I welcome you all to the beautiful city of Bengaluru.

International Association of Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG), the Indian Society of Engineering Geology (ISEG) and the National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM), together are organizing an International Conference on “Underground Space Technology” during 17-19 January, 2011. As Chairman of the Organizing Committee, and on behalf of these three institutions, it is my pleasure to invite you to Bengaluru, India. This event will be held concurrently with the “8th Asian Regional Conference of IAEG”.

The main theme of the Conference is underground space technology in mining engineering, civil engineering and infrastructure development sectors. The Conference will address the problems and challenges posed in excavation of underground openings in rock. The target audience are engineering geologists, mining engineers, civil engineers and all those involved with rock engineering.

We have eminent scientists and engineers from India and abroad as keynote speakers, and many experts in their areas of specialization presenting their experience and findings on a wide gamut of problems related to underground space development. Leading hydro-power and mining companies, government and semi-government organizations working in the relevant fields, and major suppliers of equipment relevant to excavations in rock, have sponsored the event. There is ample scope for other agencies too to publicize their expertise by participating in the Conference.

This Conference gains all the more importance in view of the large scale activities underway in the field of tunneling for hydro-power, metro rails, mining, underground storage, etc. within Asia.

We will spare no efforts to make it a memorable event for you all. Please join us at Bengaluru, and enjoy our hospitality.

Dr P C Nawani
Director, NIRM,
President, ISEG and
Chairman, Organising Committee, ICUST-2011