Investigation & Site Characterisation

Build on Certainty, Grounded in Evidence

Every slope tells a different story. When infiltration, strength, or deformation are not fully understood, even well-planned projects face hidden risks. Misreading the ground leads to delays, failures, and costly rework before construction begins.

This segment of the event explores advanced investigation and testing methods that give engineers reliable data and clarity in their designs.

At its core, it addresses the most critical aspect of the investigation phase—accurate site characterisation—ensuring that subsurface conditions, groundwater behaviour, and material properties are fully understood before design begins. Delegates will gain insight into integrating field investigations, laboratory testing, and geophysical methods with modern data interpretation tools, reducing uncertainty and enabling confident, evidence-based slope design decisions.

Designs That Hold up Under Pressure

Slopes rarely fail for a single reason. Rainfall, seismic forces, and fractured geology interact in ways that traditional models may not capture.

When these factors are overlooked, designs that look stable in theory can falter in practice.

Delegates will be exposed to advanced planning approaches that integrate multiple stress factors into resilient, real-world designs—leveraging modern geotechnical software, numerical modelling tools, and digital twin environments. The session will also explore how AI and machine learning are enhancing predictive capabilities, while real-time monitoring data (from radar, IoT sensors, and satellite systems) is increasingly being fed back into design and construction decisions—enabling proactive risk management and adaptive, data-driven slope performance.

Construction & Execution

Keep Projects on Track, Even Under Stress

The construction phase is where theory meets reality, and where slopes face significant vulnerability. Intense rainfall, seismic events, or poor practices can destabilise projects and turn timelines and budgets upside down.

Civil and Structural engineering professionals and contractors will gain practical strategies and knowledge of emerging technologies to ensure that critical slope support systems—such as retaining walls, rockfall protection barriers, and reinforced embankments—perform as intended under real-world conditions.

This session focuses on keeping construction safe, efficient, and resilient under pressure—bridging the gap between design intent and on-site execution.

Spot the Signs Before Disaster Strikes

Slopes rarely fail without warning. The signals are present, but detecting them in time requires precision. Outdated monitoring can miss the subtle shifts that precede instability, leaving little chance to act.

You will see how advances in remote sensing, on-site instrumentation, and real-time analytics help operators identify risks early and respond effectively—through integrated monitoring methodologies such as slope stability radar (SSR), InSAR satellite monitoring, automated prism systems, piezometers, and inclinometers.

The session will also highlight emerging approaches including drone-based LiDAR mapping, IoT-enabled sensor networks, and AI-driven predictive monitoring models, enabling continuous, data-driven insight into slope behaviour and faster, more informed decision-making in high-risk environments.

Risk & Governance

Turn Policy Into Protection

Nature is not the only factor behind slope instability. Land-use choices, regulatory gaps, and unchecked development increase risks that could otherwise be contained. When governance fails, preventable disasters cause damage that could have been avoided.

You will learn from industry compliance leaders, policymakers, and industry voices and acquire practical insights to improve oversight and safeguard mining operations, ensure safer slopes and communities for the long term.