Recent Advances and Innovative Developments in Transportation Geotechnics

Prof. Buddhima Indraratna is Distinguished Professor and Director at the Transport Research Centre, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). His pioneering work includes advancements in technical standards and practice guides, large-scale experimental modelling, computational design methods, and innovative design solutions for industry in the field of geotechnical and transportation engineering. For his significant contributions to Civil Engineering through infrastructure development, ground improvement and transportation geotechnics, Prof Indraratna was bestowed the prestigious state honour of Member of Order of Australia on the Australia Day (26 January 2024) by the Governor General. His salient research outcomes have attracted many other national and international awards, also recognising his pioneering efforts in the use of waste materials for transport infrastructure. For his service and contributions to industry and community, including engagement in numerous infrastructure projects worldwide, he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Australian Geomechanics Society in 2023, International Civil Engineer Award by the Jose Entrecanales Ibarra Foundation (Madrid, Spain) in 2024, Sir John Holland Civil Engineer of the Year 2024 by the Institution of Engineers Australia, and numerous accolades from the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), Institution of Civil Engineers (UK), International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG) and the Canadian Geotechnical Society. He is a Fellow of the prestigious Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) and other professional organisations (FIEAust, FASCE, FGS), and an Honorary Professor of several international Institutions in Thailand, China and India. He has written over 1000 publications including over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles and 13 Books. He has supervised more than 80 PhD students and mentored over 40 postdoctoral fellows through many research grants in the past 3 decades in Australia.

Prof. Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn obtained his PhD from the University of Wollongong, Australia, specialising on effective ground improvement solutions for low-lying floodplains and coastal terrains for designing robust transport infrastructure. Currently, he is a Professor of Geotechnical Engineering and a Program Leader of the UTS Transport Research Centre. He has been involved in real-life projects based on waste materials including reclamation works, highway maintenance and repairs, construction of access roads and railways using granular waste materials derived from local coal mining sites and steel manufacturing plants. He has published nearly 300 articles in international journals and conferences. Through numerous external grants over the years, he had supervised many PhD students in the emerging fields of ground improvement and transport geotechnics, including the characterisation of waste materials such as coal wash, steel slag, shredded rubber and crushed glass. For his outstanding contributions to the field of geotechnical engineering, he received the prestigious ISSMGE's Young Member Award in 2013, IACMAG's regional contribution medal in 2017, and Hugh Trollope Medal by the Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS) in 2012. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and currently holds the Chair of AGS Sydney Chapter.