This conference brings together practitioners, researchers, academics, and constructors to share knowledge and experience relating to the current state of practice for designing and constructing earth retaining structures in a sustainable manner.

Earth retaining structures (typically walls) have been used since ancient Egypt, to help manage flooding, irrigation, and controlled erosion. Until the early 20th century, these walls were quite simple and usually constructed based on experience without much engineering as we know it today. Engineers such as William Rankine, Karl Terzhagi, and Ralph Peck developed a more systematic approach to the design of earth retaining structures, allowing for a growing population to to build in areas that were previously unbuildable in more sustainable ways.

In recent years, a variety of new options have become available and these are possible due to the rapid advances in materials, equipment capabilities, observation instrumentation, and engineering knowledge.