An interdisciplinary and international workshop on rockfall mitigation

Rocexs 2026, the 8th Interdisciplinary Workshop on Rockfall Protection was held on the campus site of Grenoble, from the 7 to 9 July 2026. It was organized by IGE-INRAE with the help of rockfall experts from four French public institutions, namely, Université Eiffel, BRGM, ONF-RTM and Cerema.

 

In line with the previous editions organized in different countries, Rocexs 2026 brought together academics, researchers, managers and engineers to share recent findings and improvements, new methods and practical experiences in mitigating rockfall disasters. The 130 participants came from 16 countries, and 60% came from abroad.

In addition to the 65 presentations, three keynote lectures were given by renowned experts. Three field trips enabled participants to visit various sites in the Grenoble region where the risk of rockfalls poses a serious threat to the local population. The topics covered during Rocexs included (1) Rockfall initiation (2) Rockfall propagation and related mechanisms, (3) Design of mitigation solutions, (4) Flexible barriers and attenuators, (5) Embankments and walls and (6) Risk and hazard assessment.
This rich and inspiring workshop highlighted the significant improvements made over the last years while revealing critical issues to address. It enabled IGE’s researchers to initiate new collaborations in relation to rockfall propagation, risk assessment and protection structures. These topics have been addressed at IGE-INRAE for the past 20 years, conducting many research works in collaboration with academics and private companies, with a strong orientation towards transfer and operational deliverables