ICGEE 2026

Plenary Speaker

Prof. Han-Yong Jeon Inha University, South Korea Title: Review on Eco-friendliness and Sustainability of Geosynthetics Manufacturing and Construction Processes through AI Connection Bio: Professor Emeritus Han-Yong Jeon is a geosynthetics/technical organic materials researcher of Inha University, Incheon, South Korea. Since 1998, he is the director of Geosynthetics Institute Korea Directory and has worked in International Geosynthetics Society as Council member (2008~2012) and the 6th president of Korean Geosynthetics Society (2011~2013) and the 32nd President of Korean Fiber Society (2014~2015). He has published more than 1,124 proceedings in the domestic and international conferences and published 228 papers including “A Study on the Radiation Shielding and Absorption Effects of Nonwoven Composites by Monte-Carlo Simulation Analysis”, applied sciences, 12, 3570, 2022 in domestic & international ...journals. He wrote 30 Korean and English books including 'Review of Sustainable Geosynthetics Development Trend with Environmental Adaptive and Eco-Environmental Performances Point of View’, Geopolymers and Other Geosynthetics, ISBN 978-1-78985-176-2, IntechOpen, 2020. He has awards of Marquis Who'sWho - Science and Engineering in 2003~2017 and Top 100 Scientists in the World: 2005/2011 of IBC (International Biographical Centre, UK). Also, he got the 33rd Academy Award of Korean Fiber Society in 2006 and “Excellent Paper Award of 2012” by The Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies. Besides this, he got the 33rd Academy Award (The Korean Fiber Society), 2006 and the Best Publication Award (Korea Association of Technical Textile Industry), 2017 and the 41st Prize of Jung-Hun Textile Industry (Academy Award), 2020. Abstract: The geosynthetics industry, based on eco-friendly materials and low-carbon manufacturing processes, can enhance sustainability by establishing an AI-integrated data circulation framework throughout the entire lifecycle, including design, construction, and post-construction supervision. In the manufacturing of eco-friendly geosynthetic products, low-carbon and recycled raw materials are utilized with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. Recycled polymers (such as PET bottle flakes and recycled PP chips) and industrial byproducts (such as slag and fly ash) can be incorporated into the production of geogrids, geotextiles, and grout materials. AI can be applied to optimize manufacturing process parameters by determining the optimal raw material composition (e.g., recycling ratio, slag-to-cement ratio, basalt fiber content) to achieve targeted mechanical performance while minimizing CO₂ emissions. When geogrids, geotextiles, and geocomposites are applied to civil engineering structures (e.g., slopes, retaining walls, soft ground reinforcement systems, and water barrier systems), they can significantly reduce cut-and-fill volumes, decrease the use of concrete and steel, shorten construction periods, and lower equipment operating time and fuel consumption. During on-site construction, AI technologies can be integrated with drone- and camera-based monitoring systems to enhance construction quality, durability, and service life while reducing environmental impact and material waste. AI can automatically analyze drone and mobile footage to detect geogrid placement direction, overlap length, alignment accuracy, and geotextile damage or tears, providing real-time checklist feedback. Furthermore, excavation volumes, fill quantities, equipment operating time, and transportation distances can be automatically recorded to generate a site-level carbon emissions dashboard. In addition, AI-based simulation of geosynthetics installation, slag grouting operations, and drainage layer construction can optimize equipment movement, minimize idle time and rework, and reduce fuel consumption and operational costs. This contributes to the development of an intelligent construction process optimization system. For post-construction supervision and maintenance, AI-based condition monitoring enables data-driven, targeted repairs, thereby reducing unnecessary over-maintenance and associated resource and carbon waste. By continuously collecting long-term performance data - including settlement, cracking, water leakage, groundwater fluctuations, temperature, humidity, and chemical degradation - a geosynthetic-based digital twin model of the structure can be developed. Through predictive analytics, AI can provide early warnings of performance degradation (such as strength reduction, progressive settlement, or leakage risk), enabling proactive intervention to prevent large-scale structural failure and minimize environmental and social impacts. By integrating and analyzing lifecycle data and continuously feeding insights back into manufacturing, design standards, and construction practices, the geosynthetics industry can establish a virtuous cycle of “low carbon, high durability, and resource circulation.”

Keynote Speaker

Assoc. Prof. Chow Ming Fai Monash University Malaysia, Malaysia Title: Unearthing Aquifer Insights: A Deep Learning Approach to Modeling Groundwater for Resilient Engineering Applications Bio: Ir. Ts. Gs. Dr. Chow Ming Fai is an Associate Professor in the Civil Engineering Discipline of the School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia. His research interests are mainly focus on (i) Sustainable urban stormwater management, (ii) hydrological & water quality modeling, (iii) flood forecasting and inundation modeling and (iv) hydropower and dam management. He completed bachelor degree of civil engineering and PhD degree from University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) in 2007 and 2012, respectively. Since then, he had worked in Academia Sinica, Taiwan and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). To date, he had successfully secured five government grants (3 FRGS and 1 PRGS from Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, 1 chair in energy economics (GCEE) grant from Energy Commission Malaysia) and 1 industry grant from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) as project leader. He had obtained the professional engineer (Ir.), chartered engineer (CEng.), professional technologist (Ts) and professional geospatialist recognitions. In 2015, Dr. Chow was awarded the Green Talent award by German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for his excellent in sustainability research. Besides that, he was awarded the Outstanding Young Academician Award (category research & publication) 2016 and Excellent Teaching Award 2019 by Universiti Tenaga Nasional. He has been involved in many consultancy projects with clients from TNB, TNBR, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (DID) and Lembaga Kemajuan Pertanian Muda (MADA). Ir. Ts. Gs. Dr. Chow is currently inviting potential postgraduate students (research) to join the water research group in Monash University Malaysia. Abstract: The efficacy of geosynthetic systems—from landfill liners to drainage networks—is inextricably linked to the dynamics of the local groundwater they interact with. This keynote presents a novel deep learning framework that simulates groundwater levels with high accuracy across diverse, unconfined aquifers. Using LSTM-based models on data from 249 wells, we not only demonstrate robust predictive skill but, more importantly, introduce a method to "interpret" the model's inner workings through the lens of groundwater signatures. By statistically fingerprinting aquifer behaviors like flashiness and recession, we can now diagnose why a model performs well or poorly, building critical trust in its simulations. This interpretable AI approach provides environmental engineers with a powerful, data-driven tool to characterize baseline site hydrology, predict the long-term impact of their designs, and ultimately specify geosynthetic solutions that are more resilient, sustainable, and precisely tailored to the hidden rhythms of the groundwater they manage.

Prof. Joon Sik Kim Xian Jiaotong-liverpool University, China Title: AI-oriented Development: Value Creation and Spatial Paradox in the Era of AI Urbanism Bio: Joon Sik Kim is a Professor in the Urban Planning and Design Department at XJTLU. His research interests focus on strategic planning in smart cities, environmental planning, and geographic information systems. With his practical experiences in GIS and smart cities, he is concerned about how emerging technologies can be applied in urban development and management in a real-life context. He has been involved in GIS consulting projects for local governments in Korea and smart city projects worldwide. He is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He is currently leading the Urban Lab. Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into urban governance and planning. However, a critical gap remains: can escalating investments in urban AI generate the economic returns necessary to revitalize our cities? This presentation traces a historical tension between the ICT industry’s growth and the mechanisms for value capture in the construction market. The study introduces the concept of AI-Oriented Development (AI-OD), promoting urban growth by developing vibrant communities centered on AI-driven amenities. The key argument highlights a spatial paradox: when AI is everywhere, value can be nowhere. Land value creation is based on locational factors, but specific locational restrictions for digital platforms are a drawback. It categorizes urban AI solutions into a matrix based on their drivers (public vs. private) and their benefits (anti-locational vs. location-specific). While city-wide platforms (e.g., e-governance, 5G) improve the general quality of life, they often fail to create place-based value. Conversely, location-specific innovations—such as autonomous shuttles, trackless trams, and smart spaces—directly enhance accessibility and amenities, allowing value to be capitalized into land and property. The study argues that while many AI solutions are inherently anti-locational to maximize reach, urban development depends on site-specific AI interventions that enhance local accessibility and environmental quality. It navigates the urban innovative solutions from three urban parameters, creating land values: accessibility, security, and environmental features. The findings provide planners with a strategic roadmap for embedding AI into the urban fabric to drive both social equity and property market vitality.

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Part of Previous Speakers

Prof. Richard J. Bathurst
South China University GeoEngineering Centre at Queen’s-RMC, Canada

Prof. Richard J. Bathurst from GeoEngineering Centre at Queen’s-RMC, Canada delivered his keynote speech titled "Design for intemal limit states for MSE walls is carrled outusing a load and resistance factor design (LRFD) frameworkin Canada and the US"

Prof. Barbara Schneider-Muntau
South China University University of Innsbruck, Austria

Prof. Barbara Schneider-Muntau from University of Innsbruck, Austria delivered her invited speech.

Dr. George R. Koerner
Director of the Geosynthetic Institute, United States

Dr. George R. Koerner from Director of the Geosynthetic Institute, United States delivered his plenary speech titled "Geosynthetic Market Penetration after Four Decades"

Prof. Sai Vanapalli
University of Ottawa, Canada

Prof. Sai Vanapalli from University of Ottawa, Canada delivered his keynote speech titled "Analysis of Geosynthetic Encased Stone Columns for Saturated and Unsaturated Soils"

Assoc. Prof. Haoliang Wu
Sun Yat-sen University, China

Assoc. Prof. Haoliang Wu from Sun Yat-sen University, China delivered his keynote speech titled "Advanced Insights into the Mechanical Characteristics and Microscale Design of Carbonated MgO-based Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)"

Prof. Haijian Xie
Zhejiang University, China

Prof. Haijian Xie from Zhejiang University, China delivered his keynote speech titled "Applications of Geosynthetics in Cover Systems for Contaminated Sites"

Assoc. Prof. Yaolin Yi

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Assoc. Prof. Yaolin Yi from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore delivered his keynote speech titled "Use of three solid wastes/by-products for land reclamation andtheir stability/durability in seawater"

Prof. Jorge G.Zornberg
University of Texas at Austin, United States

Prof. Jorge G. Zornberg from University of Texas at Austin, United States delivered his keynote speech titled "Ingenuity in Civil Infrastructure Designed with Geosynthetics"