At the recent 4th Workshop on Machine Learning in Geotechnics (4FOMLIG), held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, Professor Jiawei Xie from Nanchang University received the Bright Spark Lecture Award from the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and was invited to deliver a Bright Spark Lecture.

The International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) was established in 1936 following the initiative of Professor Karl Terzaghi, widely regarded as the father of modern soil mechanics, at the first International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering held at Harvard University. ISSMGE is one of the longest-established and most influential international academic organizations in geotechnical engineering. It currently comprises member societies from approximately 90 countries and regions and represents more than 20,000 professionals worldwide. The Bright Spark Lecture Award is an international academic honor for outstanding young researchers in geotechnical engineering. Award recipients are invited to present their research at major international or regional conferences associated with ISSMGE.

Professor Xie delivered a lecture entitled Seeing the Unseen: From Sparse Observations to Cognitive Subsurface Modelling. The lecture addressed long-standing challenges in geotechnical engineering arising from sparse, heterogeneous, and fragmented site investigation data. It presented a unified framework integrating data acquisition, spatial modelling, and intelligent inference for data-driven 3D geological modelling. The work introduced and developed an Adaptive Strata Tree algorithm incorporating geological interface constraints, enabling high-fidelity reconstruction of complex stratigraphic and rock mass structures from sparse investigation data. In addition, an AI-agent-based cognitive system was developed to coordinate specialized models and computational tools for expert-level interpretation, consistency checking, and automated report generation. The work supports the transition of geotechnical site investigation from experience-driven practice toward data-driven intelligent analysis and provides a scientific basis for intelligent ground modelling and risk-informed decision-making in infrastructure projects such as tunnels and slopes.

Jiawei Xie is a Professor and PhD Supervisor at Nanchang University and a recipient of a national-level young talent program. His research focuses on digital and intelligent geotechnical site investigation, 3D geological modelling, and engineering risk assessment. He has led or participated in a number of competitive research and industry-funded projects, including a national-level young talent project, the National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scientists Fund (Category C), and an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project. He has published more than 30 SCI-indexed papers in major international journals. His research has been applied in engineering projects including railway track condition monitoring and early warning in Australia, and he has been invited to present his work at numerous international academic conferences.

In 2026, he received the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad (Category B), which is awarded to only 50 recipients worldwide each year. In 2024, he received an Excellence Award in the 19th “Chunhui Cup” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition for Chinese Students Studying Abroad and a New South Wales research award nomination from the Australian Geomechanics Society. In 2022, he received the Best Paper Award from GEOSNet. He currently serves on the young editorial boards of Geotechnical Engineering and Journal of Railway Science and Technology and as a young member of the FOMLIG Council. He also regularly reviews manuscripts for international journals including Géotechnique, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences (IJRMMS), and Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (JRMGE).

Source | Research Office
Layout | Yingxin Guo
Reviewed by | Song Shen, Yudong Xu, Kekan Li