Andrés Marulanda, Doctor in Risk Management from ISM (France), is one of the confirmed speakers at LARMS 2026. Managing Director of INGETEC, an engineering consulting firm with a presence in most Latin American countries and various regions worldwide, he has built an extensive career in the design and supervision of dams and tunnels, including more than 300 km of hydraulic and transportation tunnels across more than 20 projects.

At the international level, he served as First Vice-President of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA), contributing to the elaboration of the FIDIC–ITA Emerald Book and to the development of contractual guidelines for underground construction. He currently chairs ITA's Working Group WG3 on contractual practices, procurement, and project delivery. He is also a registered professional engineer in Colombia, Peru, and the United States, and the author of more than 30 publications in international conferences and symposia.

His lecture, titled "Lessons Learned in the Design and Construction of Hydraulic Pressure Tunnels in the Andes Mountain Range in the Last 50 Years", will draw on experience from hydroelectric projects developed in the Andes Mountain Range over the past five decades. The presentation will discuss the main challenges associated with pressure tunnel liner design, highlighting the role of in-situ stress measurements in defining the required length and extent of the impermeable liner — a key factor in preventing hydrofracturing and uncontrolled leakage.

LARMS 2026 will be held from August 25 to 28, 2026, in Brasília, Brazil, alongside the XXII Cobramseg, under the theme "Rock Mechanics for a Sustainable Future: Innovation in Mining, Energy and Infrastructure". The event is organised by CBMR, in partnership with ABMS and the ISRM National Group of Brazil.

More information: https://larms2026.com/#home