ICGSM 2026 | Golden, Colorado
ICGSM 2026: the international monitoring community meets in Golden
More than 140 participants and sponsor representatives, 16 countries and 26 sponsors came together for four days dedicated to geotechnical and structural monitoring, innovation and international knowledge exchange.
140+
People attending
16
Countries represented
26
Sponsors
4
Days
From June 8 to 11, 2026, the Green Center at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden hosted the 12th edition of the International Course on Geotechnical and Structural Monitoring.
Organized by NHAZCA together with IntelligEarth and Re-Monitor, ICGSM 2026 brought together more than 140 professionals and sponsor representatives from 16 countries, with the support of 26 international sponsors.
Four days of training, technical discussion, networking and field activities provided a comprehensive overview of the technologies and applications shaping the future of geotechnical and structural monitoring.
From sensors to decisions
The scientific program covered the entire lifecycle of a monitoring system: from the correct design of a monitoring plan and the selection of suitable sensors to installation, data acquisition, data management and interpretation.
The central message of the 2026 edition was clear: collecting measurements is not enough. Monitoring creates value when reliable and properly contextualized data are transformed into information that can support technical and operational decisions.
The sessions explored applications involving landslides, dams, tunnels, railway infrastructure, mines, pipelines and urban construction projects, demonstrating how different technologies can be integrated to observe complex processes, detect anomalies and manage risk.
Monitoring creates value when data become information and information supports better-informed decisions.
An international ecosystem of technologies and expertise
Alongside the educational sessions, the ICGSM EXPO created a space for direct exchange among instrumentation manufacturers, engineering companies, software developers, infrastructure operators, institutions and monitoring professionals.
The 26 sponsors presented solutions covering geotechnical and structural sensors, wireless systems, fibre-optic sensing, GNSS, vibration monitoring, automated data acquisition and integrated data management.
NHAZCA also took part in the exhibition area, presenting IRIS and its PhotoMonitoring applications for analysing and monitoring changes through images acquired by terrestrial cameras.
Demonstrations, meetings and technical discussions turned the exhibition area into an open laboratory where participants could explore not only the capabilities of individual technologies, but also their application in real-world projects.
ICGSM Awards 2026
One of the highlights of the event was the ICGSM Awards, created to recognize projects that address real-world engineering challenges and technologies that expand the possibilities of geotechnical and structural monitoring.
Monitoring Project Challenge
Comparison of Surface Displacement Monitoring Techniques at a Canadian Block-Cave Mine
The winning contribution presented the comparison and integration of different surface displacement monitoring techniques at a Canadian mine, including InSAR, manual and automated dGPS, prisms, automated total stations, photogrammetry and field-based crack mapping.
The project demonstrated how combining complementary technologies can improve the understanding of subsidence processes and support the management of complex mining infrastructure.
Innovative Technology Challenge
A New Textbook Resource: Fundamentals of Automated Field Instrumentation
The winning contribution addressed one of the key challenges facing the future of the industry: transferring the knowledge required to design, install and manage automated monitoring systems.
The new educational resource connects geotechnical engineering, electronics, signal theory, communications and automation, providing a structured learning path for the next generation of monitoring professionals.
From the classroom to the field: the Pueblo dam technical visit
The final day took participants to Pueblo Dam, a Bureau of Reclamation facility equipped with a comprehensive monitoring system.
The technical visit provided an opportunity to explore the role of instrumentation in the management of a major infrastructure asset, including embankment monitoring, piezometers, manual and automated inclinometers, data acquisition systems, gallery instrumentation and surveying technologies such as LiDAR and remote sensing.
The field trip completed the learning journey of the event by connecting the principles discussed during the lectures and project presentations with the operational conditions of a real infrastructure asset.
A community that continues to grow
ICGSM 2026 once again demonstrated the value of an event that brings together scientific education, field experience and technological innovation.
The participation of more than 140 attendees and sponsor representatives from 16 countries reflects the growth of an international community increasingly focused on data quality, technology integration and the transformation of monitoring into a practical tool for understanding and managing risk.
NHAZCA would like to thank all participants, speakers, sponsors, partners and team members who contributed to the success of the 12th International Course on Geotechnical and Structural Monitoring.
Discover the ICGSM community
Explore the programs, speakers, technologies and latest updates from the International Course on Geotechnical and Structural Monitoring.
See you next year!
— NHAZCA Team