Themes in detail
The IAEG2026 congress will demonstrate how Engineering Geology contributes to sustainable global development and mitigation of climate change in its many fields of applications. It will also highlight how Engineering Geology practice and research should further evolve in a rapidly changing world.
Below are the details of the nine congress main themes over-arched by two themes: Sustainable development and Climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Sustainable development
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
1- Innovation in ground modelling
From Site Investigation to Ground Models.
Showcase of new Engineering Geology tools for (sub)surface investigation and modelling.
Focus on new technology for geotechnical property determination, 3D modelling, and monitoring in situ.
Special attention to challenging environments: offshore, onshore, cities, nature reserves, mountains and outer space.
2- Low lying, coastal, soft soil countries
Engineering Geology for a future in densely populated low lying, coastal, deltaic, soft soil countries.
Focus on subsidence, coastal erosion, and flooding protection, incl. water management.
3- Geohazards
Engineering Geology and managing natural and man-made geohazards through identification, monitoring, modelling, prevention, mitigation, and adaptation.
Focus on landslides, earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis, karst subsidence, droughts, erosion, and flooding.
Special attention to cascading multi-hazards.
4- Engineering Geology in the energy transition
Engineering Geology focus on CO2 sequestration, energy storage, geothermal energy, wind energy, hydropower, and nuclear energy.
5- Use of the (sub)surface
Focus on successes, failures, and forensic analyses in geotechnical engineering. Special attention to challenging environments and prestigious projects.
Engineering Geology focus on mining ores, rare earths and aggregates, induced geohazards, (post-)mining risk management, resilient infrastructure, dredging and compensation for nature, building-with nature and smart bio-geomaterials.
6- Environmental Engineering
Engineering Geology for a virtuous clean water cycle and circularity in waste management.
Focus on landfills, tailing dams, desalinization, contaminant transport and treatment, innovations for the removal of micro-plastic, and sludge recycling.
7- Engineering Geology for the preservation of heritage
Focus on Engineering Geology techniques for characterization and preservation of geo(archeo)logical and industrial sites, policy and management. Special attention to building stones and ancient mines.
8- Engineering Geology in the Digital transition and AI revolution
Focus on 3D geo-mapping, learning from big data sets,
Artificial Intelligence. Virtual and Augmented reality in Engineering Geology.
9- Boosting Engineering Geology
Added value of Engineering Geology.
BOE, the Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment: past, present, future.
Innovations in Education and training in Engineering Geology.
YEG, the Young Engineering Geology group and
WEG, Women in Engineering Geology.
Additional note
Please note that the congress will cover engineering geology in all environments, encompassing both soil and rock conditions, from shallow to great depths. While traditional topics in engineering geology will be well represented, we particularly welcome contributions that highlight sustainability, especially those addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. Case studies are also strongly encouraged. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please feel free to share them with us at info@iaeg2026.org.
