Việt Nam urged to focus on geotechnic study to prevent geological hazards

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà addresses the event. — Photo tapchigiaothong.vn

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà highlighted the need to pay attention to geotechnical study to prevent geological hazards, citing the lessons from the 2011 double disasters of earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the earthquake in southern Turkey and the Syrian border in early February this year.

He made the statement at the fifth international conference on geotechnics for sustainable infrastructure development on Thursday in Hà Nội.

The conference attracted the participation of more than 200 speakers from over 40 countries and served as a platform for scientists to share advanced global technology.

Hà said climate change, rising sea levels and geological disasters are threatening the lives and livelihoods of people in many places around the globe.

Like many countries, Việt Nam is severely affected by climate change while having diverse natural terrain and geology. In recent years, Việt Nam has been facing landslides in mountainous areas, flooding, and subsidence in HCM City and Mekong Delta provinces, he said.

Many modern technologies for landslide monitoring have been applied in Việt Nam such as rain gauge stations, surveillance cameras, vibration sensors, tensiometer sensors, and sea level elevation measuring devices, he said.

Scientific research and geotechnical engineering, including soil mechanics, geology, geomorphology, environment, structural mechanics, foundations, underground works and space are the key to solving today’s challenges, he said.

He hoped the conference would make recommendations for the Government in developing policies, strategies and solutions to help achieve Việt Nam’s development goals, which link to green transformation, digital transformation, focusing on developing smart and sustainable infrastructure.

Dr Phùng Đức Long, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, said that infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth and social welfare. The task of the scientists and experts attending the conference is to seek optimal solutions for each specific requirement as well as apply appropriate technology so that every project meets three criteria: being safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly with the lowest price.

The conference also aimed to look for solutions to shorten the gap between Việt Nam and developed countries in the geotechnical industry’s science and technology and create a platform for domestic and international scientists to connect with and learn from each other. — VNS