Dr. Ravindra Gettu is the V.S. Raju Chair Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai. The areas of research of Dr. Gettu have been fracture mechanics of concrete and rock; nonlinear behaviour of cement-based materials; high strength, textile- and fibre-reinforced, and self-compacting concretes; sustainability assessment, the effective use of chemical admixtures and alternative binders, and concrete tunnel lining and prefabrication for housing. His research has been funded by public organizations, as well as the construction industry, helping him focus on applied research, technology transfer and technology implementation. He has co-authored more than 550 publications, of which more than 140 are peer-reviewed journal papers. He was elected as a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering in 2018. He is a Past President and Honorary Member of RILEM, the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Structures and Systems, based in France.

Topic: Technology Implementation as The Key Impact of Research: IIT Madras approach in the past two decades

Abstract:  The presentation highlights how technology implementation has been the key impact of research at IITM over the past two decades, with the intention of embodying values and creating new affordances that shape human behavior. Three major research-to-implementation stories are showcased: Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC), Early Age Response of Concrete, and Mixtures with Unconventional Components. The work on FRC has included the development of testing methods, design equations, and standards (IS 17161:2020); large-scale applications; and innovations in fatigue and creep models, inverse analysis for tensile response, and design of precast tunnel linings. In the area of early age response, research has focused on flow, segregation resistance, shrinkage cracking, and thermal stresses, as well as demonstration projects using self-compacting concrete (SCC) and 3D printing. The use of unconventional components in concrete has included the promotion of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), recycled concrete, and LC3 (limestone calcined clay cement). Landmark projects such as a coastal bridge in Kerala (125-year life), Ram temple foundation (1000-year design life), and LC3 pavements and tetrapods are discussed for illustration.

Barry, a Fellow Chartered Professional Geotechnical Engineer with over 26 years of experience, specialises in design review and optimisation during tender and construction phases. He’s known for his innovative and “fit-for-purpose” design solutions and has been responsible for the geotechnical aspects of several major transport infrastructure projects in Australia and internationally. Since 2021, Barry has been an active Industry Fellow and Lead Partner Investigator at University Griffith. He’s been involved in multiple federal-level grants, including the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Innovative Manufacturing CMC. His research focuses on the impact of artificial intelligence and simulation neural networks on soft soils engineering. His primary role is mentoring the R&D team as they prototype industry solutions through proof-of-concept processes and field applications.

Topic: Data and Physics informed Artificial Intelligence for Predicting Consolidation and Settlement of Soft Soils

Abstract:  Predicting the consolidation and settlement of soft soils is notoriously uncertain, frequently forcing geotechnical engineers into conservative, costly over-designs. While major infrastructure projects generate massive amounts of monitoring data, this "data exhaust" is rarely leveraged to its full potential. Furthermore, standard "black-box" artificial intelligence solutions struggle to gain industry trust because they lack physical meaning, fail to extrapolate safely, and ignore uncertainty. This research bridges the gap between empirical data and geotechnical theory by developing advanced physics-informed and Bayesian AI models. By fusing heterogeneous field data—from initial site investigations to long-term instrumentation—these models strictly enforce fundamental consolidation laws while explicitly quantifying prediction uncertainty. The project ultimately translates these rigorous AI frameworks into an operational, real-time decision-support predictive model. Designed for seamless integration with the observational method, this model empowers practitioners to move beyond deterministic point predictions. Instead, engineers will be equipped with probabilistic credible intervals to optimize ground improvement, safely reduce surcharging wait times, and drastically minimize the risk of costly post construction remediation.

Mr. Ong Pang Yen holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Civil Engineering from University Malaya and LLB (Honours) from University of London. Mr. Ong is currently Sunway Group’s Executive Director in the Chairman’s Office overseeing Group Brand Marketing and Communications, Group Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (OHSE), Group Sustainability and ESG agenda. Mr. Ong was appointed by Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO, Founder and Trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF) — Malaysia’s largest education-focused social enterprise foundation — as a Member of the Foundation and its Management Committee. In these capacities, Mr. Ong works closely with fellow committee members to shape the Foundation’s strategic priorities, strengthen governance frameworks, and support the Board of Trustees in charting JCF’s long-term vision. Mr. Ong served Malaysia’s Public Works Department for eight years before joining Sunway Group as a Resident Engineer in 1993. He was soon actively involved in Sunway Group’s pioneer overseas investment projects across Cambodia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Australia, India and China. In 2013, Mr. Ong assumed the role of Joint Managing Director of Sunway Property Development division, Malaysia/Singapore. In 2015, Mr. Ong was appointed the Executive Director of Monash University Malaysia, which was a joint venture between Sunway Group and Monash Australia, to oversee its operations in Malaysia, before re-joining Sunway Group to assume his current role in the Chairman’s Office.

Topic: Building Sustainable Cities: Lessons from Sunway City Kuala Lumpur

Abstract:  Cities today face the dual pressures of climate change and rapid urbanisation, making sustainability the defining priority in urban planning and development. Sunway City Kuala Lumpur offers a compelling case study of how intentional design can transform a township into Malaysia’s first fully integrated, green, and low‑carbon city. Central to this transformation is a network of elevated, covered canopy walkways and an elevated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that connects the township to two major rail stations. These are complemented by a smart parking system with 10,000 bays and an extensive electric vehicle charging network. Together, these initiatives reduce car dependency, lower emissions, and reshape commuting behaviour. The results are measurable. A 2022 study by Monash University Malaysia and Sunway University found walking to be among the top three commuting modes within the township. Carbon impact assessments further estimate that the canopy walkway network alone reduces more than 220,000 kilograms of emissions annually, equivalent to planting over 10,000 mature trees each year. Beyond infrastructure, Sunway City demonstrates how businesses can embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles into corporate strategy. The case proves that sustainability and profitability are not trade‑offs, but mutually reinforcing imperatives for resilient, human‑centered urban living.

EXTREME HYDROCLIMATICS

Dr Edward Park (PhD UT-Austin, 2017)’s research has advanced a quantitative framework for anthropogenic forcing in tropical river and delta systems. His work produced the first mechanistic sediment budgets of sand mining in the Mekong Delta and demonstrated its link to incision-driven salinity intrusion, reframing sand extraction as a first-order geomorphic driver in delta evolution. He is widely recognized as a leading expert on the Mekong River system and among the most published researchers globally in Mekong geomorphology (Scopus/SciVal). The present proposal extends this trajectory from quantifying forcing to defining system-level stability thresholds. This progression is reflected in recognition from institutional to global levels, including the Nanyang Research Award (2023), CAS PIFI Distinguished Scientist (2025), and the International Association of Geomorphologists Early Career Medal (2026). Ranked among Stanford University’s top 2% of scientists since 2023, he has published 120+ Q1 articles (h-index 35; >5,000 citations), secured >S$3.5M in competitive funding as PI, serves as Associate Editor of leading journals including the Journal of Hydrology, represents Singapore in the IAG, and supervises 5 PhD students.

Topic: Sustainable sand harvesting: balancing development needs and environmental impacts

Abstract: Rapid urbanization has driven intensive sand dredging from rivers, causing widespread ecological degradation. Yet effective tools to regulate extraction remain limited. This keynote presents a modeling framework to identify Sustainable Sand Mining Zones (SSMZ) that balance development needs with environmental protection. Using the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, the framework integrates field observations, hydrodynamic and sediment transport modeling (Delft3D FM coupled with SWAN), and multi-criteria decision analysis. Key controls include river morphology, sediment replenishment, salinity intrusion, ecological constraints, and observed mining intensity from field surveys (up to 9 boats km⁻²). The calibrated model produced a 40-m resolution suitability map identifying optimal extraction zones with sustainable extraction rates of 1–5 tons per month per site. Results indicate that only ~12–15% of the river network is suitable for sustainable extraction. Suitable zones cluster mainly in mid-channel reaches and sediment-replenishing sections, while riverbanks and infrastructure corridors are excluded. Temporal simulations further show that viable SSMZs have shifted downstream by ~20–30 km over the past decade, reflecting changing sediment supply and channel morphology. These results demonstrate how targeted zoning can reduce ecological risks while maintaining controlled extraction, offering a practical pathway toward sustainable sand harvesting in river systems worldwide.