23-25 November 2009, Newcastle, Australia

The Centre for Geotechnical and Materials Modelling is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the 4th Asia-Pacific Conference on Unsaturated Soils in November 2009.

The Centre would like to extend a warm welcome to all prospective guests from across the globe, and we hope you enjoy your time in Newcastle. 

Conference Topics

The main theme of the conference is Unsaturated Soil Mechanics. This covers a broad range of sub-themes, including but not limited to:

(1) Experimental research on unsaturated soils: advances in laboratory and field testing techniques, new discoveries and insights of soil behaviour based on experimental data, high quality laboratory and field testing results, etc.

(2) Theoretical research on unsaturated soils: constitutive modeling of unsaturated soils, numerical solutions of boundary value problems, multi-physics problems in multi-phase materials, etc.

(3) Applications of unsaturated soil mechanics: foundations, slope stability, soil improvement, waste management, mine site rehabilitation, geosequestration, geothermal energy, etc

Venue

The conference will take place at Newcastle City Hall. Situated in the heart of Newcastle, the venue offers a 5 minute walk to the city's famous foreshore and restaurant district, and is only a 10 minute walk away from our world-renowned beaches.

Newcastle City Hall (Picture courtesy of Newcastle Civic Precinct)

Tour & Social Event

The conference dinner will take place in the Hunter Valley, the famous winery area of New South Wales known for its white and red wines.

An afternoon is scheduled to offer delegates the opportunity to tour Newcastle and the Hunter Valley's many and varied tourist attractions.

Hunter Valley Wine Country

Accommodation

The booking of accommodation is not in charge of the conference organizers. The delegates are asked to organize their own accommodation. A list of the most convenient hotels in terms of location is provided below. For each hotel, a number of rooms are held for the delegates (only until September) and conference discount rates are applicable in some hotels. November is peak season in Newcastle so that it is advised to book accommodation as early as possible.
 
Crowne Plaza (www.crowneplaza.com.au)

Hotel Ibis (www.accorhotels.com.au/Ibis-Newcastle)

Novocastrian (www.novocastrian.com.au)

Noah’s on the Beach (www.noahsonthebeach.com.au)

Travelodge (www.travelodge.com.au)

The delegates also have the choice to book in other hotels.

Contacts

For administrative enquiries please contact Cherie Pilgrim:

Cherie.Pilgrim@newcastle.edu.au 
Tel: + 61 2 49 21 60 58
Fax: +61 2 49 21 69 91

For other enquiries, please contact Dr. Olivier Buzzi:
Olivier.Buzzi@newcastle.edu.au

• Call for proposals for the venue of the 5th Asian Pacific Conference on Unsaturated Soils. See the call from the TC6 Committee.
  
  
• The deadline for early bird registration has been extended to the 15/06/09
  
  
• Formal invitation letters to attend the conference can be provided if required for visa applications. Contact us.
  
  
• Sponsorship and Exhibitions: companies can now sponsor the Unsat 2009 conference or register for exhibition booths to present their products. Click here for fees and packages
  
  
• The proceedings will be included in the Thomson Reuters database.

First Conference Bulletin: End of 2007
Abstract due: Oct 31, 2008
Abstract acceptance: Nov 30, 2008
Draft paper due: Jan 31, 2009
Paper review & acceptance: April 31, 2009
Final paper due: May 30, 2009

Registration before 31/05/09

Student:    500 AUD
Standard:  680 AUD

Registration after 31/05/09

Student:    650 AUD
Standard:  780 AUD

Co-Chairmen
D. Sheng
S. Fityus

General Secretary
O. Buzzi

Committee
D. Cameron
J. Carter
B. Indraratna
M. Jaksa
N. Khalili
J. Li
P. Mitchell
S. Sloan
D. Williams
J. Kodikara

E. Alonso
J. Blatz
G. Blight
Y.J. Cui
Z.Chen
P. Delage
T. De Campos
I. Einav
D. Fredlund
D. Gallipoli
A. Gens
G. Gitirana Jr.
L.Guimarães
S.Houston
A. Iizuka
Y. Kohgo
L. Laloui
E.C. Leong
X.S Li
F.A.M. Marinho
G.Miller
C.Ng
J. Nelson
M. Noor
H. Rahardjo
E. Romero
M. Sanchez
J.C Santamarina
D. Sun
A. Tarantino
D. Toll
S. Vanapalli
J. Vaunat
S. Wheeler
D. Znidarcic

Consent to Publish Form
(DOC 63k)

Transport
(PDF 234K)

Map
(PDF 340K)