The 37th Annual Midwest Geotechnical Conference was recently hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation and attended by over 50 total participants, including representatives from several state DOTs and the Federal Highway Administration as well as several invited speakers.

The conference included many interesting presentations from invited speakers as well as State DOT and Federal Highway Administration representatives.  These presentations and related materials can be viewed by clicking on the above link to the Conference Program.

Planning is now under way for the 38th Annual Midwest Geotechnical, which is tentatively to be hosted by the Kansas Department of Transportation in September 2009.

The Midwest Geotechnical Conference seeks to bring together state and federal DOT geotechnical professionals from the North Central region of the United States to promote technical interaction and professional development.  This year’s conference, like those of the past, was a forum for the exchange of information on state-of-the-practice issues within geotechnical engineering and geology for those dealing with highway transportation design and construction.  In this manner, the Midwest Geotechnical Conference seeks to:

• Facilitate sharing of experiences and best practices

• Promote use of new and innovative technology

• Encourage interagency interaction and exchange of technical information

• Share mutual challenges and seek common solutions

The Midwest Geotechnical Conference member state and federal DOT organizations include: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Resource Center. However, geotechnical professionals from other state and federal DOT organizations are also invited to attend and participate in the conference.

For further information or questions regarding the 37th Annaul Midwest Geotechnical Conference, please contact Mike Fritz, MoDOT Geotechnical Director, by email at Mike.Fritz@modot.mo.gov or by phone at 573-526-4346.