ICGSM 2026: The Essential Geotechnical & Structural Monitoring Course | Golden, Colorado
Some events are created “to deliver training”. Others, year after year, build an international community, raise the bar for professional skills, and shape the way an industry works.
The International Course on Geotechnical and Structural Monitoring (ICGSM) belongs to the second category.
How it all started
ICGSM was first organized in 2014 by NHAZCA, inspired by Prof. Paolo Mazzanti and John Dunnicliff, leading experts in geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring. The goal was simple yet ambitious: to bring together professionals, academia, and industry to share methods, real-world case histories, technologies, and lessons learned in geotechnical and structural monitoring.
Over the years, the course has been delivered in Italy and internationally. It is designed for specialists involved in risk management across large and small projects, including transportation infrastructure, bridges and tunnels, dams, excavations, natural and engineered slopes, building foundations, mining, oil & gas, and cultural heritage preservation.
From data to decisions: technologies covered
Alongside methods and case histories, the course explores the main monitoring technologies used today, from geotechnical and structural instrumentation (e.g., inclinometers, piezometers, extensometers, load cells, strain gauges, displacement and vibration sensors) to topographic surveying and remote sensing (GNSS/total stations, terrestrial radar, and satellite and ground-based InSAR), as well as the platforms that integrate data into actionable insights.
In just over a decade, ICGSM has grown into a true international benchmark, welcoming 1000+ participants and 70+ sponsors from 60+ countries. These aren’t “brochure numbers”. They tell one clear story: monitoring is now a core discipline for infrastructure safety, risk management, and resilience.
Why the ICGSM model works
Those who have attended know it well: ICGSM is not “just” a course. It’s a learning experience built on:
- High-quality content delivered by instructors with deep field experience
- Real case studies
- Hands-on, on-site learning
- Direct interaction with technologies and solution providers
- A strong community dimension, turning training into professional relationships that last
The program is designed to maximize learning: masterclasses led by top experts, plus a field trip to experience in practice what is covered in the classroom.
With its extensive exhibition area, ICGSM also offers an ideal platform for leading hardware and software companies to showcase innovation and connect with technicians, project and asset managers, and government representatives.
But the exhibition is not “just” a showcase: it’s where the market decides what good looks like.The expo is fully integrated into the learning journey: dedicated exhibition time during breaks and structured networking moments turn innovations into real conversations, and conversations into partnerships.
Il ruolo internazionale di NHAZCA
ICGSM reflects a broader mission: turning knowledge and innovation into operational tools, with a truly international perspective. For years, NHAZCA has promoted highly professional training programs in collaboration with institutions and associations in Italy and abroad.
In 2025, we took a new step in our global presence with the launch of Re-Monitor Inc. in the United States (a NHAZCA subsidiary). Through Re-Monitor, we aim to bring advanced monitoring solutions, technology integration, satellite and ground-based InSAR, and proprietary platforms, to the North American market.
ICGSM 2025: l’energia della community (e gli Awards)
In 2025, after the successful 10th anniversary edition in Golden, Colorado, the 11th edition brought the global community to Poppi (Arezzo), Italy, from June 23 to 26.
A highlight of the 2025 edition was the ICGSM Awards session, built around two dedicated challenges: the Monitoring Project Challenge and the Innovative Technology Challenge. The format brought the community into “problem-solving mode”: projects, methods, and new solutions were presented, discussed, and benchmarked, culminating in the Awards ceremony.
Save the date: ICGSM 2026 negli USA
The next ICGSM returns to Golden, Colorado (USA) in June, hosted at the Colorado School of Mines.
June 8–11, 2026 | Golden, Colorado (USA)
June 8: Welcome Party
Two full days of classroom sessions
June 11: Field trip
The course is organized by NHAZCA and IntelligEarth, with local support from Re-Monitor.
Registration is open, and sponsorship packages are available on the event website, where you can also find the full program and the 2026 speaker lineup.
See you in Golden!
— NHAZCA Team