Preface

The XI International Geomechanics Conference (XI IGC) 2024 was successfully held from 16–20 September 2024 at the Astera Hotel & SPA, Golden Sands Resort, Bulgaria. This biennial event brought together over 100 participants from academia, industry, and research institutions, representing countries such as Germany, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine and Bulgaria, providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and information in the field of geomechanics. The central theme of this year’s conference was “New Challenges in Geomechanics”, with a strong focus on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in geotechnics, particularly in the mining industry. Participants had the opportunity to explore state-of-the-art approaches in geotechnical engineering and discuss the impact of technological advancements on the future of geomechanics. The XI IGC 2024 aimed to foster collaboration among participants, encourage the sharing of experiences, and stimulate discussions on the latest innovations. A total of 43 papers were presented, including two invited keynote lectures by renowned experts. All submissions underwent a blind peer-review process to ensure scientific rigor and quality. Papers, except those published in the IOP Conference Series, were included in the conference proceedings, which were distributed to participants upon registration. List of Organizing committee, National editorial committee and International Advisory Committee are available in this pdf.