Cobramseg 2016 is underway in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and Geosynthetica.net.br Editor Bruno Pedroni and Geosynthetica Director Elizabeth Peggs are in attendance. This major Latin American geotechnical engineering event combines four conferences:
- XVIII Brazilian Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
- VII Brazilian Symposium on Rock Mechanics
- VII Brazilian Symposium and V South American Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference
- International Conference on Geo-Engineering Education – Shaping the Future of Geotechnical Education
Geosynthetica.net.br—Portuguese-language publication dedicated exclusively to Brazil’s market for geosynthetics—sponsored the registration and coffee breaks for the day-long short courses.
Editor Bruno Pedroni, who is based in São Paulo, Brazil, reports that more than 300 participated in the October 19 courses. Topics included tailings dams, numerical methods of analysis in geotechnics, foundations, field trials, and more.
Mining is of particular interest. Belo Horizonte is located in the state of Minas Gerais. The mining-rich region has been seeking significantly greater environmental protections, in the wake of multiple mine failures.
Representatives from that critical engineering sector are at Cobramseg to find solutions for stronger berms, more dependable access roads, tailings management strategies, and more.
“The mining industry’s presence can’t be missed from land or air,” Elizabeth Peggs noted, referring to the vast mining presence that air travelers will note in flying over Minas Gerais and upon arriving on site at the conference.
COBRAMSEG 2016 ENERGY
The technical sessions have started today (October 20), and over the next 48 hours more than 500 papers will be presented. These sessions include topics like geomembrane durability and aging characteristics, reinforced soil structures, and asphalt-geosynthetic system performance.
The exhibit hall will include 40 companies showcasing geosynthetics, geohazards solutions, engineering services, and more. Sponsors include Bidim, Cipatex, Geobrugg, GeoSlope, Geo Soluções, HUESKER, Maccaferri, RocScience, Roma, TDM Brazil, and TRI Environmental (Brazil).
For Brazil-based Cipatex, which offers PVC geomembranes, it is the company’s first time taking part in Cobramseg. The company is promoting its work in mining, construction, industrial processing, agriculture, and environmental protection.
Mexichem Bidim has brought a suite of six geotexile product lines to the event, including two new to the market. The company notes that it is particularly focused on providing solutions that improve the efficiency of and reduce downtown on construction sites.
Beyond the hall, participants will learn from key speakers such as professors Luiz Valenzuela, Scott Olson and Krishna Reddy. The Burland Lecture will be made by Professor John Atkinson and Pacheco Silva Lecture will be given by Professor Nelson Aoki.
An innovation to this year’s COBRAMSEG is joint organization by ABMS (Brazilian Association of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering) and ABECE (Brazilian Association of Structural Engineering and Consulting) on a National Forum. This focus on structural interaction will broaden the discussion on infrastructure and highlight how geotechnical solutions are fully integrated with and essential to other sectors of engineering.
More notes from Cobramseg 2016 on new materials and geosynthetics presentations are forthcoming. Some of the updates will be published on Geosynthetica’s Facebook page, courtesy of Peggs and Pedroni.
