The two days symposium on “Geoenvironment, Geohazards, Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement - Experiences and Practices (4G)” was organized by Indian Geotechnical Society Delhi Chapter in association with Central Soil and Materials Research Station, New Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi as a part of the Diamond Jubilee Year celebrations of the Indian Geotechnical Society (India).

GeoSympsoium 2008 was organized during 4th and 5th July 2008 at CSMRS. The two days Symposium was inaugurated by Shri Nirmaljit Singh, Member (Technical), National Highways Authority of India and presided over by Er. Mahavir Bidasaria, President, Indian Geotechnical Society.

The Sympsoium was organized on very interesting and the current topics. The aim of the Symposium was to bring together scientists, engineers, practitioners, and researchers to exchange knowledge and discuss the experiences, practices and the developments in the field of geoenvironment, geohazards, ground improvement and geosynthetics.

The second set of annual awards 2007 for excellence in Geotechnical Engineering to recognize the contribution of the members of IGS Delhi Chapter for promotion and practice of geotechnical engineering was given to the following persons.

IGS Delhi Chapter lifetime achievement award – Professor G. Venkatappa Rao, Honorary Professor, College of Engineering, Osmania Univesity, Hyderabad and Chief Consultant, Saimaster Geoenvironmental Services, Hyderabad

IGS Delhi Chapter Leadership Award – Professor Manoj Datta, Director, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh

The two days Symposium was divided into seven different sessions and each session were conducted by specially invited Chairmen and Co-Chairmen.

A total of 50 technical papers falling under the following themes were published in the proceeding and presented in the Symposium.

Testing & Monitoring

Geoenvironment & Waste Geomechanics

Geohazards

Geosynthetics

Ground Improvement

Numerical Modelling

A total of 11 invited lectures were delivered by various experts from different fields of Geotechnical Engineering. The details are as under.

Treatment of Unconformity Zone and Curtain Grouting in Foundation of Almatti Dam on Krishna River. (A Case - Study), Er. Mahavir Bidasaria

Investigations for Safety of Dams, Dr. A. K. Dhawan

Environmental Geotechnology for a Old Tailings Pond and a New Landfill, Dr. Manoj Datta

Dam Failures Leading to Geohazard, Dr. D. K. Paul

A Non-Mechanistic Perspective of Geotechnical Engineering, Dr.Madhira R. Madhav

Numerical Analysis of the Performance of Geosynthetic Encased Stone Columns, Dr. K. Rajagopal

Application of Automation in Geotechnical Testing, Dr. R. Hankour

Management of Geo Environmental Aspects of Ash Dyke, Dr. D. N. Naresh

Preventing Geo-Hazards From Turning Into Disasters, Dr. R. Kuberan

Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering Practice, Dr. A. Nanda

A total of 175 delegates from 50 organizations attended the Symposium. The concluding session was chaired by Dr. D. G. Kadkade, Chief Advisor, JaiPrakash Associates, New Delhi. The Symposium was appreciated by all the delegates who had attended the Symposium.