Geotechnical Conference Focuses on Innovation for Middle East Megastructures

A geotechnical engineering conference is set to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in May 2024. The International Geotechnical Innovation Conference (IGIC 2024) will bring together industry leaders to discuss challenges and innovations in geotechnical engineering, specifically for megastructures in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The conference comes at a time when the Middle East is spearheading some of the world's most ambitious infrastructure projects, including the $500 billion Neom City project. These projects require innovative solutions to overcome difficult soil conditions and ensure the safe, cost-effective, and sustainable construction of deep foundations, ground improvements, and underground infrastructure.

IGIC 2024 aims to foster the Middle East and Gulf region's ambitious growth plans by providing a platform for professionals to exchange ideas and best practices. The conference will feature keynote presentations, workshops, and case studies on a variety of topics, including innovative soil improvement and deep foundation solutions, soil-structure interaction, and the use of artificial intelligence in geotechnical engineering.

"We are on the brink of a transformative era in geotechnical engineering," said Dr. Marwan Alzaylaie, Chairman of IGIC 2024 Technical Advisory Committee and Senior Manager of Geotechnical Engineering at the Dubai Development Authority. "The International Geotechnical Innovation Conference offers a unique platform to exchange innovative ideas and advanced methodologies that can dramatically improve the effectiveness and sustainability of foundation projects."

The conference will feature presentations from world-renowned experts in geotechnical engineering, including Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf Katzenbach from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, who will share insights on innovative foundation technologies for high-rise buildings, and Prof. Robert Liang from the University of Dayton, USA, who will discuss advancing data-driven site characterization techniques in the age of artificial intelligence.

IGIC 2024 is a must-attend event for engineers, project owners, development authorities, and academics aiming to stay at the forefront of industry advancements in geotechnical engineering for megastructures in the Middle East. ░