Escaping the Golden Cage: Learning to Practise the Art of Observational Geotechnical Engineering

2014 AGS Practitioner Award Distinguished Lecture

John Simmons

The observational method is a respected and much-quoted pillar of geotechnical practice, but it appears in many guises and its application is not always clearly understood or appreciated. At its heart is the engineer’s dilemma of getting something to work safely and efficiently in the face of uncertainties. Observational geotechnical engineering is the art of observing the realities of the working world to more fully understand the value and limitations of theory and modelling.

This presentation traces the role of observations in shaping a professional career that started with a passion for geology, dams, and bridges, developed into a fascination for slope stability and periglacial landforms, was seconded into the black arts of slope stability and waste management in coal mining, and was then driven back to research to seek better answers to some fundamental mining slope stability problems. The complex inter-relationships among assumptions, analyses, observations, and outcomes are outlined for some case histories involving pile foundations, earthfill dams, slope instability, and material characterisation tests. In order to understand and achieve well engineered outcomes, observational skill and design detailing is promoted as the key to escaping the golden cage of modelling and analysis.

Engineers Australia members participating in AGS technical sessions can record attendance on their personal CPD logs. Members should refer to Engineers Australia CPD policy for details on CPD types, requirements and auditing guidelines.