The Icelandic Geotechnical Society are pleased to welcome you to the XVII European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in Reykjavik, Iceland 1st - 6th of September 2019
The theme of the Conference is:
"Geotechnical Engineering, foundation of the future"
The theme of the conference embraces all aspects of geotechnical engineering. Geotechnical engineering is the foundation of current as well as future societies, which both rely on complex civil engineering infrastructures, and call for mitigation of potential geodangers posing threat to these. Geotechnical means and solutions are required to ensure infrastructure safety and sustainable development. Those means are rooted in past experiences enhanced by research and technology of today.
At great events such as the European Geotechnical Conference we should: Spread our knowledge and experience to our colleagues; Introduce innovations, research and development of techniques and equipment; Report on successful geotechnical constructions and application of geotechnical design methods, as well as, on mitigation and assessment of geohazards and more.
Such events also provide an opportunity to draw the attention of others outside the field of geotechnical engineering to the importance of what we are doing, particularly to those who, directly or indirectly, rely on our services, knowledge and experience. Investment in quality geotechnical work is required for successful and safe design, construction and operation of any infrastructure. Geotechnical engineering is the key to a safe and sustainable infrastructure and of importance for the society, economy and the environment. This must be emphasized and reported upon.
At great events such as the European Geotechnical Conference we should: Spread our knowledge and experience to our colleagues; Introduce innovations, research and development of techniques and equipment; Report on successful geotechnical constructions and application of geotechnical design methods, as well as, on mitigation and assessment of geohazards and more.
Such events also provide an opportunity to draw the attention of others outside the field of geotechnical engineering to the importance of what we are doing, particularly to those who, directly or indirectly, rely on our services, knowledge and experience. Investment in quality geotechnical work is required for successful and safe design, construction and operation of any infrastructure. Geotechnical engineering is the key to a safe and sustainable infrastructure and of importance for the society, economy and the environment. This must be emphasized and reported upon.
Why Reykjavik Iceland
The Icelandic Geotechnical Society, IGS, is enthusiastic about organizing this great event. IGS hosted the Nordic Geotechnical Conference, NGM-2016 in Reyk javik. However, Iceland has never hosted the European Geotechnical Conference and it is with great pleasure that we welcome you in 2019.
Iceland now enjoys increased popularity for conferences. Many major conferences have been held in the conference centre Harpa and both visitors and organizers have been very pleased with the facilities as can be seen here.
We offer our guests a venue unlike all others surrounded by inspiring nature. Iceland is one of the most geologically active locations in the world with volcanoes, lava fields, hot spots, earthquake activities, geothermal areas and glacial outburst. This has created both challenging geotechnical environment and magnificent scenery that you cannot find anywhere else in the world.
Iceland now enjoys increased popularity for conferences. Many major conferences have been held in the conference centre Harpa and both visitors and organizers have been very pleased with the facilities as can be seen here.
We offer our guests a venue unlike all others surrounded by inspiring nature. Iceland is one of the most geologically active locations in the world with volcanoes, lava fields, hot spots, earthquake activities, geothermal areas and glacial outburst. This has created both challenging geotechnical environment and magnificent scenery that you cannot find anywhere else in the world.
Reykjavík is a vibrant city with an excellent infrastructure, which means access to cutting-edge technology, inspiring meeting venues and warm hospitable people willing and able to render the best service.
„Reykjavík is hip, it’s cool, it’s small but offers everything that large cities do. Good hotels, good food, good nightlife, good music and the nature is only a few steps away. And it’s finally affordable to go there.“ - Lonely Planet's reader
Iceland was chosen as one of the Best in value destinations for Europe 2013 by Lonely Planet.
The capital city Reykjavík was voted top destination 2012 by Lonely Planet. In addition National Geographic named Iceland among the world’s best destinations in 2012. Let’s hope you agree with them!
Reykjavík was named the World Festival and Event City by the International Festivals & Events Association. You can have a look at the digital brochures Reykjavík Festival City and the Reykjavík Event Calendar and see for yourself how festive our city is.
The capital city Reykjavík was voted top destination 2012 by Lonely Planet. In addition National Geographic named Iceland among the world’s best destinations in 2012. Let’s hope you agree with them!
Reykjavík was named the World Festival and Event City by the International Festivals & Events Association. You can have a look at the digital brochures Reykjavík Festival City and the Reykjavík Event Calendar and see for yourself how festive our city is.
REYKJAVÍK is NATURALLY ECO FRIENDLY
Did you know that eco-friendly Reykjavík has the world’s largest geothermal heating system and that green-minded Icelanders have been at the forefront of exploration of alternative fuel and electric cars. A considerable number of the vegetables consumed by Icelanders are also grown in greenhouses heated geo-thermally and illuminated by hydro-electricity. Ever better for the visitor — Icelandic tap water is famous for being pure and untainted with chemicals and minerals, with a healthy high Ph for the human body. The world’s largest geothermal heating system is located in the Icelandic capital. It has been growing and improving since it opened in 1930. All buildings in Reykjavík are heated with geothermal water and the majority of households in the country are heated in the same way, which means less pollution and fewer emissions. All buildings are therefore comfortably warm, even during the coldest winter days.
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For half a century emission of greenhouse gases in Reykjavík have been systematically reduced and residents have found use for the surplus water using the 20°- 40°C water that has already heated their homes to keep ice from forming on their driveways and pavements.
Geothermal energy means:
- Less pollution
- Less emission of greenhouse gases
- Health benefits
- Cleaner air
- Comfortable warmth indoor
- Less pollution
- Less emission of greenhouse gases
- Health benefits
- Cleaner air
- Comfortable warmth indoor
Alternative fuel
Icelanders are at the forefront of exploration of alternative fuel and electric cars. Methane, hydrogen and electric cars are in use by a number of civil services within the city and the municipal government intends to increase the number of these types of vehicles further. Methane and hydrogen filling stations are located within city limits, encouraging the public to make use of these cheaper and more eco-friendly energy sources to fuel their car.
Icelanders are at the forefront of exploration of alternative fuel and electric cars. Methane, hydrogen and electric cars are in use by a number of civil services within the city and the municipal government intends to increase the number of these types of vehicles further. Methane and hydrogen filling stations are located within city limits, encouraging the public to make use of these cheaper and more eco-friendly energy sources to fuel their car.
The Venue
HARPA
Harpa is a new concert hall and conference centre in the heart of Reykjavík, Iceland. This unique architectural gem is situated on the picturesque Reykjavík harbour in the city centre and features stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the North Atlantic Ocean.
Harpa offers excellent facilities for presentations, meetings and exhibition. The main hall has seatings for 1600 people and then five other halls with seatings from 130 to 840 people and several meeting rooms which could be available for committees meetings.
Harpa is a new concert hall and conference centre in the heart of Reykjavík, Iceland. This unique architectural gem is situated on the picturesque Reykjavík harbour in the city centre and features stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the North Atlantic Ocean.
Harpa offers excellent facilities for presentations, meetings and exhibition. The main hall has seatings for 1600 people and then five other halls with seatings from 130 to 840 people and several meeting rooms which could be available for committees meetings.
Harpa combines stunning architecture with state of the art technology in all areas of functions within the building. The main halls and meeting rooms offer some of the most technologically advanced equipment available. Harpa also features spacious reception and exhibition areas that can be used for a variety of happenings. Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is an eco-friendly building. It was designed to use mostly natural light through the glass facade which covers three of the four sides resulting in significant reduction in power consumption. All those who were chosen to operate within Harpa have sustainability as one of their main goals. Both restaurants and catering services use mainly local produce and follow strict recycling standards.
HARPA green policy
Nearly all energy consumed in Icelandic households and businesses comes from clean renewable hydroelectric and geothermal energy sources. Harpa is connected to the Icelandic power grid, which has one of the highest uptime in the world. The water used in Harpa comes from water reserves located on the outskirts of Reykjavík. The water is of the highest quality and no treatment is required before it is distributed to consumers. The facade is made of glass, resulting in reduction in lighting cost. All waste in Harpa is sorted and all recyclable waste is recycled. All detergents used in Harpa have the Swan label, a well-known Eco labelling used in the Nordic countries.
- See the artist and designer explain his work: Olafur Eliasson - Architecture - Glass facade on Harpa
Nearly all energy consumed in Icelandic households and businesses comes from clean renewable hydroelectric and geothermal energy sources. Harpa is connected to the Icelandic power grid, which has one of the highest uptime in the world. The water used in Harpa comes from water reserves located on the outskirts of Reykjavík. The water is of the highest quality and no treatment is required before it is distributed to consumers. The facade is made of glass, resulting in reduction in lighting cost. All waste in Harpa is sorted and all recyclable waste is recycled. All detergents used in Harpa have the Swan label, a well-known Eco labelling used in the Nordic countries.
- See the artist and designer explain his work: Olafur Eliasson - Architecture - Glass facade on Harpa
TECHNICAL SITE VISITS and EXCURSIONSTechnical site visits and excursions will be arranged to geotechnical constructions sites as well as to various places in the country of both geotechnical and geological interest.
Pre-conference tours will be arranged during the weekend before the conference and the special technical site visit will be on the Friday following the conference. City live or excursion into the countryside, there are many variable possibilities, normal or extreme. Visit Reykjavik, Bus Excursions or Mountain Adventure |
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SUPPORT
The Icelandic Geotechnical Society has an extensive support to be a host for ECSMGE 2019.
Our bid is supported by Ministry of the Interior, The Mayor of Reykjavik, University of Iceland and Reykjavik University as well as all IGS´s supporting members; The Icelandic Road and Costal Administration, Landsvirkjun the National Power Company of Iceland, FSR - The Government Construction Contracting Agency and the Consulting Engineering Companies; EFLA, Mannvit and VERKÍS. The IGS works with the MEET in REYKJAVIK Convention Bureau in preparation of this bid to ensure a highly successful conference.
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GEOTECHNICAL CONSTRUCTIONS in ICELAND
Geotechnical projects in Iceland are diverse and range from small scale project solved on the domestic market to large scale projects with international participation. In recent years the main tasks include: Design and construction of large dams for hydropower generations; Defence structures for snow avalanche protection; Stability and settlement of fills on silty soil; Floating roads on peat; Landfills on clay and silty soil at fjord crossing as well as bridge foundations on piles; Evaluation of rock in foundations and underground constructions such as power stations and tunnels.
Additionally, geohazards require consideration. In Iceland these include earthquakes, volcanism, crustal movements, glacial hazards, avalanches, landslides, rock slides, rock fall, unstable rock wedges, liquefaction, floods and more. Geohazards call for hazard assessment, risk analysis and geotechnical evaluations, including those related to geotechnical earthquake engineering.
Some examples are following.
Additionally, geohazards require consideration. In Iceland these include earthquakes, volcanism, crustal movements, glacial hazards, avalanches, landslides, rock slides, rock fall, unstable rock wedges, liquefaction, floods and more. Geohazards call for hazard assessment, risk analysis and geotechnical evaluations, including those related to geotechnical earthquake engineering.
Some examples are following.
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Floating road on peat and new bridge
On the ring road between Hveragerdi and Selfoss,1d6, will during the years 2017 and 2018 be rebuilt 12.8 km, traffic on existing road was in 2014 about ADT 7000. Interesting project including new bridge and floating road on peat with variable depth from 2 – 8.5 m. Predicted settlement at several sections will be around 1.5 m and maximum settlement about 2.7 m. The estimated amount of fill due to settlement is about 300.000 m3 |
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The Kárahnjúkar Hydroelectric Project
Dams represent the largest geotechnical constructions in Iceland. The two largest dams in Iceland retain the main storage of the 690 MW Kárahnjúkar Hydroelectric Project, operation of which commenced in 2007. The Kárahnjúkar dam has a maximum height of 198 m and crest length of 730 m and was constructed using 8.5 million m3 of fill materials. The Desjarárdalur dam has a maximum height of 70 m in height and crest length of 1100 m. The Sauðárdalur dam is part of the same project, it has a maximum height of 25 m and length 1100 m. |
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Snow avalance protections
Constructions of avalanche protection for densely populated areas is a big issue in Iceland. Various types of structures, dams, walls and cones, are constructed as protection against snow- and landslides and are widely used to improve the safety in avalanche-prone areas. Avalanche dam constructions in Iceland are usually between 10 – 25 m at height and the length can be from 50 – 600 m or more. The total material can be in the range of 300.000 – 500.000 m3. These structures are normally constructed in difficult circumstances in mountain slopes and often very challenging for geotechnical engineers |
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Low volume road - straight crossing
New road, ADT 100, crossing two fjords, total length 15,9 km there of 2,5 km over seawater. Section 2 in the project crossing Mjóafjord, length of road over the fjord is 1 km, length of bridge 160 m. Depth in seawater 10 – 14 m and fill above sealevel is 5 m. Total fill material due to settlement was estimated 40.000 m3 plus total fill in crossing 493.000 m3. Material at seabed is 4 – 6 m of fine silt and clay on rock, settlement of fill was up to 2,0 m. Due to unstable material in bottom filling was done from boat. Section 6, crossing Kjálkafjord. Length of road over the fjord is 1,5 km, length of bridge 117 m. Depth in seawater 3 – 6 m and fill above sealevel is 5 m. Total fill material due to settlement was estimated 53.000 m3 plus 518.000 m3 total fill in crossing. Material at seabed is 3 – 8 m of fine silt and clay on rock, settlement of fill was up to 1,4 m. Road opened for traffic in 2015. |
Seen
with guests eyes and his camera.
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Be INSPIREDCome and be inspired by Iceland
On the link Inspired by Iceland.com is much to see. |
WHAT CAN BE SEENMany pictures on this website are from PG Photostream , see following button:
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