CONFERENCE REPORT:
THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
GEOTECHNICS IN BELARUS: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
From 23rd to 25th, October 2013 in the Belorussian National Technical University (BNTU) was held the First International Scientific and Technical Conference on “Geotechnics in Belarus: Science and Practice” in Minsk of Belarus. This conference was dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Department of Geotechnics and Ecology in Construction and 90th Anniversary of Memory of Professor Yuri A. Sobolevski. The conference was attended by more than 100 highly qualified specialists in geotechnics from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Poland and Belarus.
The opening ceremony was held on October 23rd in the auditorium of the main academic building of BNTU. The prorector of BNTU for administrative activities and development, Prof. Gennady Zemlyakov, delivered a welcome greeting speech. Also congratulations were by expressed by Prof. D. Sobolevski (son of Prof. Yuri A. Sobolevski) who is the President of the Belorussian Geotechnical Society and Head of the Department of Geotechnics and Ecology in Construction who is Prof. M. Nikitenko. Professor M. Nikitenko gave a speech marking the 60th anniversary of the Department of Geotechnics and Ecology in BNTU. The immediate Past Vice President of ISSMGE, Prof. Askar Zhussupbekov, awarded Prof. Dmitry Sobolevski with a medal of Eurasian National University and KGS (Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society).
Keynote lecturers of this conference were:
- Director of Minsk metro project Valery Chekanovon the design and construction experience of the subway in Minsk,
- Head of Department of Civil Engineering Geotechnics of SPBGASU, Prof.Rashid Mangushev on “The construction of the underground part of the 2-stage of the Mariinsky State Academic Theatre in St. Petersburg (design, construction technology, monitoring)”, and
- President of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society, Director of Geotechnical Institute, Head and Professor of Civil Engineering Department of the Eurasian National University, Prof. Askar Zhussupbekovon “Mega projects in the problematic soils in Kazakhstan.”
Avery interesting special report was made by M.P. Cerepkovski (City Globokay).This report was devoted to the participation of Y.A. Sobolevski in the partisan movement in Belarus during the Second World War (Glubokaya’s underground youth organization), its front-line path(1941-1945).Moreover, the audience listened with interest to the report of the Director of the drilling company “Delta” N.V.Chernoschey which was dedicated to pile foundation engineering innovations.
The following oral sessions took place after the keynote lectures.
- Session №.1: Engineering researches and geotechnical monitoring, chaired by Professor I.A. Busel.
- Session №.2: Soil mechanics as a theoretical basis of modern geotechnics, chaired by Professor D.J. Sobolevski.
- Session №.3:Design and technology for installation of foundations in complicated geotechnical conditions, Strengthening and reconstruction of Foundations, chaired by Professor M.I. Nikitenko.
- Session №.4: Regulation and technical support for design and construction of the foundations, chaired by Ph.D. G.S.Rodkevich.
Further interesting presentations were made by representatives of the company CONTROLS Ltd. Of Italy which is a manufacturer of modern laboratory equipment for testing various types of soils and is a representative of a Russian company “Geosoft” reporting software for geotechnical calculations. In general, the sessions were very interesting, because supplementary discussions were made in addition to the planned program. After the conference technical excursions in Minsk were organized to visit construction projects. The Conference ended with a solemn closing ceremony and the participants expressed sincere appreciation to the organizing committee for the interesting technical program as well as the opportunity to communicate with colleagues and the Belorussian hospitality.
Welcome opening of the conference: Students Concert at the Stoneworts Chapel
Ceremonial awarding of a medal of the Eurasian National University and KGS (Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society) to Prof. D. Sobolevski
Download ISSMGE Bulletin – Volume 8 Issue 2 (pp. 31-36)
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