May 1-5, 2022 hosted the 20th International Geotechnical Conference in Sydney (Australia). 1338 participants took part in the work of this international scientific forum, including 503 in online mode and 836 in offline mode from 76 countries of the world. On May 4 in Sydney (Australia) was held a technical section on TC 305 - Geotechnical infrastructure of megacities and new capitals, which is under the patronage of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society and Geotechnical Institute under the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

Five speakers from India, South Korea, Romania, Japan and Kazakhstan took part in the T 305 section. An order of 50 participants from this section of 20 ICSMGE was present (Photo 1).

Delegation of ENU in 20 ICSMGE

The moderator of this section was Professor of the Department of Construction, Director of the Geotechnical Institute, Chairman of the Technical Committee TC 305 (ISSMGE), Prof. A.Zh. Zhussupbekov.

Moderator of TC 305 session Prof. Askar Zhussupbekov

Report of ISSMGE Vice-President for Asia, Professor of Incheon National University, Prof. Eun Chul Shin was dedicated to the Time capsul project in the experience of geotechnical achievements in South Korea.

The presentation of Prof. A. Boominathan of the Indian Institute of Technology (Chennai) was dedicated to the impact of explosive springs on the destruction of old buildings and constructions on neighboring facilities and the environment.

Professor Y. Iwasaki (Geo-Research Institute, Japan) presented his report on geotechnical studies of cranes, buildings and structures caused by an incorrect decision of geologists in the study of mechanical properties of foundations. At the same time there was an international geotechnical exhibition, which was also represented by the Geotechnical Institute of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Australia provided technical support to the organization of the exhibition of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

Group photo with Vice-President Elect of ISSMGE for Asia Prof. Keh-Jian Shou (from left to right: Shakeyev Zh. (Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Australia), Kalizhanov M.U. (General Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Australia), Prof.Askar Zhussupbekov, Dr. Fuchen Teng)

 Group photo with delegation from CTGS (Taiwan) and Czech and Slovak Geotechnical Society

Group photo with Past President of ASCE Prof. Jean-Louis Briaud (USA) and Mr. Nikolai Oleinik General Director of Len TISIZ Ltd (Russia)

Group photo with Kyrgyzstan, Korean and Uzbekistan delegations

On May 5, sections TC 208 and sections CAPG were held, where geotechnical scientists from the L.N. Gumilyov ENU: Prof. A.Zh.Zhussupbekov, Ph.Dr. A. Omarov, Ph.Dr. I. Zhumadilov, doctoral student A. Buranbayeva and Prof. I. Drozdova, SPBGASU (Russia) made a report on the topic related to the strengthening of the soil overburden of the railway in Nur-Sultan.

Also a joint report on the topic of comparing the results of experimental and numerical studies of the work of hurricane piles LRT was performed by the L.N. Gumilyov ENU team (authors Prof. A. Zhussupbekov, Dr. Ph. N. Shakirova, Ph.D. A. Omarov, PhD student A. Buranbayeva. At the closing ceremony of the 20th ICSMGE it was announced that the venue for the next meeting of the ISSMGE Board and the ISSMGE Council of delegates from 90 countries of the world will be the city of Nur-Sultan at the ENU base, which will take place on May 14-18, 2023 in the city of Nur-Sultan before the 17th Asian Regional Geotechnical Conference.

Awarding Ceremony of ISSMGE Board (2017-2022)

Plenary Session of 20 ICSMGE

It was also reported that the venue for the 21st ICSMGE will be Vienna (Austria) in 2026. On May 5, a technical tour of the construction sites of the metro in Sydney was held with the participation of doctoral students of the Department of Civil Engineering of ENU (Elena Bragar and Askar Yessentayev) with the scientific director Prof. Askar Zhussupbekov.

On May 6, the ENU delegates Gumilyov and scholars from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, and Indonesia were invited to visit the University of Technology in Sydney (UTS).

Technical visit of geotechnical laboratories of UTS

Professor A. Zhussupbekov read a lecture to scholars and students of UTS and foreign specialists on the topic, dedicated to megaprojects and mega-assemblies in difficult soil conditions of Kazakhstan. At the closing ceremony of the technical seminar at UTS Secretary General 17ARC Dr.Ph. A. Sarsembayeva invited Australian scientists and doctoral students to participate in the work of 17ARC (August 2023) in Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan). Professor UTS Buddhima Indraratna led the L.N. Gumilyov ENU delegation and a foreign students to the UTS laboratory.

Group photo with Prof. Buddhima Indraratna (UTS)

It should be noted that two doctoral students of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Elena Bragar and Askar Yessentaev) went on an internship after 20 ICSMGEs (45 days) at the University of Adelaide (Australia) at the invitation of Professor Mark Jaksa (Chairman of the Program Committee 20 ICSMGE).

Head of the Kazakh delegation Prof. A.Zh. Zhussupbekov expresses gratitude to the members of the L.N. Gumilyov ENU delegation (Dr. N. Alibekova, Dr. A. Sarsembayeva and PhD Students: A. Montayeva, A. Zhankina, B. Abdrakhmanova, A. Yessentayev, E. Bragar), as well as a scientists from Uzbekistan (Prof. F. Ikramov, Prof. M. Yakubov, Prof. A. Khasanov and Associate Professor Z. Khasanov from Samarkand State Architectural and Construction Institute), Secretary General of the Kyrgyz Geotechnical Association Dr.Ph. G. Kadyralieva, member of the Belarusian Geotechnical Association T. Tronda for the preparation and organization of the International Exhibition 17ARC in Sydney at the time 20 ICSMGE. Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society and Geotechnical Institute express recognition of the administration the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, ISSMGE and the Organizing Committee 20 ICSMGE for the support of the Kazakh delegation in the work of 20 ICSMGE (Australia), deep thanks for General Consulate of Kazakhstan in Sydney Kalizhanov M.U. (General Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Australia), Shakeyev Zh. (Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Australia) and special thanks to "MeRAY Studio" for providing with costumes in Kazakh national style.

                                  Appreciation letter from Organizing Committee of 20 ICSMGE