12th International Conference on Hydraulic and Civil Engineering & Silk Road International Forum on Deep Underground Energy Storage and Underground Space Development (ICHCE & SRIF 2026) Concludes Successfully in Xi'an

The 12th International Conference on Hydraulic and Civil Engineering & Silk Road International Forum on Deep Underground Energy Storage and Underground Space Development (ICHCE & SRIF 2026) was successfully held in Xi'an from October 16 to 18, 2026. Hosted by Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, the Shaanxi Society of Geotechnical Mechanics and Engineering, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, University of Transport and Communications (Vietnam), Nazarbayev University, Tashkent State Transport University, Tashkent Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, the conference was organized by the School of Civil Engineering at Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, the Interdisciplinary Innovation Research Institute at Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, the Underground Space Engineering Committee of the Shaanxi Society of Geotechnical Mechanics and Engineering, the Intelligent Construction Research Institute for Infrastructure at Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, the Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Geotechnical Mechanics and Underground Space Engineering, the Urban Operations and Construction Management Committee of the Chinese Society for Urban Studies, the Environmental Geotechnical Engineering Committee of the Shaanxi Society of Geotechnical Mechanics and Engineering, and the Loess Science and Engineering Technology Research Institute at Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology. The conference also received support from Xi'an University of Technology, Chang'an University, Northwest University, and other universities, research institutes, journals and enterprises.

Centering on the theme of "Intelligent Construction in Engineering," the conference focused on innovative applications of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data, and robotics in the design, construction, operation and maintenance management of hydraulic and civil engineering, as well as in deep underground energy storage and underground space development. More than 250 experts, scholars, engineers, and young students from universities, research institutes, and enterprises at home and abroad attended the conference.

Opening Ceremony: Building on the Silk Road Platform to Promote Innovation in Hydraulic and Civil Engineering and Deep Underground Space Development

At the opening ceremony, Professor Gao Xukuo, Vice President of Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, and Professor Dang Faning, Chairman of the Shaanxi Society of Geotechnical Mechanics and Engineering, delivered speeches respectively. Both guests extended a warm welcome to the experts, scholars, and young representatives from home and abroad, and pointed out that the ICHCE & SRIF conference, relying on the profound foundation of Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology in civil construction and geotechnical engineering, as well as the "Silk Road" international exchange platform, has built an open and stable academic exchange bridge for hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, deep underground energy storage, and underground space development. The conference, with the theme of "Intelligent Construction in Engineering," aims to promote further integration of theoretical research, engineering applications, and transnational cooperation through high-level keynote reports, sub-forum discussions, and young scholar presentations.

Keynote Presentations: Connecting the Frontiers of Geotechnical Engineering, Deep Underground Energy Storage, and Intelligent Construction

Seven invited experts delivered keynote presentations at this year's conference:

• Prof. Wu Wei, BOKU University Vienna —"Twenty Years of Geotechnical Research in Europe"

• Prof. Wang Jiading, Northwest University —"Analysis of Railway Loess Slope Collapse under Flood and Locomotive Vibration"

• Prof. Dang Faning, Xi'an University of Technology —"Theory of Seepage Consolidation Stability and Safety Risk Assessment of Qinling Tailings Ponds"

• Prof. Xia Caichu, Ningbo University —"Research Insights on Compressed Air Energy Storage Caverns"

• Prof. Saffet YAGIZ, Nazarbayev University —"Evaluation of Intact Rock and Rock Mass Properties in TBM Engineering Applications"

• Prof. Song Zhanping, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology —"Marching toward Extreme Geology: The Breakthrough Path of Intelligent Construction for Tunnels and Underground Engineering in the AI Era"

• Dr. Feng Shenghua, Dassault Systèmes (Shanghai) Information Technology Co., Ltd. —"Industrial AI and Industry World Models"

Spanning European geotechnical research review, loess slope disaster prevention and control, tailings pond safety assessment, compressed air energy storage, TBM rock properties, intelligent construction in the AI era, and industrial AI and world models, the seven presentations bridged geotechnical engineering, underground space, deep underground energy storage, intelligent construction, and engineering digitalization. They responded to the real-world demand for western development, the "Belt and Road" initiative, and underground space development, while demonstrating the growing trends of digitalization, intelligence, and refined analysis in hydraulic and civil engineering.

Invited Speech: Focusing on Solid Waste Utilization, Loess Mechanics, and Digitalization of Deep Underground Energy Storage

The invited report session in the afternoon was equally enriching. Multiple experts from Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Chang'an University, Northwest A&F University, Xijing University, Xi'an University of Technology, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, and other institutions delivered invited reports on topics including:

• Resource utilization of bulk industrial solid wastein highway engineering

• Static excavation of water conveyance tunnelsin hard rock strata

• Deformation mechanisms of artificially structured loessand seismic subsidence of loess foundations for water pipelines

• Deterioration mechanisms of compacted loessand salt rock mechanics with multi-field coupling interface evolution

• Transfer learning prediction in geotechnical engineeringand SIMULIA simulation applications

From research methods and engineering verification to software applications, the reports provided attendees with a complete perspective from theory to practice.

Parallel Sessions and Awards: Young Scholars Showcase Diverse Research Achievements

During the conference, to encourage young scholars to actively participate in exchanges and share their latest research achievements, the conference established awards for outstanding papers, outstanding posters, and outstanding oral presentations. Six themed sub-forums were set up, including the Silk Road International Engineering Cooperation and Innovation Development Forum, the Intelligent Construction Forum for Water Conservancy, Hydropower and Water Transport Engineering, the Frontier Forum on Deep Underground Energy Storage and Underground Space Development, the Abaqus Digital Application Forum in Hydraulic and Civil Engineering, and the Student Academic Innovation Forums A/B.

Young scholars from multiple universities and research institutions at home and abroad delivered oral reports on tunnels and underground engineering, geotechnical mechanics, water conservancy and hydropower, structural engineering, intelligent construction, material durability, and numerical simulation, integrating experiments, numerical simulation, theoretical analysis, and engineering applications, and introducing new technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital twins, reflecting the interdisciplinary and intelligent development of hydraulic and civil engineering. The on-site exchanges were lively. Each sub-forum set up selection and award ceremonies for outstanding oral presentations to encourage young researchers to showcase innovative achievements, improve academic expression skills, and promote in-depth exchanges between different institutions and research directions.

Looking Ahead: The Conference Ends, the Exchange Continues

The successful convening of ICHCE & SRIF 2026 provided a high-quality platform for experts and scholars in hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, deep underground energy storage, and underground space development. Attendees noted that the conference closely followed the theme of "Intelligent Construction in Engineering," covering industry frontiers such as geotechnical engineering, underground space, deep underground energy storage, intelligent construction, and engineering digitalization. The conference not only broadened academic horizons but also promoted interdisciplinary, cross-regional, and transnational cooperation and dialogue.

In the future, the ICHCE & SRIF conference will continue to play its role as an academic platform, serving scientific and technological innovation, talent cultivation, and engineering practice development in the fields of hydraulic and civil engineering.

ICHCE & SRIF 2026