Keynote paper for ESD

Challenges in Recent Underground Construction in Taiwan

Za Chieh Moh and Richard Hwang

Dr. Za-Chieh Moh

MAA Group Consulting Engineers, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of
China
Dr. Moh received his BSCE degree from National Taiwan
University in 1953, MSCE degree from the Iowa State University in
1955, and Doctor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology in 1961.
Dr. Moh started his professional career at Woodward-Clyde-Sherard & Associates, a leading
geotechnical consultant in the USA and then moved to Yale University. After four years of
teaching & research, he was invited to join the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering in
Bangkok. Over the 11 years tenure, he established the field of geotechnical engineering, assisting
in the transformation of the regional graduate school to a well-recognized Asian Institute of
Technology. He served as Associate Professor, Professor, Division Chairman, and Vice President
& Provost. In 1976, Dr. Moh decided to go back to engineering practice by establishing the
regional consulting engineering firm, the MAA Group, in Singapore and Taiwan.
In his field of specialization of geotechnical engineering, Dr. Moh has played an important
role of educating, promoting and developing the practice in the developing countries in AsiaPacific. Through his effort, the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society was established in 1967
which helped the development of that important but not well recognized field of civil engineering
in many developing countries in the region. The Society now is one of the most active member
society of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
As the co-founder of the MAA Group Consulting Engineers, Dr. Moh has established a
reputable engineering practice withholding engineering ethics and gained international recognition.
Today, the MAA Group has over 1,000 professionals with companies in Singapore, Hong Kong,
Taiwan, Thailand, China and Myanmar. Under the direction and guidance of Dr. Moh, MAA has
also made significant contributions to the technological development in the region. MAAs staff
often combine research with practice. More than 500 technical papers have been published by
MAA staff. Dr. Moh has authored or co-authored over 160 papers.
In addition to his own work, Dr. Moh is active and devoted to sustainable development.
Internationally, he has served and is serving in many organizations including: President of Chinese
Association of Consulting Engineers, President of Union of Professional Civil Engineers
Associations, Chair of Coordinating Committee of APEC Engineers, Chairman of Chinese Taipei
APEC Engineers/International Professional Engineers Monitoring Committee, Vice President of
the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Founding President of
Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society, and Honorary Founding Chairman of Association of
Geotechnical Societies in Southeast Asia.
Besides being listed in many international and regional Whos Who directories. Dr. Moh has
received many honors, including: Honorary Doctor of Technology, AIT, Honorary Member of
Japanese Geotechnical Society, Honorary Member of the Road Engineering Association of Asia
and Australasia, FEIAP Engineer of the Year, Engineering Medal of the Chinese Institute of
Engineers, Gold Medal of the Chinese Institute of Civil & Hydraulic Engineering, Man of the
Year Award of the China Road Federation.