XVII International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical
Engineering – Alexandria, Egypt
5‐9 October 2009
The Academia and Practice in Geotechnical Engineering
The 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering was held in the lovely city of Alexandria on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea coast from 5 through 9 October
2009. Alexandria, which was built for Alexander the Great in 332‐
331 BC, is a culturally diverse city of ancient and modern attractions with a European influence. The city extends about 32 km along the north central coast of Egypt and is 220 km from Cairo. Around 80 percent of all of Egypt’s imports and exports pass through the Alexandria port.
The 17th ICSMGE was held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Constructed with the largest diaphragm wall circle in the world, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a revival of the ancient Great Library of Alexandria (built in 288 BC and operating until 412 AD), which established the city as the greatest scientific and intellectual center in the world at the time.
ICSMGE OPENING CEREMONY
The 17th ICSMGE was opened with an address from Prof. Mamdouh Hamza, the chairman of the conference. Prof. Pedro Sêco e Pinto, president of the ISSMGE, then welcomed the delegates on behalf of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, and Eng. Ahmed El Magraby, Egypt’s Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Development, extended an official welcome to Egypt to the conference participants. Mr. Adel Labib, the Governor of Alexandria, and a representative of Egypt’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources added their enthusiastic support to the conference and also extended their good wishes to the delegates in Alexandria.
Council Meeting at 17th ICSMGE
Prof. Briaud and Prof. Sêco e Pinto
PARTICIPATION
The conference attracted 1341 geotechnical and ground engineering academics and practitioners from 86 countries, with the largest number of participants (108) hailing from Japan. Africa was also well represented with 144 participants from 16 countries across the continent. Eighty‐one participants from Egypt, the host country, joined their international colleagues in Alexandria.
| 17th ICSMGEAttendance | |
| Numberof Countries | 86 |
| Largest Participation from Japan | 108 |
| Participation from AFRICA(16 countries) | 144 |
| Participation from Host country | 81 |
| No. of participants | 983 |
| No. of Students | 75 |
| Exhibitor Personal | 82 |
| Accompanying persons | 201 |
| Total Numberof Participants | 1341 |
Download ISSMGE Bulletin – Volume 3 Issue 4 (pp. 25-28)
PDF format
