About Us

The father of Soil Mechanics, Prof. Karl Terzaghi developed the first principles of engineering properties and behavior of soils during his term when he worked as a faculty member in Istanbul at Robert College and Istanbul Technical University between 1918-1925. Thus, the foundations were laid for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering to become a discipline with a systematic approach covering modern and applied engineering sciences. It was therefore possible for soil behavior, which is perhaps the most unknown and most unpredictable of the problems encountered while carrying out engineering studies in many large and important structures that have been built for centuries, to be an area of research and to be quantified.

The solution to this very important need has rapidly increased the interest in soil mechanics all over the world at an international level, and it was necessary to establish an international organization to organize conferences and meetings to discuss the researches and the knowledge gained, and to coordinate the interaction. Thus, the first contacts regarding the establishment of the organization that we define as ISSMGE (International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering) started in 1936 and the Republic of Turkey was one of the first countries to take part in this organization. Because for Prof. For Karl Terzaghi, Istanbul has a special place and with the invitation made upon his suggestion, Turkey took its place in the international organization of the field of Soil Mechanics under the name of “ITU Soil Mechanics Research Institute” at that time. After this date, after the restructuring process in 1975, the Turkish National Committee for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering was established and our professional organization continued its activities and activities as a member of the international society under this name. Our national committee has followed an active line in the International Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering community since its establishment on June 26, 1947, to contribute to the development and advancement of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering studies in our country, to contribute to the current international knowledge in this field, to the national level, and to bring the national knowledge to the international level. It has organized many national and international conferences, congresses and symposiums in order to raise the level of business and create international and national discussion platforms. Our National Committee has a special place in the international community with its international activities and meetings, and the contributions of its members in the field of academia and practice.

However, due to the changes in the laws and regulations regarding the establishment and activities of the national committees, our National Committee had to undergo another restructuring process and the Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Association was established on March 26, 2014, as a result of the studies initiated with the approval and support of all our members.
The aim of our association, like our national committee, is defined as creating an environment for the creation of national and international knowledge among engineers and scientists working in the fields of soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, and the use of this knowledge for the development of geotechnical engineering education and applications. Our association has been recognized by the international Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Society (ISSMGE) as a member of the society in Turkey.

Our association continues its national and international activities with increasing desire and energy every day, without slowing down, with the commitment and contributions of its members and those who set their hearts on this profession to each other and to this professional organization that covers us all. We invite you to constantly monitor and contribute to our website at zmgm.org.tr in order to keep the communication between us constantly active, and we offer our sincere love and respect to all members of our association.

On behalf of the ISSMGE Turkish Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering,

Prof. S. Feyza Cinicioglu