2024 12 10 CAPG MEETING EAST ZONE
ISSMGE – CAPG Minutes of Meeting
Date: December 12, 2024
Attendance:
- Roger Estephan
- Mahdi Zoorabadi
- Tamboura Hamidou Hamadoum
- Jan Kupec
- Geoffrey Farquhar
- Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn
- Richard Kelly
- Raguraman Jayakumaran
- Bosco Poon
Meeting Notes:
- Meeting Introduction: RE welcomed the participants and explained the purpose of the meeting, which was to create a duplicate meeting for the region to accommodate different time zones and ensure interaction with company representatives.
- Participant Introductions: RE, Mahdi, Tamboura, Jonathan, Geoffrey, Cholachat, Richard, and Raguraman introduced themselves, sharing their roles, locations, and areas of expertise.
- CAPG Community and Membership: RE discussed the idea of creating a CAPG community that includes both members and non-members to encourage interaction and idea sharing. He mentioned that the board has yet to confirm this decision.
- Benefits for CAPG Members: RE outlined the proposed benefits for CAPG members, including dedicated pages on the website, links to their services, and potential reductions in conference fees. He also mentioned the possibility of creating awards for the industry.
- Ongoing Activities: RE provided an update on ongoing activities, including updating the list of representatives, organizing a workshop at the European National Assembly, reshaping the CAPG website, and preparing a marketing campaign to attract new members.
- European National Assembly Workshop: RE announced a workshop dedicated to CAPG at the European National Assembly, now postponed to November next year. Companies can present their innovative products and services at this workshop.
- Vienna 2026 Event: RE discussed the upcoming Vienna 2026 event, where CAPG will have a 30-minute session. He presented three potential themes for the session:
- Event Session: RE announced that CAPG will have a 30-minute session at the Vienna 2026 event. This session is an opportunity to present CAPG's work and engage with the broader community.
- Potential Themes: RE presented three potential themes for the session: geotechnical practice innovation, the emergence of global regulation, and an award session. These themes aim to highlight advancements and recognize achievements in the field.
- Work Group Creation: RE suggested creating a work group to further discuss and finalize the theme for the Vienna 2026 session. This group will ensure the session is well-prepared and impactful.
- Conferences and Events: RE listed the conferences and events where CAPG aims to be present, including the European National Assembly, South African Geotech conference, and various others in France, India, Taiwan, Lebanon, and the United States.
- Improving Geotechnical Practice: Richard and Jonathan emphasized the importance of focusing on promoting and improving geotechnical practice within the ISSMGE, suggesting initiatives like state-of-practice reports and practical applications of theoretical research.
- Focus on Practice: Richard highlighted the need to focus on promoting and improving geotechnical practice within the ISSMGE. He suggested initiatives like state-of-practice reports to enhance practical applications of theoretical research.
- Practical Applications: Jonathan echoed Richard's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of practical applications of theoretical research. He suggested creating sections in conferences dedicated to how theoretical concepts can be applied in the field.
- State-of-Practice Reports: Richard proposed implementing state-of-practice reports at ISSMGE regional events to encourage a stronger focus on practical geotechnical applications. He mentioned a valuable experience with a transportation geotechnics report.
- Innovative Technology and Awards: Tamboura suggested creating a dedicated page on the CAPG website for outstanding achievements and innovative technology.
- Practical Applications and Training: Bosco and Raguraman highlighted the need for concrete examples of how industry applies theoretical concepts in practice. They suggested creating a collection of case studies and offering training courses at conferences.
- Participant Engagement: RE encouraged participants to join work groups and share their ideas and suggestions for CAPG activities. He emphasized the importance of ongoing interaction and collaboration.
Follow-up Tasks:
- Work Group Participation: Send an email to RE expressing interest in joining any of the work groups. (All Participants)
- Innovation Page: This idea will be shared with the workgroup working on the website: Create a dedicated page on the CAPG website for showcasing innovative technologies and achievements. (RE to discuss with website workgroup)
- Award for Innovation: Develop an award category for best design or innovative technology and highlight awarded projects on the CAPG website. (RE to share with Vienna’s workgroup)
- Conference Presentation Opportunities: Communicate with ISSMGE and event organizers to facilitate free or reduced-fee presentation opportunities for company members at conferences. (RE to include this in the Member benefits)
- Training Courses at Conferences: Encourage the inclusion of one-day training courses at the beginning of conferences to provide practical knowledge and application of new technologies. (RE to suggest this to the ISSMGE board)
