UQ Geotechnical Engineering Centre (GEC)

The Geotechnical Engineering Centre is funded by Platinum Industry Partner BHP, Gold Industry Partner MRM, and Silver Industry Partners Alfa Laval, AGA, AusIMM, Aurecon, BASF, KCB, Jellinbah, Mining3, ReoCo (formerly TEXO) and Wagstaff Piling, with matching funding from UQ, providing total funding of up to $0.9 million/year. The Centre supports six academic positions covering Soil Mechanics, Rock Mechanics and Hydrogeology, and three Postdoctoral Research Fellows and providing Undergraduate Scholarships and Postgraduate Top-Up Scholarships, funding specialised geotechnical equipment and strategic initiatives in Geotechnical Engineering. The academic positions add to the existing complement of academic and research staff in Soil and Rock Mechanics and Geology at UQ, totalling over ten staff. The highly successful Civil & Geotechnical Engineering and Mining & Geotechnical Engineering Dual Major Degree Programs offered by the Centre are unique in Australia and are designed to meet the demands of Mining Companies, Geotechnical Consultants and Contractors for graduates with a specialisation in Geotechnical Engineering. Commenced in 2012, the Geotechnical Engineering Dual Major Programs have graduated up to 70 students per year. The Centre is active in fundamental and applied research in a range of Geotechnical Engineering areas, which is well-supported by research grants, and engages up to 40 Postgraduate Research students. The Centre also manages the Large Open Pit Project (LOP II). The Centre comprises a leading research team in geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering and computational modelling, applied to Civil and Mining Engineering problems. This expertise is made available to the scientific community through cutting-edge fundamental and applied research projects, industry through collaborative applied research, and high-level consulting and testing services.