A National Seminar on “Sensitizing Hill Area Development Engineering through Indian Standards” is scheduled to be held on Monday, 19 January 2026, in Dehradun. The seminar is being organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) with the objective of strengthening awareness and application of Indian Standards in hill area development and disaster-resilient engineering.
The seminar will take place at the Seminar Hall, Chanakya Block, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), located at Bell Road, Clement Town, Dehradun.
Focus on Hill Area Engineering and Landslide Risk Management
The programme aims to address the growing challenges associated with hill area development, particularly in the context of landslides, slope instability, fragile terrain construction, and climate-induced hazards. Through expert-led technical sessions, the seminar will highlight the role of Indian Standards, scientific investigations, and modern engineering solutions in ensuring safer infrastructure development in hilly regions.
Technical Sessions and Expert Speakers
The day-long seminar will include eight technical sessions covering a wide range of critical topics such as:
- Overview of Indian Standards related to hill area development engineering
- Introduction to landslide problems in hilly terrains, including classification and environmental aspects
- Site-specific landslide investigations and slope stability modelling using FEM
- Site investigation techniques and analysis of landslides
- Techniques for stabilising fragile hill slopes and landslide hazard management
- Use of geosynthetics in hill excavations
- Landslide Early Warning Systems and disaster preparedness
- Case studies on Joshimath subsidence (2023) and Wayanad debris flow (2024) in the context of Himalayan hazards and climate change
The sessions will be delivered by senior experts and scientists from premier institutions including Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Central Building Research Institute, Central Road Research Institute, and the Geological Survey of India.
Platform for Knowledge Exchange
In addition to structured technical presentations, the seminar will include an Open House session, allowing participants to engage in discussions, share field experiences, and deliberate on practical challenges faced in hill area projects. The programme will conclude with a formal Vote of Thanks.
Significance for Professionals and Students
The seminar is expected to be highly beneficial for civil engineers, geotechnical experts, planners, architects, researchers, academicians, policymakers, and students, particularly those working in or studying hill region development, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable infrastructure planning.
By aligning engineering practices with Indian Standards, the seminar seeks to promote safer, more resilient, and environmentally responsible development in India’s hill regions.
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