INTRODUCTION

Slopes are inevitable in our construction works especially for hill site development and linear infrastructure projects such as highway, railway etc. Slopes either occur naturally or are engineered by humans. It is important to ensure the slope stability. This seminar will cover some basis understanding on slope in term of geotechnical engineering. In addition, one of the speaker will share his experience on the safety guidelines on hill site developments, the challenges and the way forward. In addition, in view of advancement of new technology, the seminar will cover spatial approach in slope engineering by using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) method.


BIODATA OF SPEAKERS

1.) Prof. Eduardo Alonso, is currently a Professor in Geotechnical Engineering Department at Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Barcelona. He obtained his B.Eng. (Civil) from Universidad de Madrid in 1969 and
Ph D from Northwestern University, USA in 1973. He also was a Chairman of the TC25 Committee on Landslides. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering and was a Chairman of the TC6 Committee on Unsaturated Soils. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (2001-2014). Prof Eduardo also is Member of the Advisory Panel of the Journal “Géotechnique”, ICE, United Kingdom from 2009 to 2011 and now an Honorary Editor for 2015 to 2018. He also have Over 200 hundred consulting jobs in Spain and abroad involving deep excavations, nuclear power stations, diaphragm walls, ground improvement techniques, design of shallow and deep foundations, slope stability, underpinning of structures, site investigation reports, breakwaters, concrete and earth dams, tunnels, underground nuclear storage.

2.) Ir. Ken Ho, As a Croucher Foundation Scholar, Ir Ken pursued his post-graduate research at Imperial College London in soil mechanics and earthquake engineering.  He has worked on a wide range of international civil engineering projects as a geotechnical and earthquake expert in London and Hong Kong. Ir Ken is pleased to have made contributions to his specialist field over the years.  He has continued to enjoy the challenges of using technical expertise to solve practical engineering problems by making advances in both theory and practice. Ir Ken is currently the Deputy Head of Geotechnical Engineering Office, the geotechnical specialist arm of Hong Kong SAR Government.  His areas of expertise include disaster mitigation, landslide risk management, together with earthquake, slope, foundation and underground space engineering. He has been a Justice of the Peace since 2012 and is the Chairman of Imperial College Alumni Association of Hong Kong.  

3.) Dato’ Ir. Dr. Gue See Sew, Graduated from three universities; Diploma in Civil Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, First Class (Honours) Degree from University of Strathclyde, UK in 1979 and Doctorate from Oxford University with Kuok Foundation Scholarship. Dato’ Gue holds an Honorary Doctorate in Science (2006) from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. He was the President of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) (2001 to 2003), International Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of APEC Engineers (2001–2005, 2007–2011) and the Head Commissioner of ASEAN Engineers Register (AER) (2003 - May 2007). He is the current Chairman of the International Professional Engineers Agreement (2017 – 2019). He is now the Chief Executive Officer of G&P Professionals Sdn Bhd, a one-stop engineering specialist service centre and Managing Director of G&P Geotechnics Sdn Bhd, a geotechnical consulting firm.

4.) Ir. Dr. Low Tian Huat, He graduated from University Malaya in 1994 and subsequently he obtained his Master degree and PhD from University Malaya. Ir Dr Low started his career as research engineer in University  Malaya under the IPT-PLUS project which was fully funded by  the highway concessionaire;  PLUS Expressway. His main scope of research is on slope and unsaturated tropical residual soil. Subsequently, Ir Dr Low extended his career as geotechnical engineer in consultant firm. Currently he is one of the directors of Mohd Asbi Associates Sdn Bhd. Ir Dr Low involved in numerous slope hazard and risk studies initiated by Malaysian Government and private sectors i.e., Public Works Department (JKR), Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG), Resort World and Petronas Gas. He was given opportunity to participate in large scale landslide hazard assessments i.e., Tamparuli Sandakan Slope Study, Area based Landslide Study at Hulu Klang - Ampang , Penang Island, PBRC of Selangor State, Genting Highland and also Sabah Sarawak Gas pipelines project.