06.02.2024 | 12:30-17:30

BGA Half-day Mini-Symposium on The Observational Method

Speakers: Professor Tony O’Brien FREng, Dr Ying Chen and Mr Daniele Fornelli.

Past event: Please note this event information is displayed for informational purposes only.

Introduction

This event is planned as an in-person event.

This event is free to attend, but advance booking is required via the button below.

Photographs may be taken at the event and used for BGA promotional purposes; if you have any objections please contact the BGA via email.

  • Date & Time
    Date & Time

    06.02.2024

    12:30 - 17:30

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  • Location
    Location

    Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA

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  • Event Type
    Event Type

    BGA Meetings

  • Refreshments
    Refreshments

    Lunch and refreshments are provided. The event will be followed by a drinks reception

Synopsis

The Observational Method (OM) in ground engineering is a continuous, managed, integrated process of design, construction control, monitoring and review that enables previously defined modifications to be incorporated during or after construction as appropriate (CIRIA R185, 1999) .The OM has also been recognised by recent codes e.g. Eurocode. The OM process was introduced by Peck (1969) in his Rankine Lecture (Géotechnique, 19, No 2, 171 -187). The objective is to achieve greater overall economy without compromising safety.The method can be adopted from the inception of a project, or later if benefits are identified.

TC206 and TC220 are the Technical Committees of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) dedicated to the Observational Method and Field Monitoring in Geomechanics respectively.

This mini-symposium will present three areas that they are currently collaborating on:

  • Conditions that enable use of OM (speaker Professor Tony O’Brien, Mott MacDonald).
  • Real-time back analysis (speaker Dr Ying Chen, Typsa).
  • Field monitoring to support the use of the OM (Daniele Fornelli, Geotechnical Observations).

Programme of Seminar

12.30
– Lunch

13.55 – Introduction by BGA Chair

14.00 – Introduction to The Observational Method (OM) and TC206
– Duncan Nicholson

14.10 – Contractual arrangements for OM – Tony O'Brien

14.35 – Monitoring to support OM – Daniele Fornelli

15.00 – Real-Time Back Analysis – Ying Chen

15.25 – Questions and discussion

15.45 – Coffee break

16.15 – Stuart Hardy – Application of OM at Old Oak Common in the context of the 2nd Generation
Eurocodes

16.30 – Hock Liong Liew – The application of OM on HS2 P1
N1N2

16.45 – Chris Menkiti – Application of OM to Cut and Cover
Tunnelling and Open Cuts with reliance on soil suctions to support engineered
slopes in temperate and arid climes

17.00 – Ioannis (Yannis) Vazaios – HS2 Tunnels and the application of monitoring to inform
design and construction

17.15 – Summing up

17.30 – Drinks Reception

19.00 – Close

The event is supported by ISSMGE Technical Committees TC206 Observational Method and TC220 Field Monitoring in Geomechanics

The event sponsors are Arup, Geo-Observations, Mott MacDonald and TYPSA

Speakers

  • Professor Tony O’Brien FREng

    Mott Macdonald

  • Dr Ying Chen

    TYPSA UK & Ireland Limited

  • Mr Daniele Fornelli

    Geotechnical Observations Limited

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