In civil, geological, mining and petroleum engineering disciplines, the engineers face problems associated with geotechnical systems that are in or on jointed rock. Some examples for geotechnical systems are underground and surface excavations made for mineral extraction, hot dry rocks for geothermal energy extraction, underground fractured reservoirs for oil and gas recovery, hazardous waste isolation caverns, underground caverns for oil and gas storage, tunnels for hydropower and transport, foundations for various types of buildings, bridges and dams, and natural and man made slopes. In some of these rock engineering problems, the concerns are the stability and deformation of the rock masses. In some other cases, the fluid and heat flow, and transport through rock masses are of central importance. In a limited number of situations, notably the design of underground radioactive waste repositories, storage of liquefied natural gas or oil or geothermal energy recovery, coupled thermal, hydraulic, mechanical and chemical effects are of concern. Design and construction of the aforementioned geotechnical structures require a sound knowledge of rock mass mechanical, hydraulic and thermal behavior. Rock mass behaviors in turn depend on rock joint mechanical, hydraulic and thermal behaviors. The International Conference on Rock Joints and Jointed Rock Masses along with pre-conference short courses/workshops, technical field trips and exhibits are planned to provide the state-of-the-art and the new developments on the aforementioned subject areas.

The conference and the related activities will be held in Tucson, Arizona, USA from 4th through 10th January, 2009. I would like to invite the educators, practitioners and researchers in geo-engineering who work in structural geology, Engineering Geology, rock mechanics and rock engineering disciplines associated with civil, geological, mining, petroleum, construction and environmental engineering projects to participate in the conference and other related activities, and to share their novel ideas, new developments, technologies, state-of-the-art practices and experiences. We expect you to benefit in your professional career from the knowledge gained through exchange of information and discussions that would take place at these gatherings.

In conjunction with the conference, a few sightseeing tours are planned to cover unique tourist spots that exist in Arizona. Participants from over 40 countries are expected to attend this conference. Therefore the conference will also provide an opportunity to develop new friendships and renew old friendships with participants from all over the world.

I look forward to welcome you to sunny Tucson, Arizona in January 2009.

Professor P.H.S.W. Kulatilake
Conference Chair
University of Arizona, USA.