The signing ceremony of co-constructing the Laboratory Center of Soft Soil in Ningbo University of Technology, a branch of the key national laboratory of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, was held on the afternoon of November 27th. The laboratory center is co-constructed by Ningbo University of Technology and Wuhan Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).

The 21st century is recognized as the new era of the construction of urban underground space. China enters into the constructing stage of developing urban underground space including the construction of subways, underground pipe networks and sponge cities. Located in the soft soil area, Ningbo is faced with difficulties in geotechnical engineering during the development of urban underground space. The co-construction of Laboratory Center of Soft Soil will improve Ningbo’s problem-solving abilities in soft soil engineering during the construction of major urban infrastructure projects and promote the discipline innovation of geotechnical engineering of Ningbo University of Technology.

Built in 1958, Wuhan Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, CAS is devoted to the research of geotechnical engineering. It has made many prospective studies in the national major projects, leading the research of geotechnical engineering in China. The research of the development and resource utilization of underground space in soft soil areas will be made in the Laboratory Center of Soft Soil to solve the problems of geotechnical engineering and improve the construction quality of major projects in China.

The deputy director of Wuhan Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, CAS and the principal of Ningbo University of Technology signed the agreement and announced the establishment of the Laboratory Center of Soft Soil, Ningbo University of Technology.