The 15th annual conference with international participation Geosyntetika/Geosynthetics 2025 was held on 6 - 7 February 2025 at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Žilina (UNIZA) in the lecture room AR. The conference was organized by the Department of Geotechnics and the Department of Railways Engineering and Track Management. The event was attended by more than 60 experts from Slovakia and neighboring countries, who deal with the use of geosynthetic materials for transport constructions, water management structures and environmental constructions. Experts from companies, research and educational institutions, presented their contributions in 15 lectures in different thematic areas.
The conference was held under the auspices of the Rector of the University of Žilina, the Chairman of the Slovak Chapter of IGS, the Chairman of the Slovak Chamber of Civil Engineers – section Transport Construction, Urban Engineering and Urban Planning", the Deputy Director General of Slovak railways for Operations, the Chairman of the Slovak Road Society and the Vice president of the Union of Construction Entrepreneurs of Slovakia.
The conference, which is held every two years at the University of Žilina aims to provide information from the specific and progressive field of construction. The event was primarily intended for designers, contractors, construction supervisors, investors, employees of the state administration (Slovak road administration, National highway company, Slovak railways, ministries...) and finally for researchers and staff working at universities.
After the opening speeches of the Rector of UNIZA prof. Ján Čelko and the scientific guarantor of the conference, prof. Marián Drusa, the representatives of the partner institutions that took over the auspices of the conference were introduced.
The opening lecture of the conference was given by an invited guest from Poland, the president of the Polish Chapter of the International Geosynthetic Society Dr. Ing. Jacek Kawalec. His lecture entitled "Dynamic laboratory testing of mechanically stabilized layers for railway applications" presented various interesting applications of geosynthetic materials in the construction aeras of special structures and large realized projects abroad. The innovative use of geosynthetic materials based on the most modern eco-friendly products has a wide range of applications and performs various functions, from separation properties separating various bulk materials, through the load-bearing capacity, reinforcing function, to the creation of membranes and seals of ecologically hazardous materials. The opening lecture was followed by presentations by other guests from Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.
It was published e-proceedings as collection of articles divided into four thematic topics:
- Construction projects using geosynthetic materials.
- Results of research and development in the field of geosynthetics, education of professionals and students.
- Lecture block of manufacturers' presentations.
- Current state of technical regulations and upcoming new standards for geosynthetics.
The course of the conference met the expectations of the organizers as well as the participants, the papers were presented at a high level with a lively discussion on each topic. The Geosynthetics 2025 conference confirmed its relevance and importance for the current construction industry and the organizers are already preparing the 16th edition, to which you are cordially invited and look forward to meeting you in Žilina in 2027.
After the Geosynthetics 2025 conference, members of the IGS-Slovakia met at the regular general assembly meeting. The members elected a new presidency as well as a new chairman, who became Prof. Marián Drusa. The members present sincerely thanked the previous chairman Radovan Baslík, who has led the association since 2009.
prof. Ing. Marián Drusa, PhD.
Conference chairman
https://www.geosyntetika.sk/en