Geotechnics: Key to Constructing Secure and Sustainable Living Environments

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha delivered a directive speech at the GEOTEC HANOI 2023 International Conference, centering on the theme "Geotechnics for sustainable infrastructure development." In his address, he underscored that geotechnics plays a key role in constructing secure and sustainable living spaces.

The overview of the event

The international conference was held in Hanoi and featured over 200 top-tier speakers from more than 40 countries worldwide. Deputy Prime Minister Ha highlighted the significance of geotechnics in the Vietnamese context. Vietnam, grappling with the impacts of climate change and characterized by diverse terrain and geological features, is in the midst of accelerating urbanization, industrialization, and comprehensive infrastructure development, all aligned with the goal of achieving a green economy and net zero emissions by 2050.

Vietnam's focus on geotechnical research is aimed at optimizing the utilization of resources and materials. It encompasses the development of underground spaces in urban areas, creating geological hazard maps in mountainous regions, exploring renewable energy sources, carbon sequestration, and mineralization/storage in well-defined large-scale geological structures. Additionally, the country is leveraging marine geology for the development of offshore wind farms and implementing construction systems, including dikes and anti-wave dams, to manage water flows and mitigate riverbank and coastal erosion.

Deputy Prime Minister Ha emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration, information exchange, and shared experiences among scientists to address global challenges for sustainable development. He expressed hope for a collaborative effort between scientists and businesses to commercialize solutions and products that contribute to establishing a safe and sustainable living environment. He said, "There are many real-life tasks posed to scientists, from basic matters to applicable solutions towards a safe living environment for the community, society, and people with green transformation to make the earth recoverable, safe and sustainable."

During the conference, Dr. Phung Duc Long, Chairman of the Vietnamese Society for Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering (VSSMGE), emphasized the role of infrastructure in ensuring economic growth and social well-being, particularly in the face of challenges like sea-level rise and erosion.

Mr. Pham Viet Khoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fecon Joint Stock Company, highlighted Vietnam's exposure to various natural threats, including natural disasters and climate change. He emphasized the complexity of geological conditions, necessitating optimal solutions for construction, operation, and exploitation of various structures, especially underground works and tunnels. He stressed the importance of scientists and specialists finding optimal solutions tailored to specific requirements, applying suitable technologies that meet criteria such as safety, sustainability, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness.

The conference delved into in-depth discussions on various topics, including deep foundations, tunnel and underground construction, soft soil improvement, numerical modeling and geotechnical monitoring, landslide and erosion, renewable energy, and coastal geotechnical engineering. The event also featured 55 booths showcasing products, brands, technical solutions, and new technologies related to production, infrastructure construction, foundation, and underground construction, presented by domestic and international scientific agencies and companies.

By Giang Tu, Vietnam Business Forum