The Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS) was founded in 1967 by Dr. Za Chieh Moh as a regional society to cover Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Taiwan. It is affiliated with the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (ISSMFE), the International Association of Engineering Geology (IAEG) and the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM).
The past Presidents of the Society were Dr. Za Chieh Moh (1967–1973), Prof. Chin Fung Kee (1973–1975), Prof. Peter Lumb (1975–1977), Dr. Tan Swan Beng (1977–1980), Dr. E.W. Brand (1980–1983), Dr. Ting Wen Hui (1983 – 1985), Prof. A.S. Balasubramaniam (1985-1987), Prof. S. L. Lee (1987-1990), Dr. C.D. Ou (1990-1993), Dr. T.A. Ooi (1993-1996), Dr. S. Sambhandaraksa (1996-1998), Dr. John Li (1998-2001) and Prof. K.Y. Yong (2001–2007). The current President of the Society is Dr. Ooi Teik Aun. The Hon.Secretary Treasurers of this Society were Prof. R.D. Mackey (1967–1970), Dr. John D. Nelson (1970–1973), Prof. A.S. Balasubramaniam (1973 –2000), Prof. D.T. Bergado (2000 -2013) and Dr. Noppadol Phienwej (2013 to present).
The objectives of the Society when it was created in 1967 by Dr. Za Chieh Moh was to promote cooperation among engineers, geologists and other scientists in Southeast Asia for the advancement of knowledge in geotechnical engineering. This has clearly been fulfilled over the years through periodic meetings within the region for discussion of geotechnical engineering topics, geotechnical engineering conferences, symposia, seminars and lectures held in the region, publication of a journal which contains papers of interest to geotechnical engineers, and collaboration with the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation/ Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMFE/ISSMGE), the International Association of Engineering Geology (IAEG), the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) and such other bodies and societies as appropriate.
- The development of geotechnical engineering activities in Southeast Asia
- SEAGS and AIT
- Southeast Asian Conferences (1967 – present)
- Asian Regional Conferences (1967 – 2015)
- SEAGS participation at International Conferences in the past
- SEAGS participation at Executive Committee meetings in the past
- Society Journal editors (1970 – present)
- Symposia and courses (1977 – 2010)
- Editors and Guest-Editors (1970-2015)
The Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society founded in 1967 by Dr. Za Chieh Moh has indeed made very significant contributions to the development of geotechnics in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. This, of course, could not have been achieved without the hard work and generous efforts put forward by our members, supporters and participants of conferences, symposia and short courses. Among these, the contributions from the Past Presidents and General Committee members should be gratefully acknowledged and documented.
Today the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS) is a regional society covering Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. It has been generally accepted that it is advantageous to form a Federation of Southeast Asian Geotechnical Societies so as to include those members who have left SEAGS to join the ISSMGE as direct members. In this way they can continue to work closely with the SEAGS in matters of common interest and the geotechnical development, advancement and achievements of geotechnical engineering in the Southeast Asian region. As a forerunner of the Federation Concept, the MGC 2004 was held in Kuala Lumpur with the help of Prof. K.Y. Yong, Prof. A. S. Balasubramanium, Dr. Ting Wen Hui, Dr. Chan Sin Fatt, Dr. Ooi Teik Aun and others. Short course on practical use of Q system was run in conjunction with the International Conference and Exhibition on Tunnelling and Trenchless Technology held in KualaLumpur in 2006 by Dr. N. Barton,the originator of Q system through the good office of Prof. Balasubramaniam.
Contributed by:
Professor A. S. Balasubramaniam
Professor Dennes T. Bergado
Engr. Dr. Ooi Teik Aun
