Category Archives: slope stability

APRIL NEWSLETTER ISSUED

We are pleased to confirm that our April 2019 newsletter has just been issued.  For those who are not registered on our mailing list, you can download it from here .  You can also opt to join our newsletter mailing list by following this link – it takes only a few seconds.  Rest assured we never pass your information to third parties, as stated in our privacy statement.

SUCCESSFUL COURSE ON UPDATED SOIL NAILING STANDARD

We reminded our readers a few months ago that BSI has reviewed and updated the UK’s soil nailing design standard.  In their release, BSI stated:

“BS 8006-2 Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils ‒ Part 2: Soil nail design gives recommendations and guidance for stabilizing soil slopes and faces using soil nails. As there is no corresponding EN or ISO standard, BS 8006-2 is the national de facto soil nailing design standard in the UK and Ireland.” Following issue of the standard, we were asked if we could deliver a bespoke course for a consultancy to help them update their design practices.  A workshop based course was developed with Paul Roberts, a Geotechnical Regional Director with AECOM, and it was successfully delivered in June 2018.  It was a pleasure working with everyone on the course. If you have a need for a specialist course that we don’t usually offer then please contact us to see if we can help.  We have numerous contacts in the industry and regularly provide bespoke courses for companies to address their specific needs.

COURSES IN JUNE 2018

The following courses are planned to run in Chesterfield in June 2018.  Brief descriptions and costs for each are summarised below for ease of reference: Retaining Walls – Principles and Practice, on 7 June 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate This course aims to develop the abilities of the delegates to understand the principles and practice behind retaining structures, including the design of gravity and embedded walls. Introduction to Structural Design to the Eurocodes, on 14 June 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate The course will review the essential elements of the Eurocodes, including EC0, EC1, EC2 and EC3.  It will explore how the codes work and use guided examples to illustrate their application.
Essentials of Project Management, 19 June 2018  REVISED DATE £250 + VAT per delegate Taught from a practical perspective, the course examines what project management is and why it is needed, before introducing delegates to the importance of understanding project financing, contract requirements, and commercial risk. Ground Risk Management for Managers, on 21 June 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate Targeted at project managers and those managing / delivering geotechnical works, the course looks at how ground risk can be managed to enhance project success.
The ICE Professional Review – Overview and Preparation, on 28 June 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate Delivered by an ICE Reviewer, the course will give delegates a rounded view of the review process and provide practical tips on how to prepare your report, and prepare for the interview and written exercise. Please contact us if you wish to receive further details of any course or if you wish to make a booking.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course.
 

COURSES IN MAY 2018

The following courses are planned to run in Chesterfield in May 2018.  Brief descriptions and costs for each are summarised below for ease of reference: Shallow Foundations and Settlement – Principles and Practice, 3 May 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate The course will consider how shallow foundations are built and could fail before focusing on bearing capacity, settlement prediction, and design requirements. Mentoring for Engineering Geologists on Geotechnical Engineering, 8 May 2018 £335 + VAT per delegate This ‘long day’ course provides the equivalent of 1.5 days training with just one day out of the office.  It covers fundamental soil mechanics concepts before applying the principles to foundations, retaining walls and slopes. ICE Professional Review – Preparing for the Written Exercise, 10 May 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate The role of the Written Exercise in the review process will be discussed before examining typical question styles to help delegates understand what a question is looking for.  Exercises to plan and discuss answers will be included. Essentials of Project Management, 17 May 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate Taught from a practical perspective, the course examines what project management is and why it is needed, before introducing delegates to the importance of understanding project financing, contract requirements, and commercial risk. CDM 2015 – Thre Years On (half day), on 22 May 2018 £150 + VAT per delegate The course will review the essential elements of CDM 2015 before reflecting on the lessons learned since the Regulations were implemented. Managing and Leading Teams, on 24 May 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate This course is aimed primarily at young staff wanting or needing to develop their understanding of the breadth of management and leadership approaches. Please contact us if you wish to receive further details of any course or if you wish to make a booking.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course.  

CPD IDEA – BRUNDTLAND REPORT

We thought it worthwhile re-posting  an update made to LinkedIn by our Andy Goodwin on 12 May 2017, as those not on LinkedIn may miss it: “At the risk of making this a regular Friday afternoon post, I have another idea for some CPD over the weekend that is aimed particularly at graduates.  As an ICE Reviewer I regularly hear graduates trot out the Brundtland definition of sustainable development when discussing Attribute 7, but few seem to have ever read the original report.  If you haven’t then you ought to at least look over its 300 pages to get a sense of what it is all about.  It is freely downloadable at http://www.un-documents.net/our-common-future.pdf.  It is not an easy read but it is worthwhile and you should at least find out where the Brundtland definition of sustainable development is set out. ” Happy reading!

LYME REGIS UPDATE

Following the publication of our joint paper on the stabilisation of a slope at Lyme Regis in 2015 (at the XVI European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in Edinburgh), readers may be interested to know that a further paper has just been published in Volume 170 of the Proceedings of the ICE, Civil Engineering.  Entitled “Stabilising Lyme Regis – a strategic approach” and authored by Roger Moore et al, the paper presents a useful perspective on the range of design and management options available to address coastal instability.  It is well worth a read in our view, though we can’t reproduce it here due to copyright.  Check it out on pages 63 to 70 of Issue CE2, dated May 2017.  A copy can be viewed here if you are an ICE subscriber.

NHBC BFT 2017 COMPLETED!

A smiling Andy Goodwin and James Regan of GeoMatters (https://lnkd.in/gNS29hP) having finished their tour of the UK supporting the NHBC’s Building for Tomorrow 2017 events! It was a really well organised tour by the NHBC and their events team, so thanks to everyone there.  It was great to speak to everyone on our travels too of course.

IMAGES FROM NHBC BFT 2017

Some images from the NHBC Building  for Tomorrow” event for 2017, on which we have enjoyed supporting them over the last 4 weeks.  We’ve been talking alongside James Regan of Geo-Matters (https://lnkd.in/gNS29hP) at many of the events.                                    

NHBC BFT2017

We have been busy for the last 4 weeks delivering our part of the NHBC Building for Tomorrow 2017 roadshow.   “Ground Investigation Good Practice” was the subject of our contribution.  It has been great meeting so many people and cascading the news on the GI changes coming due to EC7 and BS5930:2015. More news on this road trip to follow….

NHBC “BUILDING FOR TOMORROW” 2017

We are pleased to announce that we have been asked to support the NHBC in the delivery of their “Building  for Tomorrow” event for 2017.  Together with a partner, Geo Matters Limited, we will be providing a seminar on future changes to ground investigation requirements to meet changes introduced by EC7, BS5930:2015 and BS8004:2015.  We will be presenting at venues across the UK and we look forward to seeing some of you there.  More details of the event can be found using this link.