Marrakech to Host Morocco’s 3rd National Colloquium on Geotechnics: Building Infrastructure That Stands Firm

Marrakech to Host Morocco’s 3rd National Colloquium on Geotechnics: Building Infrastructure That Stands Firm

From 8 to 10 December 2026, Marrakech will become the meeting point for Morocco’s geotechnical community. The 3rd National Colloquium on Geotechnics takes place at the Hôtel Kenzi Rose Garden under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Its theme is “Sustainable Geotechnics and Resilience of Infrastructure against Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards.”

A national gathering around a strategic discipline

The colloquium is organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Equipment and Water. Its partners are the Public Laboratory for Testing and Studies (LPEE), the Moroccan Committee for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnics (CMMSG), the Moroccan Committee for Geosynthetics (IGS Morocco), the Moroccan Association for Seismic Engineering (AMGS) and the Moroccan Association for Underground Works (AMTES).

The partners share one goal: to place geotechnics, underground works, geosynthetics and seismic engineering at the centre of Morocco’s sustainable development and the protection of its infrastructure.

Why this matters now

Morocco is going through one of the most intense infrastructure cycles in its history. Projects include motorway widening, the Kénitra–Marrakech high-speed line, new stadiums and urban developments ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, dams and water-transfer works. Every one of these structures depends on what lies beneath it.

Recent events have shown how much is at stake. Earthquakes, landslides on road embankments, expansive clays and flash floods all test the ground and the pavement built on it. Designing for resilience means understanding soil behaviour precisely and controlling material quality at every stage.

What’s on the programme

• 🎤 Keynote lectures by invited national and international experts

• 📊 Technical presentations on case studies, applied research and lessons learned on site

• 🏗️ A technical tour of a project in the region

• 🧪 An exhibition of equipment, materials and testing solutions

Researchers and practitioners can submit short abstracts (up to 1,000 characters, in French or English). Accepted topics include case studies, applied research, technical or methodological innovations, and contributions to the sustainability of infrastructure. The best abstracts may be invited as full papers in the Revue Scientifique et Technique de la Construction (RSTC), published by LPEE.

The technologies shaping the field

The theme reflects a clear shift in how civil engineering sites are secured. These are the main trends:

• Geosynthetics reinforce soils, stabilise slopes and extend the service life of pavements while reducing the need for quarried aggregates.

• Advanced in-situ testing such as pressuremeter, penetrometer and plate-load tests gives a faster, more reliable picture of foundation soils.

• Seismic site characterisation is essential for designing structures in active zones such as the Atlas and the Rif.

• Digital tools include GIS-based geotechnical mapping, sensor monitoring and data-driven quality control, which help detect problems before they become failures.

• Sustainable materials include recycled aggregates, treated soils and reclaimed asphalt, which must be tested rigorously before they go into a structure.

Our view at LMCEE

At LMCEE, we carry out the inspections, tests and studies that secure civil engineering sites, from the foundation soil to the wearing course. The questions raised in Marrakech are the ones we work on every day:

How will this soil behave under load, water or seismic stress? Do these materials meet the specification? Will this pavement last as long as it should?

Events like this colloquium strengthen the link between research, regulation and field practice. They help raise quality standards across the sector, and that benefits owners, contractors and the public alike. Resilient infrastructure starts with reliable data, from the ground up.

Key information

Planning a project and need geotechnical studies or materials testing? Contact the LMCEE team. We will help you build on solid ground. 🏗️