The 1st International Rock Mass Classification Conference (RMCC) took place in Oslo, Norway, from 29th to 31st of October 2024. The conference was hosted and organized by the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute. This inaugural event marked a milestone in the ongoing discourse on rock mass classification, a topic that has been central to the field of rock mechanics since the 1950s. The RMCC 2024 was designed as an arena for the international rock mechanics community, providing a platform for the development, interaction, and exchange of knowledge on this discussed topic. The conference was supported by the International Association of Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG).

RMCC 2024 sought to reevaluate rock mass classification, asking critical questions about its future direction. Discussions revolved around how these traditional systems can adapt to the demands of the 2020s, including demographic change, sustainability, and the digital transformation that is reshaping our industry. The conference underscored the need for a reimagined approach—one that remains rooted in practical reality while embracing the innovations necessary to meet new societal and environmental imperatives.

The RMCC offered two possibilities for proceedings:

IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
Special Issue in the Journal Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering

One part of the RMCC was a special Scientific Farewell for Dr. Evert Hoek who passed away in 2024. Watch it here: