National Workshop on Eco-Friendly Ground Modification, Waste Recycling and AI Applications in Transport Infrastructure

BACKGROUND Australia's transport infrastructure is facing significant challenges arising from rapid urbanisation, increasing freight demands, climate change, and the need to achieve net-zero carbon targets. Traditional construction and ground improvement practices are increasingly constrained by the overuse of natural resources, rising environmental concerns, and the growing generation of industrial waste materials. Recent research has increasingly focused on eco-friendly ground modification techniques and the beneficial reuse of waste materials, including waste rubber, recycled plastics, glass, fly ash, slag, and other industrial by-products. These sustainable materials and technologies have demonstrated considerable potential to enhance the mechanical performance and durability of transport infrastructure while simultaneously reducing landfill disposal and conserving virgin resources. Furthermore, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new opportunities for infrastructure planning, design, construction, monitoring, maintenance, and asset management. WORKSHOP OVERVIEW The National Workshop on Eco-Friendly Ground Modification, Waste Recycling and AI Applications in Transport Infrastructure aims to bring together researchers, engineers, industry practitioners, government agencies, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and discuss the latest scientific and technological developments in these rapidly evolving areas. The workshop will provide a national platform for presenting innovative research findings, showcasing practical applications and case studies, and identifying emerging challenges and future research directions. Through knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration, the workshop seeks to accelerate the adoption of sustainable ground improvement technologies, promote the circular use of recycled materials, and explore the transformative role of AI in developing resilient, intelligent, and resource-efficient transport infrastructure systems for Australia and beyond. TECHNICAL THEMES The workshop will cover a broad range of emerging themes and recent advances in Transport Geotechnics and Sustainable Infrastructure, including: • Recycled and Waste-derived Materials for Transport and Civil Infrastructure • Laboratory Testing and Performance Evaluation of Recycled Materials • AI, Digital Technologies, and Smart Approaches for Sustainable Infrastructure • Advanced Computational Modelling and Simulation • Bio-mediated and Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Ground Improvement • Industrial By-products (e.g., Fly Ash, Slag, Tailings) in Geotechnical Applications • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Cost–Benefit Analysis of Waste Material Utilisation • Optimisation of Blended Waste Mixtures for Increased Strength, Stiffness and Stability • Time-dependent Degradation and Fatigue of Waste Granular Media under Dynamic Loading • Tunnel Design, Construction and Field Case Studies in Unstable and Jointed Rock Strata • Circular Economy, Low-Carbon Construction, and Environmental Sustainability • Smart Monitoring, Sensing, and Infrastructure Diagnostics • Risk Assessment, Reliability, and Performance-based Design • Multi-scale Behaviour and Micro-mechanical Characterisation WORKSHOP BROCHURE here FULL PROGRAM WITH PRESENTATION DETAILS here WHO SHOULD ATTEND This workshop is intended for: • Academics working in civil, geotechnical, transport, materials, and environmental engineering; • Practicing engineers, consultants, and infrastructure professionals; • Industry stakeholders involved in recycled materials, construction products, and asset management; • Government agencies, transport authorities, and policy stakeholders; and • Postgraduate students and early-career researchers interested in sustainable infrastructure. WORKSHOP FORMAT • Keynote or invited presentations; • Brainstorming and discussion sessions on challenges and future directions; and • Networking cocktail event - opportunities for academic and industry collaboration.