The British Geotechnical Association (BGA) is the principal
association for geotechnical engineers in the United Kingdom.

The 2023 John Mitchell Lecture

BGA Meeting
  • 24.01.2023
  • 18:30 - 19:45
  • Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA
  • Event Type: BGA Meeting
  • Download to Calendar
No description available

The 2023 John Mitchell Lecture: Road Asset, Socioeconomic and Fatality Risk from Debris Flow

by

Professor Michael Winter of Winter Associates

24th Jan 2023 18:30 hours

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

Event Information

The 2023 John Mitchell Lecture will be delivered by Professor Michael Winter.

This event is planned as an in-person event, and will also be webcast live.

This event is free to attend, but advance booking is required. A booking link is given below.

The event will be followed by a drinks reception.

The John Mitchell Award is presented annually by the ICE, based on a nomination from the BGA, for significant contributions in the field of geotechnical engineering. The award was instituted in 2008 in memory of the prominent geotechnical engineer John Mitchell of Arup, who was killed while observing piling works at a central London site in 1990.

The award criteria considered by the BGA include the following:

  • In reflection of John Mitchell’s career, selection will favour practical applications of up to date geotechnical concepts or models (rather than advanced theoretical academic practice).
  • The BGA will consider individuals, like John, who in the course of their careers via incremental works have made significant contribution to geotechnical practice.
  • Notwithstanding the above, the BGA will in addition consider any contemporary practitioner who has instigated a major advance in the geotechnical field, thus opening the award up to the innovative, regardless of age or incremental contribution count.

This event is free to attend.
Advance booking is required for this event
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Synopsis

Fast-moving, rainfall-induced debris flow events are relatively common in the mountainous areas of the UK. The mechanisms of rainfall-induced, fast-moving debris flows will be considered as they bridge between slow mass movements and flood phenomena. A series of case studies of debris flow impacts from Scotland and overseas will be described.

A wide-ranging view of hazard and risk assessment will be delivered, encompassing semi-quantitative regional assessment and quantitative site assessments of debris flow hazards and risks. Focussing on road networks to articulate the principles, the risks will be considered in terms of those that affect road users (fatality), the socio-economic activities that the network facilitates and the road infrastructure itself.

A strategic approach to risk reduction will be used to illustrate how a clear focus on the overall goal of risk reduction can be beneficial in developing an effective strategy before homing in on the desired outcomes and the generic approach to achieving those outcomes.

The effects of climate change on debris flow hazard and risk will be considered as will the issue of where landslide risk reduction sits within sustainability. Some issues surrounding the practice of risk assessment will also be highlighted.

Speaker Biography

Professor Mike Winter is recognised for his major contributions to the practical aspects of geotechnical engineering through research and specialist consultancy at both national and international levels. He has contributed his former roles TRL and since 2019 at Winter Associates. He has published his work in more than 300 journal/conference papers and reports and also applied his knowledge to failure investigations and as an expert witness. His work has been widely implemented in specifications and standards and in professional practice. Particular contributions have been to the procedures and methodologies for landslide hazard and risk assessment and risk reduction, earthworking (particularly glacial till and high stone content materials), and the engineering use of secondary/waste materials (including spent oil shale and tyre bales). He was the external lead for Transport Scotland's Scottish Road Network Landslides Study following the debris flow events of August 2004.

His contributions have focused on the climate change impacts and the economic impacts of geohazards and delivering adaptation and enhancing resilience. He is Visiting Industrial Professor of Engineering Geology & Geotechnics at the University of Portsmouth and Visiting Professor in the UNESCO-Chair Programme on Geoenvironmental Disaster Reduction, Shimane University, Japan. He has contributed to the ISSMGE TC 202 on Transportation Geotechnics since 2003 as an Executive Member and is a founding Board Member of the International Consortium on Geo-disaster Reduction. He was Chief Scientific Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology from 2007 to 2012 and led the organisation of the European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, which was held in Edinburgh in 2015 and is the largest conference ever held on a Civil Engineering theme in the UK.



Refreshment Details

Tea and Coffee will be available from 18:00.

All attendees are invited to a drinks reception after the lecture.

Event Sponsor

This event is sponsored by Heusker

No description available

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