8th Dr. Victor de Mello Goa Lecture & Symposium

The Third-Year Civil Engineering students attended the 8th Dr. Victor de Mello Goa Lecture and Symposium on Landslides in Tropical Soils, accompanied by faculty members Dr. Shwetha Prassana and Asst. Prof. Vanessa Fernandes. The symposium brought together eminent academicians, researchers, and industry experts to discuss recent advancements and emerging trends in geotechnical engineering, sustainable infrastructure, landslide mitigation, artificial intelligence applications, and foundation engineering.

The event featured a series of expert lectures delivered by distinguished professionals from prestigious institutions and organizations, including IIT Hyderabad, IISc Bengaluru, IIT Indore, the Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS), and international experts from Brazil.

Prof. M. R. Madhav delivered an insightful lecture on Geosynthetic Reinforced Foundation Beds as a Third Alternative in Foundation Engineering. He explained innovative techniques for improving weak soil conditions and enhancing foundation load-bearing capacity. The session highlighted the use of geotextiles, geogrids, and geocomposites to increase soil strength, reduce settlement, and improve stability, presenting reinforced foundation beds as an economical and sustainable alternative to conventional shallow and deep foundations.

Prof. Purnanand Savoikar, Professor, Government Engineering College (GEC), Goa, discussed the application of Artificial Intelligence in predicting and analyzing landslides and slope stability problems. He emphasized how modern computational approaches can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of geotechnical investigations.

A highly inspiring lecture was delivered by Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Professor, IISc Bengaluru, Chairman, Board of Governors, NIFTEM-T Thanjavur, Former Chairman of AICTE, and Former Director of IIT Guwahati. He presented the geotechnical challenges and innovative engineering strategies involved in the construction of the Chenab Bridge, one of the world’s highest railway arch bridges. The lecture highlighted advanced geotechnical investigations, foundation systems, and sustainable engineering practices adopted in the challenging Himalayan terrain.

Dr. Anil Joseph, President of the Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS) and Vice President of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) – Asia, delivered a lecture on geotechnical challenges encountered in major infrastructure projects and the engineering solutions used to transform distressed structures into stable and sustainable systems. He shared practical case studies related to highways, bridges, buildings, embankments, and other infrastructure developments.

Er. Luiz Guilherme De Mello, Director of Vector Projects, Brazil, presented a technical session on the design, construction, and performance evaluation of a test embankment built on very soft Mexican clay deposits. The lecture focused on challenges such as excessive settlement, low shear strength, and prolonged consolidation periods, and explained how vacuum preloading, surcharge preloading, and Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs) were successfully utilized to improve soil conditions.

Prof. Fernando Schnaid, Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, delivered a lecture on Geotechnical Investigations in Tailings Storage Facilities, highlighting the importance of site investigations and risk management in mining infrastructure.

Dr. Werner Bilfinger, Consulting Engineer for Infrastructure Projects, presented a session on Settlements Due to Blasting Vibrations in Urban Tunnel Excavations, discussing the effects of blasting on surrounding structures and mitigation measures.

Prof. Neelima Satyam, Professor at IIT Indore, delivered a session on recent landslide and debris-flow disasters in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, emphasizing disaster assessment and mitigation strategies.

Dr. R. Shivashankar, Former Professor at NITK Surathkal, shared his expertise on Geotechnical Engineering with Lateritic Soils and Slope Stability in Lateritic Formations, addressing challenges specific to tropical regions.

Prof. Jayamohan, Joint Director, LBS Centre for Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, presented a case study on the Reconstruction of a Failed Embankment Resting on Soft Soil, demonstrating practical solutions to complex geotechnical problems.

Dr. K. S. Sajinkumar, Assistant Professor of Geology, University of Kerala, discussed a Mobile App-Based Early Warning System for Landslides in Kerala, showcasing the integration of technology and disaster management.

The symposium also featured a session by Dr. Rohan Deshmukh, Senior Product Sales Engineer – Geotechnical, Bentley Systems, Mumbai, on Numerical Modelling of Rainfall-Induced Landslides, illustrating the role of advanced software tools in geotechnical analysis and risk assessment.

The event concluded with a valedictory session. The lectures collectively highlighted the growing importance of innovation, sustainability, digital technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches in addressing modern civil and geotechnical engineering challenges. The symposium provided students with valuable exposure to current research, industry practices, and emerging technologies, inspiring them to explore advanced studies and career opportunities in geotechnical and infrastructure engineering.