A seminar on bored pile was held on August 3 at the Auditorium of the Macau Cultural Centre Art Museum. The organizers of the seminar were Macao Association of Building Contractors and Developers, Macau Construction Association, The Macau Institution of Engineers, Macau Association of Geotechnical Engineering and Civil Engineering Laboratory of Macau. The co-organizers included IACM (Instituto para Os Assuntos Civicos e Municipals), DSSOPT (Direcção dos Serviços de Solos, Obras Públicas e Transportes), GDI (Gabinete para o Desenvolvimento de Infra-estruturas) and Conselho do Ambiente. Numerous local government engineering departments, relevant professional bodies and experts from abroad were invited to explore the bearing capacity of bored pile socket into rock in Macau, to introduce essential knowledge of design and construction of bored piles so as to promote the correct and safe use of bored piles, also to explore the feasibility of compiling a specification for bored pile foundation.

Speakers at the seminar include: Prof. Lou Xiao Ming (Tongji University), Eng. H. Novais Ferreira (Coordinator of LECM), Dr. Victor Li (Director of Victor Li & Associates Ltd.), Eng. Tiago Pereira (Engineer of LECM), Colin Jesse (Managing Director of Evans & Peck Hong Kong Co., Ltd.), K.H.Fok (Project Manager of Evans & Peck Hong Kong Co., Ltd.), Eng. Leong Hong Sai (Head of Geotechnical Department of LECM), Mr. Lee Wing Hong (Director and General Manager of Kinwing Engineering Macau Co., Ltd.).

Main Topics:

● Bearing Capacity and Bored Piles (Prof. Lou Xiao Ming)

● Rock Bearing Capacity and Bored Piles into Rock (Eng. H. Novais Ferreira)

● Design Practice for Bored Piles (Dr. Victor Li)

● EN 1536 for Bored Piles (Eng. Tiago Pereira)

● Good Practice for the Construction of Large Diameter Bored Piles (Colin Jesse & K.H. Fok)

● Quality Assurance for Bored Piles (Eng. Leong Hong Sai)

● Use of Machineries in Bored Pile Construction (Mr. Lee Wing Hong)

The response of the seminar was overwhelming; over 230 participants took part in this event. All participants showed great interest in the topic of discussion by raising many questions.

Special thanks to those supporting organizations, bodies and experts who participated in planning and promoting this seminar. Also thanks to all those who have rendered their supports, for making this seminar a successful one.