Opening Address

This conference on Civil Engineering Problems Overseas has been held every other year from 1948, with the exception of 1970. The aim has been to discuss problems of common interest to engineers who are active in one way or another in countries outside the British Isles.

The conference originated from a feeling of isolation of engineers in British territories overseas. There were a great many problems that were common to many countries but were not experienced, or were little experienced, in the British Isles. Such problems arose from different climatic conditions, from different geological conditions, from different local labour conditions and from different raw materials.