Rocscience RIC2027

Rocscience International Conference 2027: Geotechnics, Structures & Hydro in the Age of AI

Name: Rocscience International Conference 2027: Geotechnics, Structures & Hydro in the Age of AI
Start: 2027-04-18T00:00:00-04:00
End: 2027-04-20T00:00:00-04:00
Location: Av. Lúcio Costa, 9600 - Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22795-007, Brazil

The Rocscience International Conference 2027 (RIC2027) will bring together engineers, researchers, and industry leaders in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from April 18 to 20, 2027, for three days of learning, inspiration, and connection. Guided by the theme “Faster. Deeper. Smarter. Geotechnics, Structures & Hydro in the Age of AI,” the conference will explore how intelligent tools and integrated workflows are reshaping everything from underground spaces and complex structures to water and climate challenges. Through engaging talks, panels, and case studies, our community will see how teams around the world are using next-generation software and AI to work more efficiently and confidently across the full project lifecycle.

RIC2027 is also about community and discourse, creating space for meaningful conversations across geotechnical, structural, mining, and hydro disciplines in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Set against the energy and beauty of Rio’s coastline, the conference will offer plenty of opportunities to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new collaborators, and exchange ideas that challenge assumptions and spark fresh thinking. Whether your focus is infrastructure, mining, water, or research, you’ll leave RIC2027 with new perspectives, practical ideas to bring back to your team, and a renewed excitement for what’s possible in the age of AI.

Abstract Submission

Abstract submissions will open soon. Submit your technical paper abstract on one of the conference themes by July 31, 2026.

GENERAL TOPICS

Rock mass characterization
Soil properties and characterization
Discrete fracture network (DFN) modelling and applications
Hydrogeology in mining and civil geotechnical engineering
Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) modelling
In-situ stress measurement and estimation
Advances in constitutive modelling and numerical methods in rock mechanics
Probabilistic and reliability methods
Innovations in laboratory and field testing
Advances in imaging and emerging technologies
Advances in 3D excavation modelling
AI-driven modelling, data interpretation, and digital twins in geotechnical engineering
Geological, structural, and geostatistical modeling for geotechnical applications
Artificial intelligence and machine learning in geological modeling for geotechnical characterization

MINING

Stability modelling of underground mine excavations
Open pit slope stability analysis
Stability analysis of tailings storage facilities and embankments
Ground support innovations in mining
Advances in rock blasting and fragmentation technologies
Rock mass and excavation response to seismic events and dynamic loading
Seismic and microseismic monitoring and interpretation
AI applications in mine design optimization, hazard prediction, and monitoring
Geological, structural, and geostatistical modeling for geotechnical applications
Artificial intelligence and machine learning in geological modeling for geotechnical characterization

CIVIL

Soil mechanics
Soil improvement techniques
Civil rock mechanics
Soil–structure interaction
Slope stability, dams, and embankments
Advances in mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) and reinforced wall design
Shallow and deep foundation analysis and design
Tunnelling and underground construction
Liquefaction analysis and mitigation
AI applications in infrastructure design, risk assessment, and performance monitoring

HYDRO & STRUCTURES

Groundwater flow modelling and hydrogeological processes
Integrated surface–subsurface hydrological modelling
Coupled hydro-mechanical and hydro-structural interactions
Seepage analysis for dams, levees, and tailings facilities
Structural analysis of geotechnical systems
Numerical modelling of soil–structure and rock–structure systems
Performance and durability of geotechnical structures
Advanced foundation–structure interaction modelling
Reservoir–geomechanics interaction and environmental impacts
Rock–fluid interaction modelling
Multi-physics modelling in geotechnical and structural system

Evert Hoek Legacy Medal

The Rocscience International Conference 2027 proudly continues the tradition of the Evert Hoek Legacy Medal. Established in 2025 in honour of Dr. Evert Hoek’s groundbreaking contributions to rock engineering and his long-standing relationship with Rocscience, this medal recognizes the innovative spirit, rigorous scholarship, and practical impact that defined his career.

At RIC2027, the Evert Hoek Legacy Medal will be awarded to the author of the most outstanding paper presented at the conference, selected by an expert panel for its originality, technical excellence, and contribution to engineering practice and knowledge. All papers submitted to the Rocscience International Conference are eligible for consideration, and the winning contribution will receive the Evert Hoek Legacy Medal along with a cash prize.

Publication Guidelines

All submitted papers must be written in English and presented in English.

Authors must ensure that their submitted papers for RIC2027 have not been accepted for another conference or published previously. Papers must also not be duplicates of previously published manuscripts. (Duplicates refer to papers that significantly overlap with already published manuscripts.)

All papers must be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word through the conference portal.

Every paper must:

Include the title of the work, abstract, authors' names, affiliations, and e-mail addresses
Follow conventions outlined in the paper template, including paragraphing, sections, sub-sections and referencing formats, use of italics, and labelling of figures and drawings
Drawings and their labelling must be legible
Not be more than 7 pages in length (10 including references)