient Monuments/Historical Sites (IAEG) B. Christaras IAEG

JTC7 Soft Rocks and Indurated Soils (ISRM) Milton Kanji ISRM

JTC9 Geophysical Methods (not activated) Koichi Sassa ISRM

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It was agreed by the Presidents that the respective Councils should discuss the Cooperation Agreement and take a decision by voting whether or not to accept this formal cooperation. The Councils of the IAEG and ISRM have considered the proposed Cooperation Agreement as follows: IAEG: Council Meeting held on 6 September 2006. 54 total votes cast with 43

in favour, 10 against and 1 abstention. With 79.6 % of the votes in favour the Cooperation Agreement was approved by the IAEG Council.

ISRM: Council Meeting held on 7 November 2006. The Cooperation Agreement was approved unanimously.

For the occasion of ISSMGE Council meeting in Brisbane, on 21 October 2007, I have informed: i)The level of administration will be kept as minimum as possible. The FIGS Secretariat will be located at the Secretariat General of one of the Members by decision of the FIGS Board.

ii) Related the level of costs from the initial FIGS cost around 10 000 euros/year, the current situation is 3500 euros/year for each Society. After 2 years FIGS will generate their own funds from Industry sponsorship, from conferences and symposia, added to the subscriptions from the Members and Associate Members. iii) Related the advantages: (1) Large Group will create a strong presence in order to promote profession; (2) A better cooperation with Sister Societies IAEG, ISRM and other Societies, e.g. IGS, ITA, DFI (Europe), etc; (3) Joint Technical Committees are a great opportunity to discuss common topics e.g. Landslides, Professional Practice, Education, Environmental Issues, Underground Structures, etc; (4) Implementation of synergies between Academics and Researchers with the Industry. iv) Related the risks: (1) This is only an Agreement; (2) If the experience is positive decision to a full legal status will take place; (3) If the experience is negative we can return to the initial state. After a robust discussion I asked the Council to vote on accepting the proposed cooperation agreement and establishing the Federation of International Geo-engineering societies. Votes were cast as follows:

Against: 5 Abstentions: 1 For: 46

The motion was therefore carried. I remarked that the three Sister Societies had now confirmed their agreement to proceed with the FIGS it was time to discuss an issue regarding the President of the FIGS. The agreement stipulated that the President should be one of the immediate Past Presidents or another co-opted individual as the FIGS Board sees fit. The IAEG had contacted their National Groups and had decided to propose a candidate external to the FIGS Board. The ISRM was in the process of deciding on a candidate they wished to propose. In this Council meeting I also informed the Council that Prof. William Van Impe was a candidate for FIGS president, but respecting the democratic principles the Member

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Societies were invited to put forward nominations for the candidacy of the President of FIGS, until 21 December 2007. As I received from some Societies a letter of support to William candidature and no other candidature I informed the Board by end of December 2008 and William Van Impe was declared the official candidate of ISSMGE for FIGS president. I informed the Council that the process of selecting the ISSMGE candidate would be transparent and the member societies would know the names of all candidates proposed by IAEG and ISRM and the decision of the ISSMGE Board. The Council agreed with unanimity with my proposal. For FIGS president election there were 2 candidates Prof. Ricardo Oliveira proposed by IAEG and ISRM and Prof. William Van Impe. As in January 2008 an e-mail ballot had been held which resulted in a tied vote of 3 votes for each candidate, a second voting took place in February. The six ballot papers were returned in sealed envelopes. The opening and counting was done in a manner that ensured complete anonymity. The result of the ballot was: Ricardo Oliveira - 2 votes William Van Impe - 3 votes. There was one ballot paper with no preference expressed (blank paper). William Van Impe, having received the majority of votes was duly elected as President of FIGS. On behalf of ISSMGE I have congratulated William Van Impe for his election as FIGS president and wished him all the success. Knowing him as well as we does, we expect William to bring to the position, unrestrained energy, devotion and new vision for the development of FIGS. All these developments were reported in my Message for ISSMGE Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 1. March 2008. Two very important Joint Technical Conferences organised by ISSMGE took place in 2008: (i) the First International Conference on Education and Training in Geo-Engineering Sciences in Constantza, Romania, 2-4 June 2008, organized by the Romanian Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in cooperation with JTC 3 Education and Training and ETC 16; and (ii) the 10th International Symposium on Landslides and Engineered Slopes, in Xian, China, June 30- July 4, under the auspices of JTC1- Landslides and Engineered Slopes. These events were an opportunity to better explore the synergies between ISSMGE, ISRM and IAEG and to bring a new vision and strategy for the developments of these themes. I have attended both Conferences and delivered messages for the occasion of Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony, On August 2008, ISSMGE president wrote a letter to the chairpersons of JTC 1, JTC2 and JTC4, hosted by ISSMGE, recognizing their important role, thanking their co-operation and informing that since then these JTCs were transferred to Fed IGS. Over the past years a number of developments have taken place and FIGS will be an opportunity and momentum to capitalise on the potential benefits. Joining our efforts we will reach our goals and targets and develop our capacity to transform the

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projects in actions. But we should always recognise the importance of dialogue, the benefits of consensus and pursue perfection to reach the optimum solution. In a geotechnical world that every day transform and advance we face new challenges that demands great care and rigour, the role of ISSMGE is to explore new ways, supporting the Core values and models for excellence and being a continuous source of inspiration for today and tomorrow. “We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of All our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time”. T.S.Eliot 9. SECRETARY GENERAL I have prepared on 28 January 2006 the Agenda for Rome Board meeting 15 March and included in item 15 "Office of the Secretary General (ISSMGE Statutes and By-laws 10, 10B.1, 10B.2). Also in Rome, following By-Law 10.B.1, an Appointment Committee made up of 3 Board Members, namely Mounir Bouassida, Osamu Kusakabe and Michael Lisyuk, plus the Immediate Past President and the President who chair this Committee was set up. A summary of the exchanged letters/e.mails is given: - ISSMGE President letter to the Appointed Committee Members - ISSMGE President letter to BGA - BGA letter to ISSMGE President - ISSMGE President letter to the Member Societies 5 June 2006, I informed Taking into account that the current Secretary General will end his 8 years appointment on 21 October 2007 and following ISSMGE Statutes and By-Laws (10B, 10B1, 10B2) l invite Member Societies to submit proposals for filling the post about 18 months before the office of the Secretary General becomes vacant, I have already initiated some actions. The desirable qualities and characteristics for the Secretary General are the following----“. -ISSMGE President letter to the Committee members.

I have received: - Letters from Canadian Geotechnical Society, from Netherlands Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering and from Russian SSMGFE - BGA Proposal to host ISSMGE Secretariat In addition e.mails were exchanged between ISSMGE President and BGA and Letters/e.mails received from Appointed Committee Members. During Board meeting in Tunisia (Item 13) on 15 March 2007, I have reported the proposal of the Appointed Committee for the Secretary General and Secretariat. The Board, following 10B.1 of ISSMGE By-Laws, has approved. This decision was transmitted to the Member Societies, on May 2007, integrated in the package of documents to be discussed and approved by ISSMGE Council in Brisbane on 21 October 2007.

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Related the Secretary General Prof. Neil Taylor and the Administrative Officer Mrs. Paloma Peers I would like to stress: They help me to remove the blocks I count on them in so very many ways. They support my work to advance my Mission to serve ISSMGE, to live this highest goals. 10. TASKS FORCES During Board meeting in Rome the Terms of Reference of Task Forces were discussed and following TFs were created: TF Industrial Liaison leadered by John Seychuk, TF Information Technology leadered by John Carter, TF Geo-engineering Resources/Education leadered by Waldemar Hachich and co-leadered by Mounir Bouassida, TF Communications leadered by Osamu Kusakabe, TF Professional Practice and Policy Documents leadered by John Christian and co-leadered by Madhira Madhav, TF Role and Format of International Conferences leadered by John Carter and co-leadered by Roger Frank. Michael Lisyuk was charged of Finance and Budget Committee. A brief summary of TFs activities is given below: TF1 - Geo-Engineering Resources/Education .- State of Knowledge of Geotechnical Engineering - Education, Technology Transfer, Dissemination - Touring Lecture Program - Model Library. The Secretariat had now made keynote lectures from the Istanbul and Osaka conferences available via the restricted area on the Website with individual Member Society login. Permission has been obtained from Publishers to allow keynote lectures from earlier international conferences to be made available, but for this professional help would be needed to facilitate the necessary scanning from bound copies of the proceedings. Also a survey will be done in each Region, and see what books, manuals, etc., can be made available via the website, either through links or via the ISSMGE intranet. TF2 - ISSMGE Industrial Liaison and Professional Practice A survey conducted by the Ambassadors of industry in Africa, Australasia and Europe, following the Board initiative, has identify the needs to implement the following actions: (i) divulgation of case histories where things were wrong, visits to large projects, (ii) newsletter of ISSMGE activities with new geotechnical projects; (iii) involvement of Industry in ISSMGE Technical Committees. Efforts to implement the package of benefits for Corporate members approved by the Board were done. It is important to change the policy of our learning Society more devoted to Academicians and Researchers, in order to stimulate the involvement of Industry in the organisation of Touring Lecturers, activating their participation in ISSMGE

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Conferences, with the purpose to implement the dialogue between ISSMGE and Industry. I am confident that the above referred initiatives will contribute to a cross-sector mobility between academic and industrial research and will implement collaboration between scientific and technological actors and companies to develop research projects with strong innovation effects. The following actions were implemented: - Appointed Ambassador of ISSMGE in each of the continents - Role of Industry in ISSMGE Technical Committees - Industry participation in ISSMGE Conferences - Case Histories and Visits to large projects - ISSMGE Bulletin describing new geotechnical projects - Participation of Industry in Touring Lecturers to address the real needs of practitioners engineers. In addition the following actions were taken: - To discuss our boundaries of responsibility, our ethical and legal environment - To develop strategies which enhance the appeal of the ISSMGE to practitioner engineers - To promote our Society to other professionals, to decision-makers with whom our members may interact - To increase the level of corporate members. TF3 - Role and Format of ISSMGE Conferences

ISSMGE number of conferences Implementation of the Technical Committees in the Technical Programme Setting up more attractive discussions sessions Interactive Forums for practitioners and researchers to discuss issues of practical concern and interest Possibility of organising Hot topics Editing format of the proceedings.

In Orlando Board meeting the President addressed the issue of allocation to Member Societies of pages in the proceedings of the International Conference. At present this follows recommendations made by Professor Kerisel in 1977. That formula gives 4% of the total pages available to the Host Society organising the conference and 10% of the total pages is given to the President for distribution to Member Societies. The remaining 86% of pages available are allocated to Member Societies generally according to their relative financial contribution to the society in a 4-year period prior to the International Conference. For the conference in Alexandria the organisers had deliberately chosen to have hard copy proceedings of which approximately 2,700 pages were available for papers from Member Societies. The President explained that he was keen to maximise contributions from Member Societies and had generally agreed to requests from Member Societies for increased page allocation, and had not paid too much concern to keeping within the 10% limit suggested by the Kerisel formula. In discussion, it was thought that there could be different approaches to page allocation depending on whether the proceedings were in hard-copy format or were available only by CD. TF4 - Communications, Information and Information Technology

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ISSMGE Website- to disseminate and transmit information on the activity of the society to our members • GeoMarket Guide- large database or Yellow Pages • Swedish Geotechnical Society-IT Working Group • Grouping TC`s websites. To implement communication with membership • Information on Council Meetings, Board Meetings • To turn Newsletter more attractive • (Anecdotes from gurus, Case Histories, Interviews with young engineers) In dealing with Task Forces we had a mantra: Constantly daring to make the things better. Keeping on innovating, as growth, evolution and reinvention sustain the life. We consider that failure helps us to get closer to our dreams, equipped us with more knowledge and that success and failure go hand in hand. We should not forget the memorable words of Anatole France: “To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe and the belief in a thing makes it happen.” 11. BOARD MEETINGS The list of the Board meetings that took place is the following: - Board meeting of Rome, on 15th March 2006; - Board meeting of Curitiba, on 1st September 2006; - Board meeting of Tunis, on 15th March 2007; - Board meeting, Brisbane, on 20 th October 2007; - Board meeting St Petersburg, on 15 June 2008. - Board meeting Bangalore, on 19th December 2008 - Board meeting Orlando, on 14th March 2009 - Board meeting Alexandria, on 3rd October 2009. The Board meetings have covered the following topics: Opening and Welcome, Minutes of the previous Board Meeting, Member Societies and Corporate Members, Technical Committees, Regional Reports, Federation of International Geo-engineering Societies, Task Forces, Finance and Budget Committee, AOB. We made the time to think, plan and reflect. We believe that there is but one failure in life and that is the failure to try. We have devoted to ISSMGE considering what fun is life without a hint of mystery? What joy is life without a little adventure? We have taken incremental steps, as step by step we get to the goal. 12. COUNCIL MEETINGS During this term of 4 years a Council meeting took place in Brisbane, on 21 October 2007. Also a Council meting is scheduled in Alexandria, on 4 October 2009.

The agenda covers the following items: (i) Opening remarks by President and

agreement of the Agenda; (ii) List of Delegates and other persons present. Apologies

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for absence; (iii) .Confirmation of quorum; (iv) Confirmation of Minutes of last

meeting; (v) Membership and societies activities; (vi) Technical Committees Activity;

(vii) Regional Reports; (viii) .Election of Regional Vice-Presidents (if is the case); (ix)

Election of President (if is the case) (x) Task Forces Reports of activities ; (xi)

ISSMGE Bulletin; (xii) ISSMGE Journal; (xii) International conferences; (xiii) Venue

for Board and Council Meetings; (xiv) Relationships with Sister Societies ISRM and

IAEG and with other Societies; (xv) Presentation of Audited Accounts; (xvi)

Budget; (xvii) Young Member Award (if is the case; (xviii) ISSMGE 75 Years

Celebration; (xix) XVII ICSMGE, Alexandria 2009; (xx) 6ICEG; (xxi) Meetings with

Member Societies; (xxii) Any Other Business; (xxiii) Date and Venue of next

meeting; (xxiv) Thanks and closure.

I have treated you with the highest respect. Please forgive my mistakes that I have done with the intention to be right. I believe that good judgement come from experience, experience come from making mistakes and mistakes come from bad judgements. As Bernard Shaw said “By the error we reach the truth, but we should not abuse of this practice”. 13. TOURING LECTURES/INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS In my Message for ISSMGE News, Nº6, November 2006 I have stressed that Touring Lecture Program was planned by ISSMGE to disseminate the current state-of-the art/practice amongst geotechnical engineers involved in the design and practice in developing countries. Touring Lectures/International Seminars have the following purposes and requirements: • To address a topic selected by the Host Society; • To address the interests of practitioner engineers; • To attract young geotechnical engineers; • To incorporate a good mix of routine and modern soil mechanics and to cover case histories; • To allocate after each lecture a period for discussions, in order to stimulate questions and to share experiences from the participants; • To have a strong local support and organization and by preference in the native language (english, french or spanish); • To have the support of Industry; • 2 days of lectures delivered by 4 international experts appointed by the Co-ordinator; • In the 3rd day (optional) a technical visit can be organized. The Host Society should also propose 2-3 lecturers including 1-2 lecturers from Industry.

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• All the written versions of the lectures should be sent to the Host Society with 2 months in advance in order to be prepared a proceedings volume to be distributed to all participants. • The first Touring Lectures took place in Lagos, 2001 and the second one in St. Petersburg, in 2004. During the tenure 2005-2009, 21 Touring Lectures/International Seminars were organized: • In 2006 took place in Chile, in Paraguay and in Tunisia; • In 2007 Touring Lectures took place in Vietnam, in Albania, in Croatia, in Costa Rica, in El Salvador, in Indonesia, in China and in Sri Lanka; • In 2008 took place in Nigeria, in Ecuador, in Pakistan and Macedonia; • In 2009 in Cambodia, in Laos, in Myanmar, in Hungary, in Ghana and in Mozambique. In Fig. 3 is shown the countries where Touring Lectures/International Seminars took place. From the collected experience to organize a Touring Lecture/International Seminar there is a need of 4-6 months of preparation and to exchange around 60 e.mails with the Host Society and the Lecturers. I will summarize this rich experience in the following words: There is still much darkness in the world. But trust me, there is also more light in it than ever. So many people have come to realize that you can curse the darkness or you can have the courage to be one who lights a candle.

Fig. 3 Touring Lectures/ISSMGE Seminars We want all of you to make part of our community, to promote your growth and to make you feel that you are contributing for our dream come true.

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I enjoy interacting with people, because I believe when people like me, know me and trust me, they will help me with new ideas and interesting insights. I was asked Pedro what keeps you going? What is the source of your energy? Who inspires you? My answer was You. Thank you for the privilege to work together. Touring Lecture/ISSMGE Seminar Host Society

Date Num ber of Participants

Lecturers Co-Ordinators

Sponsors

Static and Seismic Design of Foundations Chile Geotechnical Society President Ing Issa Kort

21-22 August 2006

120 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal), Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil), Prof. Gabriel Auvinet(Mexico)Ing Armando Caputo(Brazil), Prof. Ramon Verdugo (Chile), Ing. Marcelo Paredes (Chile), Ing. Edgar Bard(Chile), Prof. Miguel Petersen, Prof. P. Acevedo (Chile), Prof. Claudio Foncea

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal) Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil)

Brazilian Society (ABMS), Mexican Society (SMMS) Brasfond UniNorte

Foundation Engineering Paraguay Geotechnical Society(SPG) President Ing Hugo Cacace

24-26 August 2006

105 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal) Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil) Prof. Gabriel Auvinet(Mexico) Ing Armando Caputo)Brazil) Prof. Juan José Bosio (Paraguay) Ing Carlos Bellasai(Paraguay) Ing. C.Lopez (Paraguay) Ing. Rolando Rios (Paraguay) Ing. Carlos Cataldo(Paraguay) Prof. M. Stanichevsky

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal) Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil)

Brazilian Society (ABMS), Mexican Society (SMMS), Brasfond UniNorte

Soil Improvement Tunisie Geotechnical Society President Ing. Kamel Zaghouani

15-16 December 2006

60 Prof. Mounir Bouassida, Prof. François Scholosser, Mr. A. Guilloux, Mr. Jean Marc Debats. Case Histories by Mme. Salma Khdhiri, Mr. Kamel Zaghouani, Aymen Chouikha(Tunisie)

Prof. Mounir Bouassida

Dam Engineering Albânia Geotechnical Society President Prof. Luljeta Bozo

19-21 April 2007

70 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal) Prof. Roger Frank (France) Prof. George Bouckovalas(Greece), Prof. Ivan Vanicek (Czech Republic), Dr. Kristo Goga (Albania), Prof. Alfred Frasheri (Albania), Ing. Niko Naska (Albania)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

ENPC, National Technical University of Athens, Czech Technical University Prague

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Ground Improvement Vietnam Soil Mechanics Society President Prof. Trinh Minh Thu

2-3 May in Hanoi, 4-5 May in Ho Chi Min

Hanoi 200 participants Ho Chi Minh 150 participants

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof. Madhira Madhav (India), Prof. Eun Chui Shin (South Korea), Prof. Georg Heerten (Germany) Ing. Serge Varaksin(France) Prof. Nguyen Truong Tien u (Vietnam), Prof. Nguyen B. Ke/Prof. Le Ba Luong (Vietnam)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

MENARD, NAUE, Incheon University

Eurocodes 7 and 8 Croatia Soil Mechanics Society President : Prof. Vlasta Savidis Nossan

17-19 May 2006

81 Prof. Pedro Sêco Pinto(Portugal), Prof. Roger Frank(France), Dr. Brian Simpson (UK), Dr. Bernd Schuppener (Germany), Prof. Trevor Orr (Ireland), Prof. Antun Savidis (Croatia)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof Roger Frank(France)

ENPC, ARUP, Dublin University

Shallow and Deep Foundations Costa Rica Soil Mechanics Society President: Prof. Marco Baladares

23- 24 July 2007

90 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal), Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil) , Prof. Braja Das (USA), Ing Flávio Montez(Brazil), Ing. Maria Laporte(Costa Rica), Ing. Álvaro Climent(Costa Rica), Ing Gaston Laporte(Costa Rica), Ing. Sérgio Sánez (Costa Rica), Ing. Marco Tapa(Costa Rica)

Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil), Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal)

Geo Institute, CIC, Brazilian Society (ABMS), Huesker

Shallow and Deep Foundations El Salvador Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical EngineeringSociety President: Ing. Juan Majorel

26- 27 July 2007

70 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal), Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil) , Prof. Braja Das (USA), Ing Flávio Montez(Brazil), Ing Rodolfo ASlvarado(El Salvador), Ing. Eduardo Parajon( El Salvador), Ing. António Gonzalez(El Salvador)

Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil), Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal)

Geo Institute, ASIA, Brazilian Society (ABMS), Huesker

Soil-Structure Interaction Indonesia Geotechnical Society President Prof. Bigman Hutapea

17-18 October 2007

90 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal) Prof. Madhira Madhav (Índia), Prof. Vladimir Ulitsky/Dr. Michael Lisyuk(Russia), Dr. Constantin Shashkin (Russia), Dr. Masyuhur Irsyam (Indonesia), Dr. Wayan

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

Georeconstruction Engineering Co (Sai. Petersburg).

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Madison (Indonesia) Environmental Geotechnics Chinese Soil Mechanics Geotechnical Society President Prof. Zuyu Chen

30-31 October 2007

60 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof.Hywell (UK, Prof. Stephan Jefferies (UK), Prof. Masashi Kamon (Japan), Dr. Liming HU (China), Prof. Yunmin Chen (China)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

Cardiff University, Japanese Geotech. Society, Environmental Geotechnics

Ground Improvement Sri Lanka Geotechnical Society Prof. Athula Kulathilake (Sri Lanka)

17-18 December 2007

100 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal) Prof. Madhira Madhav (India), Prof. Buddhima Indrarathna(Australia), Prof. Georg Heerten (Germany), Prof. Athula Kulathilake , Dr. Kamal Dissanayaka(Sri Lanka)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

NAUE

Environmental Geotechnics Nigeria Geotechnical Society President Dr. Samuel Ejezie (Nigeria)

14-16 January 2008

95 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof. Mário Manassero (Italy), Prof.Hywell Thomas(UK), Prof. S.A.Ola(Nigéria), Dr. J. I. Folayan(Nigeria)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

TREVI, Cardiff University

Shallow and Deep Foundations Ecuador Soil Mechanics Society President: Ing Jaime Pesantes

18-19 August 2008

80 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil), Ing Flávio Montez(Brazil), Ing Frederico Falconi(Brazil) Ing Pfander Cazar(Ecuador), Ing Jorge Nuques(Ecuador)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto(Portugal) Prof. Waldemar Hachich(Brazil)

Brazilian Society (ABMS), Huesker

Tunnelling and Underground Structures Pakistan Geotechnical Society Secretary Dr. Tahir Masod

9-10 October 2008

300 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof. Madhira Madhav(India), Prof. In.Mo-Lee(Soth Korya), Prof. Wei Lee(Taiwan), Ing. Muhammad Sased (Pakistan), Dr. Wasiq Siddiqui (Pakistan), Ing.Soail Kibria (Pakistan)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

Korea University,National Taiwan University of S&T

Eurocodes 7 and 8

30-31 Octob

160 Prof. Pedro Sêco Pinto(Portugal), Prof. Roger

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto

ENPC, ARUP,

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Makedonia Associati. of GeotechnicsFYROM President Prof. Vasil Vitanov

er 2008

Frank(France), Dr. Brian Simpson (UK), Dr. Bernd Schuppener (Germany), Prof. Trevor Orr (Ireland), Dr. Vlatko Sesov (Macedonia)

(Portugal)

Dublin University

Pile Foundations and Ground Improvement Cambodia Rector Norton University Prof. Chan Khieng

9 January 2009

75 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof. Madhira Madhav(Índia), Prof. Dennis Bergado (Thailand), Dr. Yit Bunna(Cambodia)

Prof. Dennis Bergado(Thailand), Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

SEAGS Norton University

Retaining Wall, Landslides Laos Ing. Viengvisa Saivisay

13 January 2009

40 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof. Madhira Madhav(India, Prof. Dennis Bergado (Thailand), Ing. Viengvisa Saivisay(Laos)

Prof. Dennis Bergado(Thailand), Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

SEAGS Ministry of Public Works and Transports

Geotechnical Engineering & Engineering Geology Myanmar Dr. Aung Thaik

15 January 2009

125 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal), Prof. Madhira Madhav(India, Prof. Dennis Bergado (Thailand), Dr. U. Toe Hlaing(Myanmar)

Prof. Dennis Bergado(Thailand), Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

SEAGS Myanmar Geoscien. Society, Myanmar Engineer. Society

Ground Improvement Ghana Geotechnical Society President Prof. Kofi Ampadu

2-4 February 2009

66 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal) Prof. Mounir Bouassida (Tunísia)), Mr. Serge Varakshin(France) , Prof. Georg Heerten (Germany), Dr. M. D. Gidigasu (Ghana),Prof. Kofi Ampadu (Ghana), Dr. M. Gidigasu, Mr. Togbui Kporku(Ghana)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

MENARD, NAUE Kwame Nkrumah University, Ghana Institution of Engineers, Ministry of Transportation

Deep Excavations and Retaining Structures Hungarian National Committee of ISSMGE

4-5 February 2009

120 Prof. Roger Frank(France), Prof. Richard Ray(USA), Prof. H. Schweiger(Austria), dr. Lidija Zdravkovic and Prof. David Potts(UK) , Dr. Robert Szepeshazi, Prof. Jozsef Farkas, Mr. Tamas Kaltenbacher and Mr. Csaba Pet (Hungary)

Prof. Roger Frank(France)

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Geotechnical Engineering Mozambique Geotechnical Society, President Prof. Carlos Quadros

30 July 2009

105 Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal) Prof. Mounir Bouassida, Prof. Neil Taylor (U K)Prof. Carlos Quadros (Mozambique), Prof. Eben Rust (South Africa), Dr. Esve Jacobsz (South Africa)

Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto (Portugal)

University of Pretoria, Jones & Wagener

In dealing with transference of knowledge we should not forget the memorable lines of Voltaire “Il en est des livres comme du feu dans nos foyers On va prendre le feu chez son voisin, On l`allume chez soi, On le communique à d`autres Et il appartient à tous « ». 14. ISSMGE BULLETIN For the occasion of the ad-hoc Board meeting that took place in Osaka, on 13 September 2005, I proposed the establishment of Task Force on Communications to lunch ISSMGE Bulletin as the upgrade version of Newsletter. I have invited Osamu Kusakabe, ISSMGE Board Member to chair this Task Force. In my message for the occasion of Volume 1, Issue ISSMGE Bulletin, March 2007, first issue, I have expressed my great pleasure to address to all the members. In order to make ISSMGE News more attractive to all ISSMGE Bulletin has been devised to include a message from the president or vice presidents, current TC activities, reminiscences, views of young members, case histories, activities of members societies, other news and event diary (see Fig 4). Osamu Kusakabe was appointed co-ordinator of ISSMGE Bulletin. I have stressed that my interaction with Member Societies was helping me to lead the Society with hope exploring the windows of opportunity and creativity whilst considering the past lessons and preparing the future with respect and attention to the Member Societies activities. I always had in mind the best interests of all Member Societies and particularly supporting weaker members, hopefully contributing to the strengthening and cohesion of our Society. We are on the right path, but there is still a long way to go. To reinforce the editorial capacity of Bulletin a network of young geotechnical engineers in representative geographical areas Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and America was established. It is very important the universality of the knowledge and the need for a permanent renewing. In my letter of invitation to young members 6 March 2009, I wrote “It is important to communicate, to share experiences, to compare methodologies and to monitor the results. The benefits of an open dialogue between the academicians, the researchers, the practitioners, contractors and owners are huge. Through our ISSMGE Bulletin we have the responsibility to interact with the Member Societies and also with the individual members.

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In a geotechnical world that every day transforms and advances we face new challenges, the role of ISSMGE is to explore new ways and to be a continuous source of inspiration for today and tomorrow. I am confident that ISSMGE Bulletin will contribute for a synergy between academicians and practitioners and will implement co-operation between scientific and technological actors. Joining our efforts we will reach our goals and targets and contribute for the success of ISSMGE Bulletin and certainly for the unity and strength of ISSMGE. I strongly believe that your role in your Region to serve as a contact person for collecting the contributions and your interaction with the Regional Vice President is of crucial importance for the success of ISSMGE Bulletin. I hope to receive a positive response for your nominations for a period of 4 years. Thanking in advance for your co-operation I should like to transmit a message of hope remembering the lines of Aristotle. “We are what we do Consistently, So the excellence Is not an act But a practice.” Our common goal is to build a new ISSMGE, providing a space of co-operation and solidarity, emphasizing the core values of liberty, generosity, respect, initiative, creativity and mutual support. My belief was that Bulletin would certainly become a vehicle for a better approach and interaction among all ISSMGE members. The intellect of man is forced to choose perfection of the life or of the work W.B. Yeats. The Choice. 15. ISSMGE JOURNAL

15. 1. Introduction

It is my hope that the spirit of cooperation fostered by Case Histories Journal will encourage additional projects and will contribute to the advancement of the state-of-art and state-of-practice of geotechnical engineering. As this world is moving in the direction of a global village there is a need of a universal knowledge and a permanent update and renewing. Communication, transfer of experiences and information, discussions of the methodologies and results are the key words.

In this geotechnical world that always change and progress we are facing new challenges that demand great exigency and austerity.

The scientific truth is not definitely achieved, demands from all of us a permanent and continuous effort.

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Fig 4 ISSMGE Bulletin, June 2009

15. 2. Exchanged e.mails e.mail sent by Dr. Dimitris Zekkos on 4 March 2008 Dear Professor Seco e Pinto, President of the ISSMGE, Thank you for being a member of the Editorial Board and a supporter of the International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories (http//casehistories.geoengineer.org). As you know the journal has recently published the second issue and the papers in this issue have already been circulated widely. We believe that this journal can make a difference to the profession since it is a non-

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profit effort and is suited to the needs of geo-professionals worldwide. It is a high quality, refereed publication, and is available at no cost online so that it can be easily accessible globally by practicing and research engineers that may not afford another journal subscription. The journal also focuses on the practice of the profession and the promotion of useful field data that typically do not get published. It allows the use of color photos, and papers are accompanied by digital data and online supplemental databases. Finally all projects are included in a google earth database. The journal is also indexed by the Georef database. We (Professor Jonathan Bray and I) would like to propose to make this journal the official ISSMGE refereed journal. Currently ISSMGE does not have a publication of that nature and in our opinion, there is no other technical publication that is non-profit based and better suited to the needs of the profession. Making this journal the official journal of the ISSMGE will certainly help the journal in attracting high quality papers, but will also be a valuable activity of the ISSMGE and a great contribution to the Profession. If we decide that this is of interest, we can have members of the Editorial Board or an Editor represent the ISSMGE, and establish a potential collaboration between the ISSMGE conferences and the journal. ISSMGE will not assume any financial risk, since that is assumed by Geoengineer.org. However, potential profits from this effort may also be directed to ISSMGE and become an additional source of income. Do you think the ISSMGE would be interested in this opportunity? If so, what do you think would be the appropriate procedure to further pursue this? Looking forward to your response, Dimitrios Zekkos_________________________ Dimitrios Zekkos, Ph.D., P.EManaging DirectorInternational Journal of Geoengineering Case Historieshttp://casehistories.geoengineer.org e.mail sent by Pedro Seco e Pinto to the Board members on 4 March 2008 Dear Board members I hope you are well Please find attached the invitation that I have received from International Case Histories Journal. Please allow me to stress the following items: i) Our Board mission is to turn ISSMGE more attractive for all members encouraging them to participate actively in the promotion of geotechnical issues. This must be a joint effort. ii) We have changed the ISSMGE News with 4 pages to ISSMGE Bulletin with around 18 pages distributed electronically, due the Osamu hard work and devotion. From the received messages from several members this change was welcomed. iii) Since November 2006 I am working for a proposal a new journal Geo-Engineering Technology-An official journal of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, with the strong support of David Toll (UK) and Chu Jian(Singapore). Unfortunately the conversations with Springler has been very slowly, the key person that we were interacting for months has moved and we return to the zero point. Neil and Osamu are aware about this initiative. Due to this situation, conversations with Taylor and Francis have initiated, without much progress. iv) As member of the Editorial Board of Int. Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories I had the opportunity to follow the success of this journal, due Dimitris and Jonathan Bray (from Berkeley University) hard work and devotion. v) I certainly welcome the received proposal, as this follows the direction of my efforts and purposes. The Board has the duty to explore all the opportunities, in order to increase the interacting with ISSMGE members, to turn more attractive ISSMGE offer, avoiding increasing the fees; vi) My personal suggestion is to involve in the Editorial Board of Int. Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories the ISSMGE president, the ISSMGE Immediate President, the Secretary General and the Board Member Osamu Kusakabe who is taking care of ISSMGE Bulletin. Osamu informed me in Kolkata that he can continue supporting ISSMGE Bulletin from 2009-2013. vii) We should not be concern about the future, after October 2009, I can continue the

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link between ISSMGE and Int. Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories, if this proposal receives the support of the ISSMGE Elected President in Alexandria. I certainly welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have any queries please let me know Many thanks for your co-operation. Best regards Pedro e.mails exchanged between Dimitris Zekkos and Pedro Pinto 21 September 2008, 25 November 2008, 30 November 2008 and 3 December 2008 A meeting took place between Pedro Pinto and Dimitris Zekkos on August 2008 in Arlington for the occasion of the Case Histories Conference. The following topics were discussed:

i) how the ISSMGE can help the Case Histories Journal to improve the number of high quality papers

ii) report prepared by the Managing Director and the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories and provides a brief overview of the journal

iii) involving the Technical Committees in the solicitation of papers iv) distinguished engineers authoring papers for the journal v) link from our website to the ISSMGE website vi) ISSMGE award to the best paper of the journal.

15. 3. Current Situation A link was established from ISSMGE website and International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories and the following information is given: -Mission and Areas of Interest Characteristics of the Journal Procedures for review and publication of submitted manuscripts Editorial board membership Present impact to the Professional.

15. 4. Actions to be Implemented i) It is important to increase the number of papers. ii) The President sent a letter to TCs Chairpersons on 12 February 2009, in order to encourage them to send good papers to IJGCS. “---- Following the request of International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories (IJGCH) Editors the ISSMGE Board has agreed to consider IJGCH a journal of ISSMGE. Within this framework I believe that IJGCH can be a space of scientific interaction, sharing of experiences and launching of innovative ideas to open new avenues. This IJGCH is an opportunity for the Technical Committees to communicate their work to all individual members. Also ISSMGE should endeavour to increase the benefits to individual members of ISSMGE without increasing the registration fees. This e-journal, without carrying any costs, can be easily accessed by all ISSMGE individual members. I am confident that IJGCH will contribute for a synergy between academic and industrial research and will implement co-operation between scientific and technological actors and companies to develop research projects with strong innovation effects. Joining our efforts we will reach our goals and targets and contribute for the success of IJGCH and certainly for the unity and strength of ISSMGE.

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iii) Also ISSMGE Vice Presidents should interact with their Regions in order to encourage potential writers to send good papers to IJGS. iv) Suggestions to implement other actions are welcomed.

15. 5. Programmed activities Within this framework a volume will be issued on September 2009 and a second volume on December 2009, followed by issues with a frequency quaternary. On October 2010 a Special Volume will be published covering ISSMGE 75 Years Celebration Let us discover our destiny provided we have done the preparation and inner work required to seize the opportunity when it presents itself. International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories Issue # 3 Table of Contents

ISSN # 1790-2045 Papers: Paper ID: IJGCH_1_3_1 Title: Discussion of: "Design Process of Deep Soil Mixed Walls for Excavation Support" by Casandra J. Rutherford, Giovanna Biscontin, Demetrious Koutsoftas, and Jean-Louis Briaud, Volume 1, Issue #2, pp. 56-72. Authors: Thomas D. Richards Jr. Page: 154-155 Paper ID: IJGCH_1_3_2 Title: Leaning Tower of Pisa: Behaviour after Stabilization Operations Authors: John B. Burland, Michele B. Jamiolkowski, Carlo Viggiani Page: 156-169

. Paper ID: IJGCH_1_3_3 Title: The Washington Monument Case History Authors: Jean-Louis Briaud, Brad Smith, Keun-Young Rhee, Hugh Lacy, Jennifer Nicks Page: 170-188 Paper ID: IJGCH_1_3_4 Title: Reconstruction of Konstantinovsky Palace in a Suburb of Saint Petersburg Authors: Vladimir M. Ulitsky, Alexey G. Shashkin, Constantin G. Shashkin, Michael B. Lisyuk

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Page: 189-206. 16. MEETINGS WITH MEMBER SOCIETIES and GEOTECHNICAL GROUPS The following meetings with Member Societies and other Geotechnical Groups took place: ISSMGE Board (ad hoc meeting) – Osaka, 13 September 2005 Hellenic Soil Mechanics Society –Athens, 24 September 2005 French Soil Mechanics Society – Paris, 22 October 2005 Netherlands Soil Mechanics Society – Delft, 15 November 2005 Indian Geotechnical Society – Ammedabad, 18 December 2005 CTGA – Dakar, 17 January 2006 and 2 March 2006 Hungarian Soil Mechanics Society – Budapest, 17 February 2006 Italian Geotechnical Society – Rome, 15 March 2006 ISSMGE Board meeting – Rome, 15 March 2006 Korean Geotechnical Society – Seoul, 25 March 2006 German Geotechnical Society - 29 March 2006 Slovenian Geotechnical Society - Ljubljana, 28 May 2006 British Geotechnical Association – Cardiff, 30 May 2006 Croatia Soil Mechanics Society – Zagreb, 20 July 2006 Chile Soil Mechanics Society –Santiago de Chile, 22 August 2006 Paraguay Geotechnical Society – Asunción, 26 August 2006 ISSMGE Board meeting – Curitiba, August 2006 ABMS (Brazilian Soil Mechanics Association) - Curitiba, August 2006 Japanese Geotechnical Society - Yokohama, 20 September 2006 Joint Technical Committee nº 2- Geo Data meeting, September 2006 Ukraine Geotechnical Society - Kiev, 11 October 2006 Indonesia Geotechnical Society – Jakarta, 4 November 2006 Singapore Geotechnical Group – Singapore, 8 November 2006 Egyptian Geotechnical Society – Cairo, 19 November 2006 ISSMGE Board meeting – Tunis, March 2007 Tunisian Geotechnical Society – Tunis, 16 March 2007 Libyan Geotechnical Society - Tripoli, 20 March 2007 Albanian Geotechnical Society – Tirana, 19 April 2007 Vietnam Soil Mechanics Society, Hanoi, 2 May 2007 South East Asia Geotechnical Society (SEAGS), Kuala Lumpur - 10 May 2007 TC 17 –Ground Improvement meeting, Kuala Lumpur - 10 May 2007 Croatia Soil Mechanics Society - Zagreb, 19 May 2007 Polish Committee on Geotechnics - Gdansk, 22 June 2007 TC 4 –Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering and Associated Problems meeting, Thessaloniki, July 2007 Cuba Geotechnical Society - Havana, 12 July 2007 Venezuela Geotechnical Society - Isla de Margarita, 16 July 2007 Costa Rica Geotechnical Society - San Jose, 23 July 2007 El Salvador Geotechnical Society - San Salvador, 26 July 2007 Spanish Soil Mechanics Society - Madrid, 25 September 2007 TC 3- Transportation meeting - Madrid, 26 September 2007 TC 28- Underground Structures meeting - Madrid, 26 September 2007 ERTC 10 – Eurocode 7 – Madrid, 26 September 2007 Mexico Soil Mechanics Society - Mexico, 3 October 2007 Indonesia Geotechnical Society- Jakarta, 17 October 2007 ISSMGE Board meeting – Brisbane, October 2007

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ISSMGE Council meeting – Brisbane, October 2007 Australasia Geomechanical Society - Brisbane, October 2007 Chinese Geotechnical Society - Chugging, 2 November 2008 CTGA- Cameroun - Yaoundé, November 2007 South East Asia Society- Bancok, 6 December 2007 Sri Lanka Geotechnical Society - Colombo, 18 December 2007 Nigeria Geotechnical Society - Lagos, 16 January 2008 South East Asia Geotechnical Society SEAGS - Taiwan, 31 March 2008 TC 16- Site Investigation meeting - Taiwan, 31 March 2008 Chinese Geotechnical Society - Shanghai, 3 April 2008 TC 28 –Underground Structures meeting – Shanghai, 3 April 2008 Hong Kong Geotechnical Society - Hong Kong, 8 April 2008 Kuwait – for the creation of Gulf Society 27 April 2008 UAE - Dubai for the creation of Gulf Society 30 April 2008 Chinese Geotechnical Society- Xian, 29 May 2008 Romania Soil Mechanics Society – Constanza, 4th June 2008 Serbia Soil Mechanics Society - Skopje 9 June 2008 Slovenia Soil Mechanics Society, – 12 June 2008 ISSMGE Board meeting – St. Petersburg, 15 June 2008 Russia Soil Mechanics Society – St. Petersburg, 16 June 2008 Chinese Geotechnical Society- Xian, 1st July 2008 British Geotechnical Association – London, July 2008 Ecuador Geotechnical Society – Guayaquil, 18 August 2008 ABMS-Brazilian Soil Mechanics Society- Buzios, 24 August 2008 TC 41 –Mega Cities meeting, Buzios, 25 August 2008 Hungarian Soil Mechanics Society-Gyor, 3 September 2008 Polish Soil Mechanics Society- Gdansk, 15 September 2008 Nepal Geotechnical Society, Kathmandu, 6 October 2008 Pakistan Geotechnical Society - Lahore, 9 October 2008 Macedonia Association for Geotechnics- Ohrid, 28 October 2008 Iran Geotechnical Society-Tehran, 26 November 2008 ISSMGE Board meeting – Bangalore, December 2008 Indian Geotechnical Society - Bangalore, AYGEC, December 2008 Cambodia –Phom Penh for joining the SEAGS, 9 January 2009 Laos- Vientiane for joining the SEAGS, 13 January 2009 Myanmar – Yangon for joining the SEAGS, 15 January 2009 Ghana Geotechnical Society - Accra, 2 February 2009 Jordan-Amman, for the creation of Jordan Geotechnical Society, 23 February 2009 Egypt Soil Mechanics Society –Alexandria –meeting for IV ICYGE-26 February 2009 Egypt Soil Mechanics Society - Cairo- CAC meeting for XVII ICSMGE, 27 February 2009 Sweden-Stockholm- meeting with Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark and Norway Societies, 4 March 2009 Canadian Geotechnical Society- Toronto, CAC meeting for XIV Pan American Conference ISSMGE Board meeting – Orlando, 13 March 2009 Geo Institute (USA) – Orlando, 13 March 2009 Argentina Soil Mechanics Society- Cordova, 31 March 2009 Kazakhstan- Astana- meeting with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan Societies, 11 May 2009 TC 18- Pile Foundations meeting, Frankfurt, 14 May 2009 Hong Kong Soil Mechanics Society - Hong Kong, 18 May 2009 Hungarian Soil Mechanics Society – Budapest, 24 May 2009 Turkish Soil Mechanics Society, 29 May 2009

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Czech and Slovakia Society - Bratislava, 1st June 2009 Japanese Geotechnical Society - Tokyo, 15 June 2009 Mozambique Geotechnical Society - Maputo, 29 July 2009 Chinese Geotechnical Society – Huanzhou, 8 September 2009 Slovenia Soil Mechanics Society, – 25 September 2009 ISSMGE Board meeting – Alexandria, 3 October 2009 ISSMGE Council meeting – Alexandria, 4 October 2009 The issues discussed included Technical Committees, the Federation of International Geo-engineering Societies, National or Regional Conferences relating to ISSMGE, 17th ICSMGE, Alexandria, 2009 and any other items of local interest. The following summarises the general views expressed: • Regarding Technical Committees, Member Societies have expressed general

satisfaction with the Terms of Reference, Planning of Activities and the members they have appointed.

• Regarding the FIGS, the majority of Member Societies are in favour of its creation though concerns were expressed about the potential cost (estimated at about EUR3500 per year), which should not lead to an increase in Member Society subscription fees. The President has assured Member Societies that within 2-3 years FIGS will generate their own income and will have financial autonomy. Also the 3 Sister Societies will keep their identity and autonomy. The President has stressed that the Agreement is for 2-3 years, and that if the experience is not positive, it will be possible to return to the present state.

• The Touring Lectures (ISSMGE International Seminars) organised by ISSMGE are considered to be very important for encouraging geotechnical activities in the less developed countries.

• The Young Geotechnical Engineers Conferences are considered to be an important activity that attracts and supports the younger generation.

• In general, the Regional Conferences in 2007 have received positive comments related to the participation of the Societies in the appointment of key persons.

• Encouragement for a strong participation in XVII ICSMGE, Alexandria, October 2009.

Meetings related to Conferences Conference Member Society + other

representatives Date

4th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, June, Greece, Thessaloniki 2007 (meeting in Athens)

Hellenic Society 24 September 2005

11th Baltic Se Conference, September 2008 (meeting in Riga)

Representatives from: Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Russia, Denmark, Germany

13 October 2005

14 African Regional Conference, Cameroon, November 2007 (meeting in Paris)

France + VP Africa 12 November 2005

14 African Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Cameroon, November 2007 (meeting in Dakar)

CTGA 2 March 2006

14 ERCSMGE Madrid (meeting in Ljubljana)

Conference Advisory Committee members

29 May 2006

XVII ICSMGE (meeting in Alexandria) CAC-COC members 1 July 2006

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13 Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Meeting in Curitiba, Brazil)

Conference Advisory Committee members

31 August, 2006

14 European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (meeting in Madrid)

Conference Advisory Committee members

29 September 2006

11th Baltic Sea Conference, September 2008 (meeting in Gdansk )

CAC-COC members 22 June 2007

TC4 meeting – 5th Earthquake Geotechnics Conference , Santiago de Chile, January 2011(meeting in Thessaloniki)

CAC-COC members 26 June 2007

14 European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (meeting in Madrid)

European Council meeting

September 2007

X ARCSMGE -Brisbane ISSMGE Council meeting November 2007 XVII ICSMGE (meeting in Brisbane) CAC members November 2007 XIV ARCSMGE (selection of the venue, meeting in Yaoundé)

African Council meeting November 2007

XIV ARCSMGE(selection of the venue, meeting in Kolkata

Asian Council meeting December 2007

XVII ICSMGE (meeting in Kolkata) CAC members December 2007 XVII ICSMGE, Alexandria (meeting in St. Petersburg)

CAC-COC members 17 June 2008

Danube European Conference (meeting in Gyor)

CAC-COC members 5 September 2008

12th Baltic Sea Conference, (meeting in Gdanks )

Meeting of Representatives from Baltic countries

September 2008

VI Environmental Geotechnics Congress (meeting in Bangalore)

CAC-COC members 18 December 2008

IV YIGE – ( meeting in Alexandria) CAC-COC members 26 February 2009 XVII ICSMGE - (meeting in Cairo) CAC-COC members 27 February 2009 XIV Pan American – (meeting in Toronto) CAC-COC members 12 March 2009 Danube Conference (meeting in Bratislava)

CAC- COC members 1st June 2009

V ICEGE(meeting in Tokyo) CAC meeting 15 June 2009 XV ARCSMGE (meeting in Maputo) CAC- COC members 29 July 2009 XVIII ICSMGE (meeting in Alexandria) ISSMGE Board 3 October 2009 XVIII ICSMGE (meeting in Alexandria) ISSMGE Council 4 October 2009 XIV ARCSMGE (meeting in Alexandria) CAC meeting 7 October 2009 XIV ERCSMGE (meeting in Alexandria) CAC meeting 7 October 2009 XIV PANAM (meeting in Alexandria) CAC meeting 7 October 2009 VI IGEG (meeting in Alexandria) CAC meeting 7 October 2009 I would like to summarize this wonderful experience expressing that feelings are the doorways into your soul and they must be acknowledged and then felt to completion. Feelings carry important information and serve to foster your self-relationship if explored fully. Fig. 5 summarizes the countries where meetings with the Member Societies took place.

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Fig. 5 Meetings with Member Societies 17. RELATIONSHIP WITH SISTER SOCIETIES AND OTHER SOCIETIES I has attended IAEG Council meeting in Nottingham, on September 2006. Also I had the opportunity to attend the following Council meetings of ISRM Council Meeting in Singapore, 7 November 2006 Council Meeting, in Lisbon, 12 July 2007 Council Meeting in Tehran, 23 November 2008 Council Meeting in, Hong Kong, 18 May 2009. I have exchanged several letters with other International Societies, namely IGUS (International Union of Geological Science), ITA (International Tunnelling Association) and IGS (International Geosynthetic Society). Related with co-operation with IGS Joint Sessions were organized in Ljubljana for the occasion of Danube Conference on May 2006 and also for the IGS Conference in Yokohama on September 2006. In addition Mercer Lecture took place in 2007 for the occasion of Pan American Conference in Isla de Margarita, on July 2007 and XIV ARSMGE Conference in Kolkata, on December 2007. Mercer Lectures are also programmed for the VI ICEGE Conference in New Delhi, on November 2010 and XV ARSMGE Conference in Maputo, on June 2011. I have also attended ITA Council meeting in Budapest on 24 May 2009 and I have signed with the ITA president an agreement of co-operation between ITA and ISSMGE.

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In addition I have participated in the following meetings: International Geosynthetics Society Meeting in Ljubljana, 29 May 2006 International Tunnelling Association Meeting in Lisbon, 5 July 2006 Council Meeting in, Budapest, 24 May 2009 International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment Council Meeting in Nottingham (UK), 6 September 2006 IACMAG, Meeting on 1st October 2008, Goa, India International Union of Geological Sciences Letter sent on 27 September 2008 The Chinese say it so well: “A little fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses.” I believe that before anyone will lend you a hand, you must touch their heart. 18. FINANCIAL SITUATION The cost balance, that incorporates Add (Receipts) and Less (Payments), needs a careful examination. The main sources for the receipts are the Member Society Subscriptions, the Corporate Member Subscriptions and the Conferences Income. The main items for the payments are the staff costs, the administrative support, the travel and subsistence, the cost of website and the conference support. To increase the receipts there is a need to increase the number of ISSMGE members through the National Societies and to increase the Corporate members. So there is a need to show the benefits (membership card, newsletter in electronic format, reductions in registration fees, active participation of Corporate members in Committees and Conferences, etc). To increase the Conferences income we need to turn the conference more attractive following the proposed guidelines. Related the payments the cost-benefit balance of website, in order to keep in this stage or to expand it, needs to be carefully evaluated. The overall Cash Balance –Final Balance on December 2004 received by this Board was GBP 307166. The overall Cash Balance –Final Balance on December 2008 transferred by this Board is GBP 421113. In summary, in spite of all the geotechnical activities implemented during this term ISSMGE financial situation is healthy with an increased of 37% of overall Cash Balance.

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We should not forget Einstein`s definition of insanity: “Doing the same things and expecting different results”. If I wanted new results in my life I knew I had to behave in new ways. Other wise my life would look the same, until my end. 19. ISSMGE – 75 Years Celebration

19.1) Introduction

The President reminded the Board in Orlando, on 14th March 2009, that the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering had its origins at the 1936 International Conference held in Cambridge-Massachusetts. Thus, the 75th Anniversary would be in 2011, and the President suggested that there could be special sessions at each of the Regional conferences that year as a mark of celebration. Also a Special Session should take place during the 6th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics in New Delhi, November 2010. The celebrations of the 75th Anniversary would then take place during 1 full year from November 2010 to November 2011. A Special Volume should also be prepared to integrate special contributions made for the occasion and individuals who had had an active role within ISSMGE could be asked to write a short paper giving their views on ISSMGE and the history and/or future of the geotechnical engineering profession.

19.2) Special Number of Case History Journal

This Special Number will integrate the following information: 1.1) History of ISSMGE;

1.2) Contributions of Presidents; 1.3) Contributions of Regional VPs; 1.4)

Contributions of Secretaries General; 1.5) Contribution of Young Geotechnical

Engineers; 1.6) Contributions of Invited Authors; 1.7) Contributions of Sister Societies

and other International Bodies; 1.8) Photos from Special Events,

19. 3) Conference Special Sessions

2.1) Special Session during 6 ICEGE, New Delhi, November 2010 (1 hour)

Presentations:

i) Selected Senior Member

ii) Young Geotechnical Engineer

iii) ISSMGE President.

2.2) Special Session during Regional Conferences: (1 hour)

Presentations:

iv) Selected Senior Member

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v) Young Geotechnical Engineer

vi) Regional Vice President.

19. 4) Conference Dates

6th EGEC, 8-12 November 2010, New Delhi

Asian Regional Geotechnical Engineering, 23-27 May 2011, Hong Kong

African Regional Geotechnical Conference, 13-16 June 2011, Maputo

European Regional Geotechnical Conference, 13-18 September 2011, Athens

Pan American Geotechnical Conference, 2-6 October 2011, Toronto

Australasia Geotechnical Conference, 8-11 November 2011, Melbourne.

Bernard Shaw said: “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one tries to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man”. So be course not to be commanded by the crowd, but to follow your hearts and your consciences. Big risks, big life. Small risks, small life. 20. FINAL COMMENTS Let me pay tribute to the Past ISSMGE Presidents Ralph Peck, Victor de Mello that have passed away on February 18, 2008 and on January 1, 2009. In spite of their physical absent are still with us following Psalm of Life-Footprints “Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time”. It is important to join the human resources of our geotechnical society, to catalyze our energies to overcome inertias, to feed our dream, to obtain answers to our questions and to open new horizons following the memorable lines of Montaigue ”C`est un grand ouvrier de miracles l`esprit humain”. In implementing some actions I have faced some difficulties

i) To create Gulf Society ii) Interaction to create South Arabia Society iii) To create Jordan Society iv) To create Central America Society integrating Guatemala, Honduras,

Nicaragua and Panama We should not forget the harder you try a change the longer it takes. We need to humble recognize that we have not yet achieve our goals related the progress of the knowledge and we have not been capable to communicate with important sectors of our Society. We need to hear the voice of the youth, to renew the old practices and to promote innovation and new findings. Following William Hazlitt memorable lines. “A great passion for the object will assure success

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because the wish for the purpose will show the means”. Last but not least, I would like to address to all International Member Societies a word of praise and gratitude for your contributions and a message of hope that your support will allow us to overcome the difficulties, to develop a feeling of universal responsibility and to create the ambition to better serve our beloved ISSMGE. Please remember that: When you get back to doing those Things that lifted your spirit and sent you soaring, You reconnect with that state of happiness That you may have lost. Trust that the winter of your sorrow will yield to the summer of your joy, just as the brilliant rays of the morning always follow the darkest part of the night. 21. THANKS I am blessed to be accompanied by many extraordinary people. Without them, it would not be possible for me to do what I do and to advance my mission of serving ISSMGE. It is important to express my gratitude to the Board members, namely Immediate Past President William Van Impe, Vice President for Africa Mounir Bouassida, Vice President for Asia Madhira Madhav, Vice President for Australasia John Carter , Vice President for Europe Roger Frank, Vice Presidents for North America John Seychuck (2005-June 2008), Dennis Becker (July 2008-October 2009), Vice President for South America Waldemar Hachich, to the Appointed Members John Christian (2005-2005), Bob Holtz (2007-2009), Michel Lysuk and Osamu Kusakabe. Many thanks for your encouragement. You have offered me a foundation of inspiration and unforgettable support. I was blessed by my Family, my wife Teresa and children Isabel, David and Jorge whose wisdom, patience and kindness have shape me that words can not express. Special thanks to LNEC (National Laboratory of Civil Engineering), Fundação Luso Americana (FLA), Mota e Companhia and Teixeira Duarte for their support. This journey was an unforgettable experience. But I do not forget that in spite of I have tried to make a lot of things, still a lot of things have remained and need to be done. I love Bono, lead singer of U2, statement: “I used to think that one day I `d be able to resolve the different Drives I have in different directions, the tensions between the Different people I am. Now I realize that who I am. I do feel, I `m Getting closer to the song in my head. I wasn`t looking for grace. But luckily grace was looking for me”. I always remember Goethe lines: “The duty accomplished leaves always A feeling of guilty, as we never did Absolutely everything”.