History of the Institute

The Institute of Geotechnical Engineering in its present form was founded in the course of a restructuring of the university in 1991. However, the laboratory for soil mechanical investigations exists since 1936. Due to political and structural political events it experienced many changes.

In the postwar period, the laboratory was one of only few facilities to be able to analyse construction site conditions and determine soil characteristics. Therefore, it had a considerable significance on the reconstruction of Eastern Germany and up to 70 members in these days.

In 1970 all institutes of the Technischen Universität Dresden were closed in order to introduce a new structure of the university. As a result, the size of the institute was reduced in favour of the formation of new facilities. However, the reorganisation supported also the formation of the working group "Engineering Geology".

Short historical outline

• 1828 foundation of the "Königlich Sächsischen polytechnischen Bildungsanstalt Dresden" ("Royal Saxony polytechnical educational establishment of Dresden")

• 1890 renaming to "Königlich Sächsische Technische Hochschule Dresden"

• 1936 foundationof the "Laboratories for soil and foundation mechanical investigations" byProf. Friedrich Wilhelm Neuffer

• 1939 association with the "Laboratories for soil mechanics" at Bergakademie Freiberg, founded by Prof. Franz Kögler in 1928; direction by Prof. Walter Bernatzik under the common nameof Institute for earth works (Institut für Erdbau)

• 1944 Johann Ohdebecomes member of the institute staff

• 1945 extensive destruction of the institute due to bombing

• 1946 resumption of the teaching programme at Technischen Hochschule Dresden; reappointment of Prof. Neuffer for director of the institute

• 1949 appointment of Johann Ohde to professor for Foundation Engineering

• 1953 laying of the foundation stone for the present institute building; Prof. Ohde dies after severe illness

• 1960 appointment of Walter Kinze as director of the Institute and professor for Foundation Engineering (professor until 1975)

• 1961 renaming of Technischen Hochschule Dresden to "Technische Universität Dresden"

• 1962 appointment of Dr. Kurt Schubert to professor for Soil mechanics (professor until 1975)

• 1970 dissolution of all institutes at the university

• 1974 Dr. Joachim Rudert lecturer for municipal underground engineering

• 1979 appointment of Dr. Peter Bilz to professor for Foundation Engineering and director of the working group "Geotechnical Engineering" (professor until 1992)

• 1984 appointment of Dr. Joachim Rudert to assoc. Prof. for Soil Mechanics (professor until 1991)

• 1990 restructuring of the university and renaming of the institute to "Institute of Geotechnical Engineering"; direction by assoc. Prof. Dr. D. Franke

• 1992 appointment of Dr. Dietrich Franke to Univ.Prof. for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering and director of the institute; appointment of Dr. Siegfried Grunert to Univ.Prof. for Applied Geology

• 1999 retirement of Prof. Siegfried Grunert and appointment of Dr. Bernd Ullrich to Univ.Prof. for Applied Geology

• 2000 retirement of Prof. Dietrich Franke

• 2004 appointment of Dr. Ivo Herle to Univ.Prof. for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering

• since 2016 Prof. Ivo Herle dean of the faculty of Civil Engineering