A Brief Report on
Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC2024)
“Geotechnical Engineering for a Sustainable Tomorrow (GEST)”
The grand annual convention of the Indian Geotechnical Society, The Indian Geotechnical Conference for the year 2024 was organized by the IGS Aurangabad Chapter and was hosted at MIT Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) during the dates of 19-21 December 2024. The theme of the conference had been ‘Geotechnical Engineering for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, (GEST 2024).
The inauguration ceremony of the conference was honoured by the presence of Chief guest Dr. Karbhari V. Kale, Hon. Vice Chancellor, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere, Maharashtra, Prof. Keh-Jian (Albert) Shou, Vice President Asia of ISSMGE National Chung-Hsing University, Department of Civil Engineering, Taiwan was the guest of Honour ,Dr. Anil Joseph (President, IGS), Dr. A.P. Singh (Honorary Secy., IGS), Prof. Munish Sharma (Director General, MIT Chh. Sambhajinagar) and Dr. Nilesh G. Patil (Director, MIT Chh. Sambhajinagar), Dr. Uttam Kalwane Chairman IGS Aurangabad Chapter, Dr. Vijay M. Pandharipande, Chairman Governing body MIT, Chh. Sambhajinagar.
In the inauguration ceremony unveiling of the Book Chapter i.e. Proceedings of 9IYGEC 2023, Volume I and II, Cover page of the Proceedings of the Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC 2024), Volume I, Ground Improvement Techniques, and Souvenir was done.
The inauguration ceremony was included the Award Ceremony for conferring the prestigious awards of various categories to the respected recipients by IGS main body.
Following the inauguration ceremony, the prestigious 46th IGS Annual Lecture was delivered by Dr. -Ing. B.V.S. Viswanadham, Professor, Geotechnical Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay on “ Insights into Centrifuge-based Physical Modelling for understanding the performance of Geostructures”.
The conference experienced an exuberant involvement of around 850 participants from different parts of India as well as abroad, comprising of participants from academia and industry. A total of 823 abstracts were received for the conference, out of which 650 abstracts were recommended for full paper submission for the conference. A second stage of review led to the acceptance of 472 papers for final camera-ready submission, out of which 405 papers were finally submitted to be included in the conference proceedings. The conference program included 12 Keynote Lectures and 17 Theme Lectures comprising of eminent researchers from various vistas of geotechnical engineering hailing from India and abroad. The plenary speakers included Prof. Keh-Jian (Albert) Shou (Taiwan), Prof. Ikuo Towhata (Japan), Prof. Tatsuya Ishikawa (Japan), Dr. Venu Raju (Singapore), Prof. Prabir K. Kolay (USA), Prof. Neelima Satyam (IIT, Indore), Dr. Atul Gadgil (Pune Mahametro), Er. Atasi Das (G R Infraprojects Design, New Delhi), Dr.Sunil Basarkar (S& R Geotechniques Mumbai), Er. Tiru Kulkarni (Geosynthetics Division, Pune), Dr. Mahendra Singh (IIT Roorkee), and Prof. Robinson R. G. (IIT, Madras).
A total of 17 sub-theme lectures were delivered during the conference by expert geotechnical personalities from academia and industry : Dr. Ritesh Kumar (IIT, Roorkee) , Dr. Altaf Usmani (ETDD, Engineers India Ltd. New Delhi), Dr. Chevva Krishnaiah (Former Scientist, (CWPRS), Pune ), Dr. Hari Prasad (Mahindra University, Hyderabad ), Dr. Baadiga Ramu (IIT ,Indore) , Dr. Rakesh J Pillai (IIT, Palakkad ), Dr. Ambika. Srivastav (Assistant Senior Engineer, Jacobs India, Tunnels & Ground Engineering, Hyderabad), Dr. Divya Priya Balasubramani (Anna University, Chennai), Er. B V Sushma ( Lead -Geotech & Deputy General Manager-Civil, Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, Geotechnical, Bangalore), Dr. Sowmiya Chawla (IIT, Dhanbad), Dr. Vinay Bhushan Chauhan (MMMUT, Gorakhpur), Dr. Nitin Tiwari (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL,USA), Dr. Rupali Satavalekar (Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar), Dr. Tejaskumar Thaker (Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, Raysan, Gujarat), Dr. Surya Sarat Chandra Congress (Michigan State University, United States), Dr. Keshav C. Tayade (Additional General Manager, Maha-Metro, Quality Control, Nagpur), Dr. Amarnath Hegde (IIT, Dharwad).
A total of 405 oral presentations during the conference were held in 13 conference halls spanning over 51 parallel sessions.
The IGS Annual General body Meeting (AGM) and the Executive Committee meeting was also hosted at MIT, Chh. Sambhajinagar during the conference.
A ‘Springer Author Workshop’ was held for the students and participants for spreading awareness about Technical Writing and critical issues related to plagiarism. The workshop was presided by Dr. Arif Ali Bag and Ms. Swati Meherishi, Manager Publications, Springer.
A Spouse program was also arranged during the conference for the accompanying persons. on 18 December 2024 trips were made to Pan Chakki (waterfall), Bibi Ka Maqbara which serves as a historical and architectural attraction. On 19 December 2024, Visit to Brahmakumaris centre, Vishwa Kalyani Bhawan, Yashodeep Nagar CSN, Interaction with B. K. Snehal Didi, on the topic How to be Emotionally Strong, Visit to Ramkrishna Ashram Meditation Centre and local shopping. On 20 December 2024 Visit to Ellora caves, Shri Ghrishneswar temple, Devgiri fort Daulatabad, Bhadramaruti temple, Aurangabad Zoo. On 21 December 2024 Visit to Shani temple, Shani Shingnapur and Devgadh Temple.
A cultural program highlighting the theme of the conference and the tradition of Maharashtra was also organized followed by the Conference Gala Dinner.
Exhibitions stalls for the sponsors and exhibitors were arranged near the Conference venue. The exhibition arena received a very outright and whole-hearted participation from several corporate and government agencies showcasing their expertise in different sectors of geotechnical engineering. It has been extremely successful in establishing new contacts and for the highlighting of the current trends of practice in the implementation and in-situ engineering research. The exhibition arena comprised 51 stalls from Exhibitors and Sponsoring agencies.
The three-day conference concluded with a valedictory function in the afternoon of 21st December 2024.The chief guest was Mr. Vikas Ramgude Joint Managing Director, MSIDC, Mumbai and Guest of Honour Mr. Arun Agarwal, MD, Kalika steel Alloys Pvt. Ltd. Jalna.
The conference organizers would like to specially thank all the participants, honorary chairs, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors for making IGC-2024 a very successful one and setting a benchmark for such conferences.
Dr. Manish S. Dixit
Organizing Secretary, IGC 2024.
Glimpses of IGC 2024
Introduction of Expert
