September 27th – 30th saw Earth Products China (EPC), GDS Instruments (GDS) Chinese agent, host the 2013 advanced geotechnical technology conference alongside GDS Advanced Geotechnical User Training in Wuhan China. The conference was hosted by EPC, GDS, and presented by the Yangtze River Water Resources Commission Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute. Over 100 geotechnical industry experts, academics, teachers and students from the countries leading institutes gathered to discuss today's soil testing technologies and undertake user training on GDS apparatus.
Soil testing is the foundation for geotechnical engineering progression and it is the essential link between studying, researching and engineering practices that drive this technology. In recent years, with increased investment, China has made great progress in research and development due to the introduction of advanced technology. Scientific research institutes have invested in numerous advanced geotechnical testing instruments from GDS, such as the static/dynamic hollow cylindrical torsional shear apparatus, two-direction vibration triaxial apparatus, automatic control of unsaturated soil triaxial apparatus, and so on. Utilising this advanced and sophisticated equipment to obtain reliable test data is a challenge for the geotechnical engineering personnel. As a professional civil engineering testing instruments and solutions provider, EPC adhere the concept of "not only to provide users with equipment but also to provide high quality technical support and service". This value is also shared by GDS.
GDS products were first introduced into China over 20 years ago and have gained the support of many Chinese users. With compact modular design, high precision results, simple operation and advanced software, GDS became the first & leading brand of geotechnical engineering apparatus in China. There are over 100 colleges, universities and research institutes currently using GDS apparatus.
EPC and GDS have been running user training courses in China since 2008. This year’s user training took place at The Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute. They have worked with EPC and GDS for many years and provide a great variety of technical apparatus. (RCA resonant column training was hold in Wuhan Institute of Mechanics).
The two-day annual conference is divided into two parts. Geotechnical presentations were carried out in the morning and practical training was held in the afternoon. Technical speakers were invited from leading Chinese research institutes and included geotechnical experts from GDS:
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Title: Recent Advances in GDS Dynamic Systems Speaker: Dr. Sean Rees from GDS Instruments | 
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Title: Seasonally Frozen Resonant Column Test Speaker: Senior Engineer Shen Binglin from EPC | 
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Topic: Case Study from Southeast University, on their experiences with GDS. Speaker: Associate Professor, deputy director Dr. Deng Yongfeng | 
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Topic: Dynamic Triaxial Testing Speaker: Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Dr. Huang Bin | 
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Topic: State-of-the-Art Testing of Unsaturated Soils. Invited Speaker: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Professor Charles WW Ng | 
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Title: GDS Unsaturated Soil Testing Equipment and Its Mechanical Properties in a Special Soil Test Application Speaker: Dr. Hu Bo from Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute | 
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Topic: Flexible Application of GDS Pressure/Volume Controller to Build Soil Testing System Speaker: Three Gorges University, Deputy Director, Dr. Zhang Hua | 
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Topic: General Overview of GDS Product Range Speaker: GDS Sales Manager Mr. Clayton Dodd | 
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Product training was carried out on the following equipment:
- Static triaxial apparatus demonstrations on sand and soil samples.
- Resonant Column demonstrations on sand and soil samples.
- Dynamic triaxial demonstrations on sand and soil samples.
- Unsaturated soil triaxial demonstrations on soil samples.
- Direct shear apparatus for unsaturated soils demonstration on soil samples.
GDS has hundreds of users in China, with over two hundred academic papers published. EPC collated these papers and made the "2013 UK GDS senior geotechnical testing system user Proceedings assembly" The CD-ROM was gift to everybody, the majority of users affectionately call it "Studying how to make good use of GDS Instruments Collection!"
EPC and GDS carefully prepared the format and content of the conference to maximise the impact of the event. As the EPC Marketing Director Tommy Ko said, “The annual conference is impressive not only in the majority of Chinese users trying to use a good imported equipment, but also in efforts to put their own ideas and instruments together, let we see a lot of things independently and get a reassuring scientific research achievements.”
The conference left us full of confidence that GDS Instruments will play an important role in China's geotechnical industry. We also see the annual conference as an opportunity for EPC co-operate and work closely with their customers.