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Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference
Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference
74nd Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference
74nd Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference
This is the 74th offering of the University of Minnesota Geotechnical Engineering Conference. The Planning Committee, whose members represent the contracting industry, government agencies, the University, and consulting engineers, has developed a program offering technical information and discussion on current topics for the geotechnical engineering community. Topics at the conference will cover response of pile groups, designing piles for downdrag, stabilizing non-plastic soil through mineral carbonation, reusing foundations, Minnesota’s mining resources, behavior of geomaterials in pavement foundations, and recent case histories. The conference provides a forum to interact with peers, meet specialty contractors, and hear researchers and practitioners discuss theory and application of geomechanics. Civil engineers, architects, planners, contractors, and geologists with an interest in geotechnical engineering will benefit by attending this conference.
The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Conference Details
Conference Details
Date:
February 26-27, 2026
Graduate Hotel, 615 Washington Ave SE (Google Map Link)
Sponsored by:
Department of Civil, Environmental, Geo- Engineering
University of Minnesota
Minnesota Geotechnical Society
Geo-Institute of ASCE
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
UMN 74th Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference
February 27, 2026
Call for Case History Papers
Papers are invited for presentation at the 74th Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference, to be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Graduate Hotel, 615 Washington Ave SE on the Minneapolis East Bank campus of the University of Minnesota (UMN). Case histories documenting the geotechnical performance of foundations, embankments, roadway subgrades, or other infrastructure elements are welcome. The conference typically attracts 200+ engineering, construction, and geoscience professionals who convene to hear expert practitioners and researchers discuss significant projects and current theories.
All papers accepted should follow the format necessary for publication in the proceedings available at the conference. Authors are expected to provide a digital copy of their paper, with a signed copyright release, by December 31, 2025. Presentations are allotted 20 minutes, with five minutes for discussion.
Submission Deadlines
Abstracts Due September 30, 2025
Notification of Acceptance October 31, 2025
Digital Copies Due December 31, 2025
The presenting author of each accepted paper will be given complimentary registration.
Two abstracts, one < 300 words and one < 100 words, with presenting author name and complete contact information, should be submitted electronically to geoconf@umn.edu
UMN Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference is sponsored by the
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering and the
Minnesota Geotechnical Society – a Geo-Institute Chapter
Short Course
Short Course
Thursday, February 27, 2026
1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Graduate Hotel, Pinnacle Ballroom. Minneapolis East Bank Campus
Course Outline
Course Instructor
Professional Development Hours
Participants can earn 4.0 professional development hours (PDH) for attendance.
Short Course handouts are below - password will be provided at the session.
Registration
Registration
Registration for the conference and short course is coming soon.
The early registration fee for the conference is $250; after January 30, 2025, it is $300. The fee includes tuition, parking, proceedings, continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments. A refund, less a $10 cancellation fee, will be made if cancellation is received by February 14, 2025. Student registration is $20 (no proceedings), and a limited number of $100 registrations are available for retired engineers. Reduced registration requests should be sent to geoconf@umn.edu by January 31, 2026 to receive a promo code. The University reserves the right to cancel the conference, in which case a refund will be made.
Pre-Conference Banquet
Pre-Conference Banquet
Thursday, February 27, 2026
6:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Graduate Hotel, Minneapolis East Bank Campus
The Minnesota Geotechnical Society (MGS) hosts a dinner meeting of the local ASCE section the night before the conference. The meeting will be held at the Graduate Hotel, 615 Washington Ave SE, on the Minneapolis East Bank Campus of the University of Minnesota, in the Pinnacle Ballroom. The Kersten Lecturer for the conference will be the featured speaker. The dinner reception begins at 6 P.M. A separate registration is required for this event. Dinner registration will be availalbe soon.
2026 - Student Poster Session
2026 - Student Poster Session
Students are invited to present their research during the dinner the evening before the conference. To enter, send a 250-word abstract to team@mgs-gi.com by December 19, 2025. Participants will be notified by February 6, 2025 if their poster has been accepted for presentation. Posters will not be published. Presented work need not be exclusive for this event. Research that has been presented elsewhere, so long as the author maintains the rights to present it, is welcomed. Please indicate where else the research has or is expected to be presented. Preference will be given to posters going to ASCE Geo-Congress 2026.
All students chosen to present will be given free admission to the Thursday dinner event on February 27th, which includes the happy hour reception, meal, and keynote presentation. Students will present their posters during the happy hour. A minimum of $500 in scholarship prize money will be awarded to the top posters.
Corporate sponsorship of the student poster session is available. Please contact team@mgs-gi.com if your company would like to directly sponsor the next generation of geotechnical engineers.
Conference Location/Accommodations
Conference Location/Accommodations
The conference, short course, and pre-conference banquet will be held at the Graduate Hotel, 615 Washington Ave SE, on the Minneapolis East Bank Campus of the University of Minnesota. Disability accommodations will be provided upon request.
Parking
Parking
Parking is included in conference registration at the Washington Avenue or University Avenue Ramps of the University of Minnesota. Bring the parking ticket from the parking ramp to the registration desk for validation.
Parking for the pre-conference banquet is available in the ramps, but will not be validated and is not included with the cost of the banquet dinner.
Contact for Further Information
Contact for Further Information
Write to geoconf@umn.edu for more information.
Planning Committee
Planning Committee
Taylor Adams, US Army Corps of Engineers
Nathan Iverson, Veit & Company
Joe Bentler, American Engineering Testing
Joe Labuz, University of Minnesota (UMN)
Anya Brose, Itasca Consulting Group
Rich Lamb, MnDOT
Aaron Budge, MN State University, Mankato
Brent Larsen, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc.
Ivan Contreras, Barr Engineering
Dan Mahrt, Terracon
Liang Chern Chow, Haley & Aldrich
Steve Olson, Kiewit - Engineering Group
Derrick Dasenbrock, FHWA
Greg Reuter, American Engineering Testing
Chris DeDene, City of Saint Paul
Dave Saftner, UMN, Duluth
Bryan Field, KLJ Engineering
Brian Sanchez, Menard USA
Steve Gale, Gale-Tec Engineering
Joel Swenson, Barr Engineering
Mike Haggerty, Barr Engineering
Brent Theroux, Barr Engineering
Megan Hoppe, American Engineering Testing
Joe Westphal, Braun Intertec
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