- Posted on 17 Sep 2026
The UTS Transport Research Centre (TRC) played a prominent role at the 4th International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering-Colombo (ICGE-Colombo 2026), held on 24–25 August 2026 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Organised by the Sri Lankan Geotechnical Society as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the ICGE-Colombo conference brought together leading researchers, practitioners and industry professionals under the theme “Resilient Geotechnics for a Sustainable Future”.
Distinguished Professor Buddhima Indraratna, director of the Transport Research Centre, delivered the opening keynote lecture, titled “Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Development Embracing a Circular Economy”.
Drawing on research and field applications in Australia, his presentation demonstrated how industrial by-products and recycled materials, including coal wash, steel slag and waste rubber, can be engineered to improve the performance and sustainability of rail and other transport infrastructure.
Professor Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn delivered a thematic lecture titled “Advances in PVD and Vacuum Preloading Systems for Stabilising Transport Embankments and Unstable Soft Soil Terrains”.
His lecture highlighted recent advances in prefabricated vertical drains, vacuum-assisted consolidation and associated design approaches for improving soft ground supporting major transport infrastructure.
Dr Jing Chen presented the Bright Spark Lecture, “Experimental Investigation and Performance Evaluation of Rubber Granule-Treated Ballast under Simulated Train-Induced Impact Loads”.
Her presentation showcased experimental research into the use of recycled rubber granules to reduce impact-induced ballast degradation and improve the resilience of railway tracks.
The wider technical programme also featured research presented or co-authored by TRC members on recycled materials for railway construction, ballast behaviour, localised subgrade fluidisation, railway track–soil dynamics, soft-ground improvement and consolidation assessment.
Beyond the technical sessions, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for current TRC members to reconnect with former doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and international collaborators. The conference dinner and closing gathering reflected the strong professional relationships and friendships developed through Professor Indraratna’s research group and the wider TRC community.
TRC’s strong contribution to ICGE-Colombo 2026 demonstrated the Centre’s continuing international leadership in transport geotechnics, sustainable ground engineering and the translation of research into practical infrastructure solutions.
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