Variability and ground hazards: how does the ground get to be ‘unexpected’

18th Glossop Lecture

Jackie Skipper

When something goes wrong in a civil engineering project, ‘unexpected ground conditions’ are often blamed. Natural variability of the ground can indeed be the cause of engineering hazards — but what are the causes of this variability?

The systems in which sediments are laid down, weathered, eroded, faulted, frozen, transported, all make soils (and their behaviour) more complex. Engineering itself represents a type of assault on the ground, and variable sediments respond variably — leading to a wide range of potential hazards.

Understanding why the ground is variable, therefore, leads to a better understanding of this response, allowing improved prediction and management of risks. Using case histories from the UK and Australia, this lecture will explore the relationship between ground variability and engineering risk, and how training can increase the level of understanding of the ground at every level of a project.

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.