The 11th International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering in Tropical Regions (GEOTROPIKA) and The 1st International Conference on Highway and Transportation Engineering (ICHiTRA) 2019

Siti Norafida Jusoh

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 February 2019 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is pleased to announce a joint conference between the 11^th International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering in Tropical Regions (GEOTROPIKA) and the 1^st International Conference on Highway and Transportation Engineering (ICHiTRA).

The School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) had organized a joint conference between the 11^th International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering in Tropical Regions (GEOTROPIKA) and the 1^st International Conference on Highway and Transportation Engineering (ICHiTRA) as an effort to establish an international link between geotechnical engineering and transportation engineering. The Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) acted as the co-organizer while the Research Centre for Soft Soils (RECESS) of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and the Engineering Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (e-SEER) of UTM participated as the supporters of the program. This joint conference was sponsored by AHN Vertex Sdn. Bhd., Lhoist (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Kajima Corporation (Singapore), Anton Paar (M) Sdn. Bhd., Nexus Analytics Sdn Bhd, Sendo Mechanism Design (Japan) and GDS Instruments Sdn Bhd. The conference with the theme entitled “Overcoming the Challenges of the 4^th Industrial Revolution” was held at the Royal Widad Hotel Residence UTM Kuala Lumpur from 27 to 28 February 2019 and was officiated by YB Tuan Hj Mohd Anuar bin Mohd. Tahir, the Deputy Minister of Works of Malaysia.

Officiating speech by YB Tuan Hj Mohd Anuar bin Mohd. Tahir Deputy Minister of Works of Malaysia

In the officiating speech, YB Tuan Hj Mohd Anuar bin Mohd. Tahir touched on Malaysia’s preparation to face the 4th Industrial Revolution or 4IR with the Industry 4WRD policy that was launched last October by the Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad. The government anticipates that by 2025, Malaysia will be one of the primary destinations for high-tech industry and is anticipated to be ranked among the top 30 nations in the Global Innovation Index.

Three keynote speakers, six invited speakers and five technical talks from Malaysia and other countries participated in this conference apart from the oral presentations of 80 papers presented from various countries in the fields of geotechnical engineering and transportation engineering. Almost 60 participants attended this successful conference.

YB Tuan Hj Mohd Anuar bin Mohd. Tahir also witnessed the signing ceremony of two Letters of Cooperation (LoC) between UTM and the University of the Ryukyus, Japan and between UTM and AHN Vertex. UTM was represented by Prof. Dr. Khairul Anuar Kassim, the Chair of the School of Civil Engineering while University of the Ryukyus was represented by Prof Dr. Ömer Aydan and AHN Vertex was represented by the CEO himself, Mr. Abdul Hamid bin Othman. The cooperation between UTM and the University of the Ryukyus is concerned with establishing networks in terms of research, publication, supervision of postgraduate students, students and academic staff exchange. In addition, UTM will also work collaboratively with AHN Vertex in the areas of research, design and testing of highway materials.