AGS Magazine - September / October 2020

September / October 2020

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY With enrollments onto geoscience degrees steadily falling in the last 15 years, could Urban Geoscience help boost numbers?

Photo Credit: Nick Koor, University of Portsmouth

ORIGIN, EVOLUTION AND FUTURE OF THE SPT

RISK MANAGEMENT IN GROUND ENGINEERING

INSIDE: DATGEL

A review of the recent AGS Webinar examining the Standard Penetration Test

The importance and relevance of AGS data in ground engineering

The AGS Magazine speaks to Managing Director Phil Wade about his company, Datgel

ABOUT THE AGS

Chair’s Foreword As with many members, the AGS has been very busy since the last magazine issue. Some of this is catch up but the majority is a testament to the individuals involved who want to help the industry and to promote their area of specialism. The AGS Working Groups continue to meet remotely and the meetings have been vibrant with hot topics being discussed and new guidance being produced. If any body wants to join the Working Groups then please contact the AGS Secretariat who will pass on your details to the appropriate Working Group Leader.

the wider membership will start in the next couple of months and a new LinkedIn page has been produced to monitor comment and feedback.

The AGS have re-vigorised the Industry Working Parties who are looking at Buried Services, Asbestos and Procurement of Ground Investigation and I believe that these groups will develop guidance or documents which will improve the industry moving forward. The Buried Services Joint Industry Working Group (AGS/BDA/FPS) has started work on new guidance which will promote HSG47 and the use of PAS 128 surveys preground investigation. The group is working closely with George Tuckwell, RSK who is sitting on the PAS 128 revision panel to ensure our guidance reflects the new PAS but we also hope to influence parts of the new PAS.

The Asbestos guidance has been under review for some time now and the Executive is keen that the advice to members is pragmatic whilst at the same time ensuring compliance to CAR 2012. This is proving to be a huge task and far from straightforward but we would hope to publish this by the end of this month.

The working party looking at the Third Edition of the Yellow Book, UK Specification for Ground Investigation, has met and is about to review Draft 2.

The process has been extended due to COVID and is due to be completed when a final draft is passed to ICE Publishing on 31st March 2021. Consultation with

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We have now had three meetings with NEC, the last being a meeting with the NEC Board, where Neil Parry, Geotechnical Engineering provided a business case for a new document or set of guidance which specifically relates to ground investigation.

The NEC Board has asked us to now provide some details and examples of where the NEC Contract has been used effectively and where it has not.

We are always on the lookout for additional, informative content for the magazine, so if you have a case study or technical article that you think the wider geotechnical and geoenvironmental public would find beneficial, please do get in touch.

We would be interested in your feedback on the magazine and our future plans. Please contact ags@ags.org.uk if you have any comments.

The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) is a non-profit making trade association established to improve the profile and quality of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. The membership comprises UK organisations and individuals having a common interest in the business of ground investigation, geotechnics, geoenvironmental engineering, engineering geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, and other related disciplines.

EDITORIAL BOARD Julian Lovell, AGS Chair Caroline Kratz, Forum Court Associates (FCA) Katie Kennedy, FCA Calum Spires, Equipe Group Neil Parry, GEL David Entwisle, BGS Jim Poole, Coffey Chris Vincett, Hydrock Vivien Dent, RSK Adam Latimer, Ian Farmer Associates Dimitris Xirouchakis, Structural Soils Emma Anderson, HaskoningDHV UK Jonathan Gammon, Geotechnical Observations EDITORIAL STORY If you have a news story or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about, please contact the AGS on 020 8658 8212 or ags@ags.org.uk. Please note that articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. The AGS is under no obligation to feature articles or events received.

CONTACT US AGS Forum Court, Office 205 Devonshire House Business Centre, 29-31 Elmfield Road Bromley, Kent, BR1 1LT  ags@ags.org.uk  020 8658 8212

Julian Lovell AGS Chair

 Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists  @agsgeotech www.ags.org.uk

Inside this month’s issue

FEATURE PAGE 12

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The Standard Penetration Test - Its Origin, Evolution and Future

COVER STORY PAGE 14  Could Urban Geoscience help boost enrollment and participation numbers for geoscience degrees?

A review of the recent AGS Webinar examining the Standard Penetration Test. Sponsored by Socotec and including contributions from Stuart Wagstaff, Peter Reading, Stephen West and Julian Lovell, the webinar looked to explore the origins and potential future for the SPT.

BETTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN GROUND ENGINEERING PAGE 20  Phil Hines of the FPS on AGS Data.

Q & A: JONATHAN GAMMON PAGE 22  The AGS Magazine conducts a Q & A with Jonathan Gammon of Geotechnical Observations.

INSIDE: DATGEL PAGE 26  The AGS Magazine speaks to Managing Director Phil Wade about his company, Datgel.

MORE INSIDE

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News in Short: Rob Ainsworth Obituary

PAGE 30 

Working Group Update Loss Prevention

PAGE 32 

Standards Update September 2020

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News in Short cases where one entity is entrusted to carry out a form of approval process on behalf of the State while simultaneously Nonetheless, concerns carrying out its own service in remained: competition with others and these cases would suggest 1. that the Coal Authority that the safeguard measures was both gamekeeper and the Coal Authority has set poacher and was (or may be perceived to be) applying out in its response may be insufficient. There is also the different standards to issue of State Aid having an CMRAs produced by adverse effect on the market the Authority to those which can arise where there is prepared by commercial cross-subsidisation between consultancies 2. that the Coal Authority was a public function and a competitive market one. not fairly competing in the market to provide CMRAs.

Coal Authority & Mining Risk Assessment An AGS Member Company has raised concerns regarding the Coal Authority and Coal Mining Risk Assessments (CMRAs).

In summary, those concerns arise as a result of the Coal Authority both: 1. acting as a Statutory Consultee for planning applications (in relevant areas) and thus providing related guidance for developers and 2. undertaking CMRAs on behalf of third parties as a commercial service.

The Coal Authority responded to the Member’s initial enquiries by providing a copy of their Policy document describing how they implement an ethical wall between the team that produce CMRAs and the staff who deal with the Coal Authority’s planning obligations.

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Request to AGS Members

Preliminary enquiries The AGS Loss Prevention Working Group has made preliminary enquiries with a lawyer specialising in Competition Law. He advised that there may be aspects relevant to the Competition Act 1998 (which prohibits undertakings from abusing their dominant position in a market). There have been

The AGS would like to assess the extent of this issue and determine whether we should commission a formal legal opinion, or take some other action. If you have had similar (or indeed contrary) experience to the AGS Member, or have concerns about this issue, please let us have some brief details by e-mail to ags@ags.org.uk.

AGS Helplines Currently the AGS offer helplines to all Member companies and practitioners with respect to: •

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the AGS Data Format (the discussion forum on the AGS Data Format web site) contractual / legal matters (AGS Legal Helpline at Beale and Co) chemical safety (AGS Chemical Safety Helpline at Marquis & Lord).

These Helplines are advertised in each issue of the AGS Magazine and will continue to operate as they currently do.

However, the AGS is now formalising the reporting service for Member Companies and Practitioners with respect to aspects of interest to the other AGS Working Groups, namely; Contaminated Land, Health & Safety, Geotechnics, Instrumentation & Monitoring and Laboratories. The Terms of Reference under which these Helplines will operate are summarised below.

The Enquiry 1. A valid enquiry will be one that raises issues of general/ broader concern.

For example; indicating a

new area of uncertainty/ issues of policy or that prompt appropriate industry advocacy by the AGS.

technical matter between two AGS members.

Procedure

1. All initial enquiries should be made to AGS 2. A valid enquiry will be one Secretariat. If considered likely to prompt discussion appropriate AGS will at the Working Group (WG) forward on to the relevant and that is likely to lead to Working Group Leader and the need for guidance from AGS Chair. the WG in due course.

2. The WG Leader will agree 3. A valid enquiry will raise to accept or reject and issues in respect of inform AGS (who will then previous AGS advice (i.e. inform the AGS Chair). which may now appear to be out of date or inaccurate 3. The WG Leader will then in some way). allocate responsibility for drafting a response (this 4. An invalid enquiry will may be following a WG be requesting some site meeting). specific advice which is just seeking some free consultancy. For example; here is my data set – what does this mean with respect to a particular ground related risk (geotechnical or geoenvironmental).

5. An invalid enquiry will be one requesting that the WG intervene/ adjudicate in a dispute / disagreement on a

4. The response will be approved by the WG Leader and/ or the WG prior to sending to the enquirer (with Secretariat and AGS Chair copied in).

5. The WG and AGS Chair will consider whether broader issues have been raised that warrant discussion / publication by the WG.

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News in Short Obituary: Remembering Rob Ainsworth The AGS are saddened by the recent passing of Rob Ainsworth, Director of Soils Limited and AGS committee member. Rob died peacefully on 5th August 2020, after a short battle with lymphoma, at the tender age of 41.

Voted onto the Soils board in 2012, Rob got to work, wanting Soils Limited to not only be a best in class, engineer-driven company in the South of England but to one that was innovative, spanning the country (and Europe!) and forward-thinking. His energy and vision made Soils Limited what it is today. He was instrumental in bringing in new technology such as the mini tracked CPT rig and creating a company culture where staff enjoy coming to work. Rob was an active member of the AGS Safety Working Party and more recently was involved in the AGS Procurement of Ground Investigation Steering Group and was always keen to provide a voice for the SME side of the industry.

Rob will be remembered for his wicked sense of humour, enthusiasm and passion to do well, and we and his Soils colleagues pass on our heart-felt condolences to his wife Amy, sons Finn and Jacob and daughter Emily at this very sad time.

The top three AGS publications for Sept’ 2020 1. AGS Guide to Ground Investigation Reports 2. AGS Guide to Environmental Sampling 3. Safe Ground Investigations in the Light of COVID-19 To download the publications for free; click here.

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR GEOTECHNICAL ANALYSIS

THE ROCSCIENCE SLOPE STABILITY SUITE

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To learn more about our upcoming workshops and free program trials, get in touch with our UK rep Dr. Ian Williams at ian.williams@rocscience.com

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UPCOMING EVENTS Exchange of ground model and interpreted data - Introducing AGSi Have you ever found yourself looking for: •

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A common data format for ground information that your analysis software can understand, making automation of design workflows much easier.

• BIM/CAD modellers • Asset managers • Software developers In summary, anyone involved in the creation or sharing of ground models, whether they be geological, geotechnical, hydrogeological or geo-environmental.

This webinar will be the official launch of AGSi. Of course, we already have the existing very successful AGS data format, which is used for the transfer of factual data from ground investigation and monitoring. AGSi will complement the existing AGS format, picking up where it leaves off. No prior knowledge of the AGS format is required for AGSi.

In this webinar we will cover the following:

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Practical examples Tips on how you could use AGSi today Where to find the (online) documentation Relationship to the existing AGS format How AGSi fits in with other model formats (e.g. IFC Geotechnical) Future plans

An industry standard non-proprietary method for transferring a ground model and/or interpreted geotechnical parameters to another organisation.

A way of importing your ground model into a BIM model that does not involve lots of reprocessing or data loss.

If you have answered yes to any of the above, then you are not alone! For the last couple of years the AGS Data Management Working Group has been working on this very problem.

The solution we have come up with is AGSi, a new transfer format for ground information, in particular ground models and interpreted data.

• • •

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Background to AGSi Use cases and potential benefits Overview of the schema, diving into detail in some areas Introduction to JSON encoding

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Who should attend?

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Geotechnical engineers Geologists Hydrogeologists Contamination specialists

Speakers Neil Chadwick Independent Consultant & Digital Geotechnical Specialist Neil is a geotechnical engineer with special expertise in geotechnical data management and the application of BIM and digital workflows in geotechnics. He is a member of the AGS Data Management Working Group and is the lead author of AGSi. He is also part of a worldwide initiative on geotechnical data standardisation jointly organised by buildingSMART and the Open Geospatial Consortium.

Until recently, Neil was an Associate at Arup where he spent over 20 years working on major projects in the building and infrastructure sectors, including Crossrail, Westfield Stratford City and the London 2012 Athletes Village.

Jérôme Chamfray (BEng) Chief Geo-Digital Engineer at Jacobs Jérôme is member of the AGS Data Management Working Group. He has contributed to the development of industry approaches to BIM and Digital Engineering on Ground Engineering and Tunnelling projects. His expertise is centred on ground modelling, design automation, data management and BIM using AGS geotechnical data combined with 3D spatial information.

His wide range of expertise and valuable knowledge have led him to be identified as a technical expert on large multidisciplinary projects in South Africa, Middle East and the UK.

and sits on British and European committees.

He is also Managing Director of Equipe which is the UK’s leading provider of vocational training and assessment. Julian is currently working with UGUK to ensure geoscience training meets the industry needs.

Sponsorship Diamond and Gold sponsorship packages are available for this event.

More info: https://www.ags.org.uk/item/ exchange-of-ground-model-and-interpreteddata-introducing-agsi/

Other AGS Webinars

Julian Lovell Managing Director a Equipe Group & AGS Chair

AGS 4.1 • • • •

Julian is the current Chair of AGS and has been involved in the geotechnical industry for over 30 years. He is actively involved in producing safety and technical guidance for the industry

Date: Tuesday 8th December 2020 Time: 11am Cost: Free of charge Sponsorship: Gold packages available

Sponsorship Packages DIAMOND SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

*one package available per webinar

*10 packages available per webinar

Price: £800 (members) or £1,100 (nonmembers)

Price: £350 (members) or £650 (nonmembers)

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Company website link or pop-up promotion to feature during the webinar Company mention during webinar opening & closing address Logo & overview in the event program Logo & overview in promotional emails Company Q&A in AGS Magazine Full page advert in AGS Magazine (worth £400) Two complementary event registrations (applicable for paid for events) Large logo on sponsor slide Logo on registration page Company logo and overview on the AGS’ Twitter page (2,804 followers) Company logo and overview on the AGS’ LinkedIn page (4,111 followers) Company overview & URL on AGS website

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Logo & overview in the event program Logo on sponsor slide Company mention during webinar opening & closing address Logo featured in promotional emails Company directory insert in AGS Magazine (worth £50) One complementary event registration (applicable for paid for events) Company logo and overview on the AGS’ social media channels (Twitter and LinkedIn) Company overview on AGS website

If your company would like to support any AGS webinars or if you’d like any further information on the events, please contact Caroline Kratz on ags@ags.org.uk.

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DATE: WED 4TH NOV TIME: 10AM DURATION: 4 HOURS PRICE: ÂŁ60 FOR AGS MEMBERS AND ÂŁ90 FOR NON-MEMBERS. Prices exclude VAT

Image courtesy of Geotechnical Observations

TO REGISTER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, VISIT WWW.AGS.ORG.UK

WEBINAR SYNOPSIS Critical Links in Ground Engineering is the first in a series of events addressing what are considered to be key factors in the process of ground engineering.

In the case of instrumentation and monitoring (I&M), which is the focus area of this webinar, the most critical link is probably that between predicted and actual behaviour of the ground, groundwater regime, temporary works, permanent works, and assets potentially

affected by the works.

This CPD event will identify and address the hurdles likely to be encountered when setting up an I&M strategy and system, and the provisions that must be made for an effective and meaningful programme.

Such provisions include an ability to store the vast amount of data that I&M can generate, and the software necessary to present and assist with the interpretation of that data.

Five, highly experienced speakers will present on

a range of topics which are crucial to any ground engineering specialist. They each bring extensive national and international experience of I&M to this webinar, and are highly regarded within their fields. We are pleased to announce that Paul Burton will be joining us as a guest overseas speaker. Paul will be presenting live from New Zealand and will provide an opportunity to compare the application of I&M on an international basis.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS WEBINAR? This webinar will address instrumentation and monitoring matters of relevance to geotechnical, geoenvironmental, and environmental specialists, ground engineers, and structural engineers at all

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levels of experience in the UK and overseas.

It will be relevant to client organisations, consultants, contractors, quantity surveyors, academics and researchers, and to the legal and insurance professions.

Infrastructure owners and owners of buried assets or with assets within the zone of influence of construction works will also benefit from attendance and participation in this webinar.

THIS EVENT WILL COVER A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING: An introduction to instrumentation and monitoring (I&M); the wide range of techniques available and the magnitude of the I&M market.

The impact of current and forthcoming standards, codes, and specifications on the necessity for, and application of I&M. The international dimension to I&M, with reference to practice in New Zealand and Australia.

The work and global reach of Technical Committees, Steering Groups, and the like, involved in I&M. The need for I&M education, training and qualifications for university students, graduates, apprentices and technicians.

The search for an industry-wide, international, data management system for I&M to complement that already in place for ground investigation (e.g. AGS 4.1 Data Format)

PRESENTATIONS INSTRUMENTATION AND MONITORING: A CRITICAL LINK IN GROUND ENGINEERING Presented by Jonathan R A Gammon, (NonExecutive Director / Advisor at Geotechnical Observations Limited and AGS Instrumentation & Monitoring Working Group Leader) This presentation will identify the role of I&M in GE and will encompass environmental, structural, asset protection and management considerations.

The status of I&M as a critical link in GE will be illustrated and the importance of I&M in the context of the design and implementation of temporary works, and the related adoption of the Observational Approach will receive attention.

The presentation will underline the need to give attention to I&M and to ensure adequate provision is made, for the vast amount of data that current systems can generate.

The importance and sources of baseline monitoring/data will be identified, and long-term/ whole-life monitoring will also receive attention.

References to direct and remote monitoring will be made, as well as a summary of the present day scope of I&M and the various techniques and types of instrument available.

DATA – OVERHEAD, DELIVERABLE OR OPPORTUNITY? Presented by Philip Child, (Senior Consultant, Geotechnical Information Management at Bentley Systems)

The delivery of data, specifically AGS data, is now a staple in many (major) ground investigation contracts in the UK. With data unlocking clear benefits for reuse and flexibility it has been known to form the basis for contentious conversations between exchanging parties.

This presentation will outline some key challenges we face but in particular propose an alternative way of thinking about our data. With these fundamentals in place attention will then be given to the specifics of working with monitoring data and the possibilities it provides.

LOOKING FORWARDS FROM DOWN BELOW Presented by Paul Burton, (Executive Leader at Geotechnics (New Zealand) Providing instrumentation and monitoring services in the Australasian region can be challenging. This presentation will share and highlight these challenges and look to suggest some developments that could benefit the world community of I&M professionals.

The presentation will provide an overview of the types of projects and solutions encountered in the Antipodes.

In a globalized world, does it matter that you are in a remote island in the South Pacific?

Does it matter that you are in a diametrically opposite time zone? What are the effects of limited international travel?

Using some case studies, this presentation will bring some sunshine to the Northern Hemisphere winter.

DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR INSTRUMENTATION AND MONITORING Presented by Dr Andrew Ridley, (Managing Director at Geotechnical Observations Limited) International standards for geotechnical monitoring have been in development

by ISO since 2010. The first of these on general rules was published in 2015 and is currently being reviewed.

Part 2 on extensometers was published in 2016, Part 3 on inclinometers was published in 2017, Part 5 of Total Strs Cells was published in 2019 and the latest standard Part 4 on piezometers was published in 2020. All of these have been published as ISO Standards in English and French worldwide.

In Europe the standards have been published under EN_ISO 18674 and a German language version has also been published. Standards on strain gauges, load cells and settlement systems are in preparation.

WHAT MIGHT A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN LOOK LIKE? Presented by Julian Lovell, (Managing Director at Equipe Group and AGS Chair) This presentation will discuss the UK’s strategy to develop training for installation and monitoring technicians which dovetails in with the development of Vocational Qualifications and compliance to the Standards.

Currently, the training of

individuals who carry out installation and monitoring activities hugely varies and is often ad hoc. As clients are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of monitoring their geotechnical assets and structures and the complexity of some of the instrumentation equipment and associated technology grows it is essential that technicians and ground practitioners are equipped with the knowledge and skills to perform the work assigned to them.

This is an opportunistic time to develop a joined-up strategy, as new International Standards are being discussed which set out the competence requirements of a Qualified Technician and the AGS is also leading a Working Party developing a brand-new Vocational Qualification for field and laboratory technicians.

SPONSORED BY GEOTECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS LIMITED

Geotechnical Observations is a leading provider of instrumentation and monitoring services. They supply and install all forms of structural and geotechnical instrumentation, collect data and provide assistance, when required, to understand the results using its Geodaisy® software. They are the exclusive distributor of ShapeArrays in the UK and Ireland. www.geo-observations.com For details on our remaining sponsorship packages email ags@ags.org.uk

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On 15th September the AGS hosted a webinar on the evolution and use of the Standard Penetration Test which was generously sponsored by Socotec.

during the test. Observations were also made on improving safety precautions for drill crews during the test.

It’s clear that there is enthusiasm in the Stuart Wagstaff and Peter Reading built on industry to evolve the execution and use of their respective articles the SPT. The need for research published earlier this year in and investment by the This was a very the AGS magazine providing popular subject with Geotechnical Industry their insights on the history was discussed and the nearly 400 live views of and development of the AGS is well placed to help the webinar.

SPT and the issues that all encourage this evolution. geotechnical practitioners must If you missed this webinar consider when specifying, executing, and there is a recording on the AGS website which using the SPT. This was a very popular subject can be viewed HERE or on the AGS’ Vimeo with nearly 400 live views of the webinar. channel. Look out for further technical After their presentations, Stuart and Peter webinars from the AGS over the coming were joined by Julian Lovell and Stephen West months. to discuss this topic further and reflect on WEBINAR ANALYTICS the many questions and feedback provided by the viewers. The webinar also included a Engagement number of polls which provided information • No. of registered attendees: 661 • Session length: 1h 34m 40s on how the SPT is used. Many correspondents • Average audience time in live room: 1h supported the use of the SPT as part of an 08m 29s effective ground investigation however there Viewership were also calls for development of the test to better measure energy expended in the test • No. of promo video views: 201 • No. of webinar replays: 341 (Vimeo and to provide more information on the state of WebinarJam) the ground during the test and to automate • No. of views on AGS webinar page: 4,959 the recording of key pieces of data collected

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What is your preferred method to characterise ground strength?

Standard Penetration Test

12% 28% 12%

Laboratory shear strength testing Direct observation of undisturbed soil samples

3%

Other in situ test Other 45%

What method do you typically use to derive soil stiffness parameters?

Published correlation with Standard Penetration Test N values

14% 5% 8%

47%

26%

Laboratory stiffness measurements such as oedometer tests In-situ measurements using CPT In-situ measurements using pressuremeter Other

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Urban Geoscience: Opening the Industry to Inclusive and Diverse Communities

Photo: 2019 Jan. Lam Tin Tunnel Hong Kong. Photo taken by Nick Koor

Article contributed by Dr Nick Koor Reader in Geological Engineering University of Portsmouth

0

ver the last 15 years, we have seen numbers enrolling for Geoscience degrees steadily falling and this has prompted many of us to do some serious soulsearching to work out why this might be.

In doing so, what has become apparent to me is that Geoscience, as we have all known it, is perhaps no longer relevant to today’s demands for sustainability, or reaching the wide student audiences that other science degrees continue attracting. Numbers have fallen by 43% since 2005 and mirror a similar demise in students taking A-Level Geology, which tends to track the oil price (Figure 1). Looking at the longer term, A-level Geology student numbers

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peaked in 1983-84, coinciding with the North Sea oil boom, and since then there has been a steady decline of 66% in total numbers.

The climate emergency and shift away from carbon-based energy will require Geoscience Departments at Universities to examine and perhaps loosen their ties with the oil sector, to focus more on climate change, the energy transition, and Urban Geoscience, while embracing artificial intelligence and the big data challenges to make our degrees more relevant to Generation Z. In conjunction with these falling student numbers is the realisation that Geoscience, in a University setting, is dominated by white middle-class males with black and Asian minorities poorly represented as students and academics, as well as those from poorer socio-economic backgrounds.

This article will focus on how we should make our degrees, and as a consequence industry, more fit for purpose sustainability-

wise, inclusive and diverse academically, and potentially broaden the understanding of Geoscience to young people who are currently unaware it exists as a subject or that it provides viable career opportunities. I use the term Geoscience as a catch-all to include subjects at University and in the profession that encompass geology, earth science, hydrogeology, geophysics, engineering geology, and geohazards etc.

UK geoscientists.

There is much research around access to the STEM subjects (Geoscience is STEM). I will briefly discuss some longitudinal research that investigated the science aspirations of young people. The ASPIRES project started at Kings College in 2009 and continues now at University College London as ASPIRES 2 (Archer, Moote, Macleod, Francis & DeWitt.

2020). Looking at some of those important During the Webinar on the 30th July 2020, I outcomes from the ASPIRES 2 project: only asked the question: “Does 16% of 10-18 year olds aspire to anyone actually care, be a scientist, and within that So why is it that apart from Geoscience age band aspirations remain only 16% of 10 to 18 Departments at Universities, unchanged. Yet, we know year olds want to be a about this demise?” Until there is considerable interest the lack of UK Geoscience scientist? The research in science and that 10-18 graduates actually starts to year olds appreciate and tells us that science is negatively impact UK PLC in understand the importance perceived as a subject terms of its ability to function, of science. So why is it that only for “brainy highthen unfortunately, I doubt only 16% of 10 to 18 year achieving students” that industry or government olds want to be scientists? will be concerned. According The research tells us that and this attitude is to a survey taken after the science is perceived as a exaggerated through Webinar, 83% (28 out of subject only for “brainy high to secondary school 34) of respondents stated achieving students” and years. that they did not currently this attitude is exaggerated have difficulty in recruiting through to secondary school geoscientists. So it would appear that years. It is the students identifying as white this is presently a problem for Geoscience middle-class males, with high levels of what departments in Universities but not the APSIRES 2 researchers term “science necessarily industry. But what about over the capital”, who are inclined towards science as a next 30 years? If numbers continue falling career. Science capital is defined as a person’s then will this decline adversely affect UK PLC understanding of science through parents, in achieving some of the grand challenges friends and family, careers and teacher advice of our time? Such as: carbon neutrality by at school etc. This reinforces white, male 2050; the energy transition; and resilience to middle-class dominance in science as this climate change, all of which are problems that group is more likely to have access to these require significant Geoscience expertise and capital-building experiences than someone leadership. Interestingly, 76% (26 out of 34) of from a low income, inner city background.

AGS members who gave feedback studied for When looking at black students the trend a Geoscience first Degree, which suggests that is different. Many aspire to be scientists at if Geoscience student numbers continue to fall a young age but this enthusiasm does not radically then this will negatively affect the translate beyond 16 years of age. The ASPIRES ability of AGS members to recruit graduating 2 research tells us that this is due to many

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instance. Dowey, Barclay, Fernando, Giles, Houghton, Jackson, Mills, Newton, Rogers and Williams (Unpublished) report that in 2018/19, BAME enrolment in undergraduate factors but primarily structural racism, societal Geoscience was just 10.1% with inequalities, and the lack of Physical Geography being The Black Lives science capital. the worst of all the 54 Matter movement Physical Sciences, with 8.5% The Black Lives Matter has had the effect BAME representation on movement has had the effect undergraduate courses. An of accelerating of accelerating the whole internal report by Fernando issue of underrepresentation the whole issue of and Antel (2020) for Oxford of Black, Asian and Minority underrepresentation University’s Department Ethnic (BAME) students of Black, Asian and of Earth Sciences asserts and academics in Higher Minority Ethnic that BAME students make Education (HE). This is a really up about 5% in Geoscience (BAME) students and important issue that needs compared to about 11% in to be addressed by all of us. academics... other science departments In the UK, 14% of the population at Oxford. I would imagine is BAME, this percentage increases to about that these percentages are very similar in the 18% for 18 to 24 year olds (UK Census 2011).

UK “ground engineering” sector. For instance When we consider urban populations, that in a survey carried out by Business in the percentage increases to: 42% in Birmingham, Community, results show that just 3.4% of all 40% in London, and 33% in Manchester for Figure 1 - Geoscience A-level and HE entry from 2002 to 2020 - statistics courtesy of University Geoscience UK

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WITH WORLD CLASS GEOTECHNICAL TRAINING FROM EQUIPE Health and Safety Courses Delivered in partnership with RPA Safety Services

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MARGI - Managing & working with Asbestos Risk in Ground Investigation - £225 + VAT

Comprehensive guidance to deal with asbestos in a GI environment, including CAR 2012

Geoenvironmental Courses Delivered in partnership with Land Quality Management

Introduction to Contaminated Land - £250 + VAT

An introduction to contaminated land for those involved in ground investigations and geotechnical work

Sampling and Scheduling for Geoenvironmental Testing - £250 + VAT

Forming good practice and completing appropriate geoenvironmental testing schedules

Geotechnical Courses

Prof. David Norbury’s Soil Description Workshop - £295 + VAT

Providing a detailed approach to soil description practices and techniques

Prof. David Norbury’s Rock Description Workshop - £295 + VAT

Providing a detailed approach to rock description practices and techniques

Geotechnical Foundation Design - £250 + VAT

Comprehensive overview for geotechnical practitioners and engineers

Earthworks Design and Construction - £250 + VAT

A general overview of materials sourcing / selection for design & construction

Slope Stability Design - £250 + VAT

Comprehensive overview for geotechnical practitioners and engineers

September / October 2020

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construction managers in the UK are from ethnic minorities.

out of date, focussing on outmoded industries such as oil. These barriers are intersectional in so far as they affect not only BAME students but other underrepresented groups in Geoscience including students that identify as female or transgender, for instance (Fernando and Antel, 2020).

What are the barriers to BAME students with respect to Geoscience? From anecdotal evidence, work undertaken by Oxford University and others, plus the Aspires 2 research, I would argue that: Geoscience is perceived as a white male dominated subject Our current approach to Geoscience is, in my and as such this discipline does not look opinion, far too old-fashioned and probably inclusive; Geoscience is seen as the “dirty does not appeal to young students from an polluter” rather than the solution to climate urban background who: do not have any change; BAME students are commonly from Geoscience Capital, attend inner city schools inner city communities (as the stats tell with little outside space, have careers teachers us) and have little or no who do not fully understand the “Geoscience Capital” as opportunities that Geoscience opposed to white middle class can offer, and parents Our current students who are more likely who are not aware of the approach to to go to a private school and professions that a degree in Geoscience is, in my therefore have access to far Geoscience lead to. I would opinion, far too oldbetter careers advice and argue therefore that there fashioned and probably teachers who are tuned-in needs to be a complete reto Geoscience etc.; BAME think in the way we teach does not appeal to students have little or no young students from an Geoscience. As the ASIPRES exposure to the principles 2 researchers say, “we need urban background... of field work, which they to change”, not the students, may perceive as expensive and in order to make Geoscience often tied to locations where there much more attractive and are very few BAME people (rural France for relevant. instance) which might feel threatening as an In light of the above it is clear to me that we experience; Geoscience is seen as being for outdoorsy types with little or no urban context; need to do something different in Geoscience education to increase diversity and at the the subject is considered old-fashioned and

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same time boost the overall numbers of students wanting to take Geoscience as a Degree. Introducing Urban Geoscience into the undergraduate curriculum may be one way of achieving some of the changes that are clearly required. Urban Geoscience is about the understanding and utilisation of the ground beneath our cities. In the UK over 80% of the population live in urban areas (2011 UK census). According to the UN, 55% of the world population currently live in cities and this is projected to increase to 63% by 2050. Therefore, Urban Geoscience has the potential to be relevant to a massive number of young people.

I should emphasise that Urban Geoscience is not just another term for Engineering Geology or Geological Engineering (see Abolins, 2002). In my mind it encompasses subjects such as sustainable and resilient cities, subsurface urban planning and architecture, and future cities to name a few. A Degree could encompass multi-disciplined teaching with architects, engineers and planners to develop an integrated, modern holistic degree which satisfies industry and produces graduates that are equipped with the correct skills in digital visualization, manipulation of big datasets, spatial analysis and programming together with the fundamental knowledge around Geoscience, ground characterisation, hydrogeology, the Anthropocene, ground engineering design, and ground-structure interaction.

There is an opportunity here for industry and the HE sector to work together to develop a totally focussed and inclusive new type of degree in Urban Geoscience. It is recognised that some University Geoscience departments will not have the expertise or staff to deliver a full degree programme and may require help from others if they want to travel this route. My thoughts are that there could be a movement to develop a Degree Apprenticeship (DA) “Geoscience” Standard which has a number of degree pathway exit points, one of which

would be Urban Geoscience. The advantages for the student in doing a DA are many, but one significant benefit is that there is no debt at the end of the degree. As there is no DA in Geosciences or related disciplines, the combination of DA plus Urban Geoscience may be attractive to an entirely new set of potential geoscientists who may otherwise not think University is for them or would never consider Geoscience as a degree or career.

My challenge to the Geoscience community is therefore as follows: 1. Support the development and teaching of Urban Geoscience at University in partnership with and support from industry.

2. Actively engage with movements such as @BlkinGeoscience to support and enhance awareness and opportunity for minority groups in Geoscience.

3. Become involved and expand the mentoring initiatives launched by the Ground Forum and Federation of Piling Specialists to guide and tutor underrepresented groups through university and into the profession.

References Archer, L., Moote, J., Macleod, E., Francis, B., & DeWitt, J. (2020). ASPIRES 2: Young people’s science and career aspirations, age 10–19.

Fernando, B and Antell, G. (2020).

Recommendations for improving racial equality, diversity, and inclusion in the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford Ad hoc working group on BAME issues1 February 2020.

Dowey, N., Barclay, J., Fernando, B., Giles, S., Houghton, J., Jackson, C. A. L., ... & Williams, R. Diversity Crisis in UK Geoscience Research Training. Unpublished.

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Better Risk Management in Ground Engineering Article contributed by Phil Hines Federation of Piling Specialists

A

lmost all construction experts agree that the greatest risk to a construction project is ground conditions and in particular, when ground conditions are different to those expected.

Equally most people agree that employing computers to analyse vast amounts of data and present it in a user-friendly way is far more effective than having humans reading reams of data, transposing data into different formats such as excel and producing 2-D plots from which to produce designs etc.

So why is it that Federation of Piling Specialist (FPS) members in a recent survey responded that they still receive 96% of the ground investigation (GI) data and information, on

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which they have to base their advice, solutions and pricing, as pdf documents?

The first and obvious thought might be that it is because digital data does not exist? Wrong!

The Association of Geotechnical Specialists (AGS) launched the common data transfer format for ground investigation data in 1991, which is almost 30 years ago! This was well before BIM or Common Data Environment had become commonly known digital terms in the construction industry. The AGS are currently leading a cross industry working group that are looking at better ways to procure, specify and distribute SI information including the use of AGS data. So, the GI contractors are producing the digital data needed to make the optimal interpretation of the conditions, but the FPS specialist contractors are not receiving it. This begs the question – where is it?

All around us we hear about the power of

digital data, yet construction is painfully slow projects. Having a common understanding in adapting. The government’s challenge to of the ground conditions will also help in the industry becoming BIM level 2 compliant reducing conflict when things are different caused a scare for a while and got people because the base assumptions will be more interested in the topic but has it really changed clearly established. But there is a word of the way we work? On many caution just because we use the construction projects there digital information does not So next time you are teams of architects and mean that the actual ground receive a GI report consulting engineers pouring conditions will not vary on please ask where the over project models but how occasions because that is many of them include the the beauty of geotechnics!

AGS format data is AGS format soil information held and how you can So next time you receive a and why is it not shared with transmit it...

GI report please ask where the specialist contractors? the AGS format data is held The specialist contractors can help the and how you can transmit it (or give access client better manage the risk in the ground to it) to the specialist contractor members of developing innovative solutions, but these the FPS along with that tender enquiry! Please can only be fully optimised by having the do not wait to be asked for it – we often only best possible understanding of the ground get one to two weeks to price a project and we conditions. Having the data will also help us need this information at the start not halfway specialists more accurately assess the ground through the tender period. Then working conditions and their effects on methodology, together, we can better manage the risk in production rates etc., reducing risk priced into ground engineering for the benefit of all.

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Q & A with...

Jonathan Gammon

BSc(Hons) MSc DIC CEng CGeol MICE FGS FEngNZ MHKIE MASCE EurIng

Job Title: Non-Executive Director / Advisor Company: Geotechnical Observations Limited Brief Biography: I am very fortunate to have enjoyed almost forty-five years of international ground engineering experience working for consultants and contractors. In addition to project work in the UK, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, I have lived and worked in Hong Kong and New Zealand. I was Geotechnical Design Manager and Resident Engineer for West Rail in Hong Kong and Sub-Surface Design Manager for Dublin Metro North in Ireland. My infrastructure experience in London includes the Northern Line Extension, for which I was the Expert Witness for Engineering at the Public Inquiry, and the Bond Street Station Upgrade for which I was Design Project Manager. From 2014 to 2016, I worked on Phase One of High Speed Two (HS2) as Head of Ground Investigations. In 2019, I was responsible for establishing AGS’s Instrumentation and Monitoring Working Group (I&MWG), of which I am now Leader, and which featured in the June/July 2020 issue of AGS Magazine.

What or who inspired you to join the geotechnical industry?

When studying for my Civil Engineering degree at the University of Surrey in the early 1970s, I was very fortunate to fall under the “spell” of Noel Simons and Bruce Menzies, who taught us Soil Mechanics. Although I had intended to take up a career in bridge engineering - my year in industry had been spent 22

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working for contractor Marti AG on the construction of the fantastic Felsenau Bridge in Switzerland - I was easily persuaded to change direction and had their support to gain a place on the MSc Course in Soil Mechanics at Imperial College. In 2018, I was very pleased to be invited by the University of Surrey to give a lecture about my career and acknowledge the inspiration Noel and Bruce had given me.

In 2019 I gave the same lecture at Imperial College and could acknowledge the inspiration given to me there.

What does a typical day entail?

I retired from full-time work in August 2017, when I was Technical Director, Tunnelling and Geotechnics at CH2M (now Jacobs). In late 2018, I was delighted when Managing Director Andrew Ridley gave me the opportunity to be, on a part-time basis, NonExecutive Director and Advisor at instrumentation and monitoring (I&M) specialists Geotechnical Observations Limited (GeO).

One of the features of previous AGS Magazine “Q&As” has been an inability to assign the word “typical” to our days.

Even in semi-retirement this applies. I am fortunate to have opportunities to join fitness classes at a nearby gym, or online during the COVID-19 lockdown, so some days start in that way. I will also admit that some days involve the typical retirement pastimes of gardening and walking!

Jonathan at the site of the New Europe Bridge which now provides a combined Road and Rail crossing of the River Danube between Bulgaria and Romania as part of the Trans European Transport Network.

My work at GeO and my input in a volunteer capacity to AGS and other organisations means that I keep a keen eye on the technical press. Most days I will be receiving and sending emails and searching out news and information via the internet. Zoom, Teams, and similar Calls often feature during my day. WhatsApp messages arrive and need attention. I have benefitted from watching excellent webinars on a wide range of topics.

Although based at home in West Sussex, I always enjoy the opportunity to travel to our offices in Weybridge and to catch up with everyone there.

In November last year Andrew and I made a successful business visit to Switzerland, where I was able to use the German I had learned all those years ago for my Industrial Year at Surrey!

Once a month I prepare my Report to the GeO Board and take an active part in the Board Meeting.

I am a STEM Ambassador and that led to my role as a Volunteer at the Science Museum in London which would, prior to COVID-19,

feature regularly in my calendar.

I am fortunate to have contact with those who have worked for me going back many decades and, as a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Geologist, I have been able to help those applying for their own professional qualifications. As a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, I continue to take part in the online Assessments of UK-based candidates for New Zealand professional qualifications

Are there any projects which you’re particularly proud to have been a part of?

Yes. And I am very lucky to have too many to list here!

However, when pressed for an answer I will readily admit that my very first project - the Felsenau Bridge in Switzerland, where I learned about foundations, superstructures, temporary works, and site operations and was given an astonishing amount of responsibility - is still a favourite. I am also particularly proud of all the wonderful staff who have worked with me on projects in the UK and overseas.

What are the most challenging aspects of your role?

One challenge, being semiretired, is not having the daily contact with friends and colleagues that I enjoyed when working full-time. That situation has applied to almost everyone during the COVID-19 lockdown, so there should now be a wider appreciation of that aspect of retirement.

I am fortunate to have a neverending To Do list, not all workrelated, and a major challenge is setting priorities and trying to exercise effective timemanagement. I had thought I would be able to keep up to date with my reading of the journals that my professional memberships keep supplying through my letter-box; that has proven harder than expected, even more so when the journals are delivered electronically.

Directly related to my parttime role at GeO, the most challenging aspect would be keeping sufficiently engaged with our overall operations and commercial well-being to know where I can best apply my experience and provide the advice required of me. ď Ž September / October 2020

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I am very fortunate to be able to continue my involvement with, and passion for, civil engineering in this way but it is a challenge not to make it a full-time commitment.

working in I&M receive ongoing attention.

What do you enjoy most about being an AGS Member?

I attended the meeting at Imperial College in 1988 that led to the formation of AGS, I helped establish AGS in Hong Kong in the late 1990s, I am the Leader of the and I was Chairman of AGS Instrumentation and from 2008 to 2010. I was both Monitoring Working Group surprised and delighted to be (I&MWG). Members of the made an Honorary Member of I&MWG are nominated to be AGS in 2019. So, it is fantastic Primary Contacts with the to be able to continue my other AGS very enjoyable AGS Seminars Working involvement and Webinars Groups, and I with AGS and represent the to represent on a wide range I&MWG on the I&MWG of topics are very the Business and GeO beneficial to Practice WG. on AGS’s Members.

Executive.

We are currently focussing on: AGS Meetings, the I&M Webinar we are Seminars, and other events broadcasting on 4 November are not only informative and 2020 at 10 am; input to stimulating. They are also the revision of the “Yellow enjoyable. It is a hallmark Book” (UK Specification of AGS. I have been told for Ground Investigation); by guests invited to our and contributing to the meetings that they find them AGS initiative relating to a refreshing change from procurement and related other gatherings of a similar matters as influenced by the kind. That is not to say that Institution of Civil Engineers’ we do not have differences of “Project 13”. We also expect opinion and some very robust to be helping the British debates before reaching final Tunnelling Society with decisions. We do. This reflects revisions to their published the breadth of experience, the documents and contributing to different work-place roles, and the work of CIRIA. the range of ages sat around the table. Mutual respect is a Education, training, and feature of AGS membership; qualifications for those that means that no “harm”

What AGS Working Group(s) are you a Member of and what are your current focuses?

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is done because of such exchanges and enjoyment persists.

What do you find beneficial about being an AGS Member?

As a Member, we have access to the fantastic library of guidance and information and the Help Lines - that AGS provides. And to the practical advice and know-how available directly from other Members. AGS Seminars and Webinars on a wide range of topics are very beneficial to Members.

Membership also generates the awareness, particularly to those just setting out in careers, that the term “specialist” is far from being equal in meaning to “narrow”.

The breadth of involvement of geotechnical and geoenvironmental specialists in projects is huge. The opportunities to be engaged in ground engineering are immense. The names of the Working Groups at AGS, with active participation in their activities always extremely beneficial, reflect the diverse nature of the membership of AGS.

Why do you feel the AGS is important to the industry?

As someone who was involved in that first meeting in 1988 that led to the formation of AGS, I can confidently say that AGS is as important to the industry today as it was

then. During the 1980s it was becoming very clear that the “learned societies” and the professional bodies were unable to represent, fairly or adequately, the whole range of types of companies and organisations that were working in or contributing to geotechnical activity. Adopting the role of a Trade Association, AGS increased in importance to those involved in ground investigation, laboratory testing, equipment and material supplies, education and training, insurance and legal matters, as well as those working as specialists within consultants or contractors or working as sole practitioners who then had access to a wealth of know-how and experience not easily available elsewhere.

Initially an Association of Geotechnical Specialists, it was not long before those working in the “new” Geoenvironmental sector found themselves welcome at AGS. The outstanding success of the Contaminated Land Working Group from those earliest of days is testament, alone, to the importance of AGS to the industry. As has been the establishment of the Loss Prevention Working Group.

AGS is a unique and vital organisation. Less than ten years after AGS was established in the UK, I arrived back in Hong Kong for a second period of work on the

exciting geotechnical and geoenvironmental challenges there. Immediately, and with the support of the whole specialist community for reasons that echoed the UK in 1988, I found myself involved in setting up a “sister” to the UK’s AGS. With the enormous assistance of the wonderful AGS Secretariat, an AGS Hong Kong came into being and persists with great importance to this day; its programme of Continuing Professional Development events is highly regarded and much treasured.

What changes would you like to see implemented in the geotechnical industry?

Those working in the geotechnical industry, irrespective of background or area of work, do seem to get on well with each other. However, this sense of “camaraderie” does not seem to find its way easily into commercial arrangements.

When looking after the Ground Investigation for Phase One of HS2 I spoke on several occasions about the benefits that would be realised if contractors would collaborate and form Joint Ventures. In some instances, ground investigation contractors, as an example, are owned by large Tier One contractors and the opportunities for collaboration then seem remote; a similar situation occurs in I&M. This does conflict, however, with the ability of

Tier One contractors (and their consulting engineers’ equivalents) to collaborate with their peers to bid for and secure work.

It is important that we are represented on the various committees and steering groups, national and international, that are involved with Standards, Codes, Specifications, Good Practice Guides, and the like; AGS enables us to do this.

We need to assert ourselves in the arenas occupied by Quantity Surveyors and Structural Engineers, to make sure that geotechnical and geoenvironmental considerations receive timely attention. The need for adequate Baseline Monitoring and, where appropriate, Whole-Life Monitoring, must be understood and underlined.

Attention to the ICE’s “Project 13”, and its related changes, is vital, especially if we are to align the geotechnical industry with the NEC Forms of Contract.

One major change? Not so much in the geotechnical industry but for the industry. To find that Ground Investigation and I&M are thought about and actioned at the appropriate time and do not become an after-thought, entirely out-of-step with the design and construction programme.

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I N S IDatgel DE training services for gINT and Datgel software, and we resell gINT as well as other Bentley Systems software and Golden Software.

Where is Datgel located?

Datgel’s team is in Singapore, Spain and Australia. Further, we have companies in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. I’m based in Singapore.

Getting to know Datgel with Managing Director, Phil Wade...

How many people does the company employ?

Currently 7 people contribute in a range of specialist roles. By What does the company the way, we are on the lookout do and what areas does it for suitably qualified and specialise in? motivated sales Datgel is engineers in the We develop a hybrid UK and North Add-Ins to software America. gINT, provide company When did focusing customisation you set up on ground and software Datgel? engineering development data I started Datgel consulting services management 15 years ago, in to our clients... and reporting October 2005. software. We develop Add-Ins to gINT, What is your career provide customisation and background, and what software development enticed you to set up consulting services to our Datgel? clients, which oftentimes is to further develop our gINT Add- I began my career in construction as a labourer In products. We also provide

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for a construction company during summer holidays before university started and after my first year. My interest in geotechnics was initiated when I worked on a landslip dewatering project, followed by work experience with a geotechnical consultant.

After graduating from Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney, I went on to work for a major global geotechnical consultancy, based in their Sydney office. I worked on site investigations in Australia and New Caledonia.

I also became their gINT developer, developing Excel VBA applications, and managing the site data for a massive new nickel mine development. From here I could see my future career was to be focused on Geotechnical Software. Through this period, I did a part time course work masters in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of New South Wales.

I went on to work for the gINT reseller in the UK at the time for 18 months. We won some major new clients in my time in the UK, and I developed the geotechnical data management system for the civil works contractor for

the New Doha International Airport.

In 2005 I returned to Australia to start Datgel. At the time I don’t think many geotechnical companies in Australia took data management seriously (which has changed now). I saw running my own business was the way for me to do the type of work I wanted to do and turn my ideas in to products.

What does a typical day entail?

Being a small enterprise, and the technical expert in our company, I wear many hats as the Managing Director. My week would entail a wide range of tasks including sales calls with customers, technical

support, programming new features in Datgel’s software products using VB.NET, developing reports in gINT, reviewing the work of my team members, through to people and financial management.

What are the company’s core values?

A few years ago I wrote these aims for Datgel, and they still ring true: •

To provide quality solutions and support to our clients

•

To advance the use of databases and electronic data interchange in Geotechnical Engineering

•

Humane organisation people are the organisation

•

Straight and honourable dealings

•

Social usefulness

Are there any projects or achievements which Datgel are particularly proud to have been a part of?

The first project Datgel worked on was to set up a gINT system and customised/localised AGS Format for the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority (now Transport for NSW). This kick started AGS format use in Australia and set the stage of our business in Australia.

Since the beginning, Datgel has worked with 3 of the

September / October 2020

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

world’s biggest dredging companies, which seeded may of our software products. Two of the biggest projects were Ras Laffan Port Expansion and Khalifa Port. Coincidently, today these same companies are using our software on the Tuas Mega Port in Singapore.

self-study new technologies, mentoring and external training.

How has COVID- 19 affect the day to day running of the company? How have staff adapted?

We pivoted to all online Datgel’s software products are marketing and conducted a our lasting achievement. Most well-attended webinar series on our product range. For a were developed time, we all had with close to work from collaboration Datgel has made home, but with clients, a big effort over thankfully and it is very the past few years to we were fulfilling to see already in a go paperless in our them in use position to do internal work. and see the this as our IT logs and other infrastructure reports made by was already in Microsoft our software posted on the Azure (cloud) and we had internet or in publications. multiple remote employees How important is already working from home so sustainability within the everything was proven. I think company? for us, the way of working was not fundamentally different, Datgel has made a big effort and other types of companies over the past few years to go had a much more difficult time. paperless in our internal work.

Compared to a more physical Why do you feel the AGS is company, there is only so important to the industry? much we can do in this space.

I probably have a different How does Datgel support viewpoint than most, being graduates and early a remote member of AGS. I career professionals who see AGS facilitates the UK are entering the industry? industry to get together to do greater good tasks. It brings Datgel has taken on half a together professionals from dozen paid interns/work across the ground engineering experience students, and industry that other societies/ graduates over the years in organisations just don’t the software engineering/ achieve. This has facilitated computer science space. We the creation of the world’s supported their development leading ground engineering by allowing them time to

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data interchange format.

What are Datgel’s future ambitions?

There have been quite some changes over the years with Bentley Systems buying out gINT ten years ago and now Keynetix last year. Further with Bentley Systems’ greater focus on a SAS cloud application, not that gINT is going anywhere. But we can assume there won’t be too many big leaps in future for gINT, the platform for Datgel’s existing software products.

Also, the business of software reselling is not what it was with the greater focus on subscription licenses and SAS cloud applications where resellers see less or no revenue.

Certainly, some plans are in the making, and you should look out for our new initiatives over the coming years.

What I can say now is we are looking to make our software more accessible to the North America and Europe markets, partly through making it easier to buy online, and secondly with further localisation.

Datgel are Diamond Sponsors of the AGS 4.1 webinar which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 8th December 2020 at 11am

datgel.com

Transform your reporting and analysis capabilities with gINT and Datgel

Hit the ground running with a complete range of supported software packages and solutions for world-class geotechnical data management.

Datgel Software • DGD Tool – Site investigation reporting, summary reports, calculations and efficiency tools, and import/export of AGS 3.1, AGS 3.1 RMS 1.1 and AGS4 format data

• CPT Tool – process and analyse CPTUs in gINT

• Monitoring Tool – piezometer, settlement, inclinometer, and now with many VW formulas

• Security Tool Enterprise – fine grained control of user access to data in gINT Professional Plus

• Photo Tool – link, organise and print investigation-related images in gINT reports

• Output Tool – batch output gINT reports with ease

• Fence & Map Tool – user-definable fence & map reports

• Lab & In Situ Tool – LIMS within gINT supporting ISO, BSI and ASTM

• Advanced In Situ Tool – Stores, calculates and reports Lugeon Water Test / Packer Test to Houlsby (1976)

LICENSE SALES

Services • gINT report, database and gINT Rules development • Customisation and feature development in Datgel Software

gINT

• gINT

• Training for gINT and Datgel Software

• SoilVision

• Custom software development – desktop, web, cloud and

• Plaxis

mobile using MS .NET technologies

• Golden Software

T +44 20 36953856 / +65 6631 9780 sales@datgel.com Datgel is an independent company developing and reselling ground engineering data management and reporting software.

Founded in Sydney Australia in 2005, Datgel now has an international presence with Datgel software product users in 33 countries.

September / October 2020 29

AGS Working Group Focus

Loss Prevention Overview extremely important to all AGS member companies and practitioners. The market has become much harder over the last couple of years and good practice advice would be useful for members in preparing for discussions with their insurers.

Hugh Mallett, AGS Loss Prevention Working Group Leader, has provided an overview on the groups top three items which were discussed at a virtual meeting on 8th September 2020.

PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE – COST AND OTHER ASPECTS The availability and cost of Professional Indemnity insurance is a topic which is

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In response, information on the difficult PI market will be provided in due course. The Loss Prevention Working Group are also looking to provide some good practice advice on: (i) managing your PI policy and (ii) issues for retired members.

(which is published in this issue of AGS Magazine), summarising the experience of some AGS members with regards to the Coal Authority.

In summary, concerns have been raised regarding the Coal Authority and Coal Mining Risk Assessments (CMRAs) due to the Coal Authority both: 1. acting as a Statutory Consultee for planning applications (in relevant areas) and thus providing related guidance for developers and 2. undertaking CMRAs on behalf of third parties as a commercial service.

COAL AUTHORITY – POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND UNFAIR The Loss Prevention Working COMPETITION Group have made initial The Loss Prevention Working Group have drafted an article,

enquiries with a lawyer and obtained advice on competition law.

Currently it “ownership A paper is not clear of data”. If whether the appropriate a previously issues raised presented at the AGS Client Guide regarding the may then be Annual Conference Coal Authority prepared. raised concerns are “one-off” A paper regarding the or localised. It previously appears that legal issues of the presented there may ownership of data. at the AGS be aspects of Annual Competition Law Conference raised concerns which may be of more general regarding the legal issues relevance. The request for of the ownership of data. information in the magazine Potential solutions have been article will help determine the discussed since then, but need for and direction of any the legal position is still to be next steps. clarified. The forthcoming Note LEGAL ISSUES from Beale & Co will aim to ASSOCIATED WITH AGS provide this clarity.

“

DIGITAL DATA

Position Paper is being prepared by Beale & Co with the aim of clarifying the legal issue associated with the

ADDITIONAL TOPICS In addition to the above we have three Loss Prevention Alerts in various stages of

preparation which will be published in due course.

If any Member Companies have any young practitioners who have an interest in the commercial aspects of our industry – they may find that being a member of the AGS LPWG is interesting and informative. Please contact the AGS with the names of any individuals who may like to attend our Working Group meetings.

We are always keen to welcome new members into the Loss Prevention Working Group and so for those interested in the governance of the AGS and wish to know how you can contribute to the SWG, please contact the AGS Secretariat at ags@ags.org.uk.

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Standards Update

September 2020

RECENTLY PUBLIS STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

BS ISO 16751:2020

Soil quality - Environmental availability of non-polar organic compounds – Determination of the poten bioavailable fraction and the non-bioavailable fraction using a strong adsorbent or complexing agent

BS EN ISO 18674-

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Geotechnical monitoring by field instrumentation – Part 4:

4:2020

Measurement of pore water pressure: Piezometers

BS EN ISO 21365:2220

Soil quality - Conceptual site models for potentially contaminated sites

BRITISH STANDARDS ON SOIL, GROUND STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

BS 1377-X

Methods of tests for soils for civil engineering purposes – Part X

PAS 128 (revision)

Underground utility detection, verification and location - Specification

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL & EUROPEAN STANDA STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

BS ISO DIS 11063

Soil quality - Direct extraction of soil DNA

BS ISO DIS 12404

Soil & Waste - Selection & application of analytical screening methods for on-site use

BS prEN 15935

Sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste – Determination of loss on ignition

BS prEN 15936

Sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste – Determination of total organic carbon (TOC) by dry combusti

BS prEN 17505

Soil & waste characterization – Temperature dependent differentiation of total carbon (TOC400, ROC, TIC9

BS prEN 17516

Waste – Characterization of granular solids with potential for use as construction material – Complianc leaching test – Up-flow percolation test

ISO WD 18400-301

Soil quality – Sampling – Part 301: Sampling and measuring of volatiles in soil quality field investigation

ISO DIS 23400

Guidelines for the determination of organic carbon & nitrogen stocks and their variations in mineral soi plot scale

EN ISO NP 24212

Soil quality - Remediation techniques applied at contaminated sites

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL & EUROPEAN “G STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

BS EN 1997-1

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – General Rules

BS EN 1997-2

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – Ground properties

BS EN 1997-3

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – Geotechnical structures

ISO CD 24283-1

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Qualification criteria and assessment –

ISO CD 24283-2

Part 1: Qualified technician, Part 2: Responsible expert, Part 3: Qualified enterprise

ISO CD 24283-3 BS EN ISO 22475-1

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Sampling of soil, rock and groundwater – Part 1 – Technical principles

ISO DIS 22282-4

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Geohydraulic testing – Part 4: Pumping tests

BS EN ISO 22476-4

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Field testing –Part 4: Prebored pressure test by Ménard proced

BS EN ISO 22476-9

Ground investigation and testing – Field testing –Part 9: Field vane test (FVT and FVT-F)

32

Magazine

SHED STANDARDS

ntially

SUPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUBLICATION DATE

New standard

Published

June 2020

New Standard

Published

July 2020

New Standard

Published

June 2020

SUPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUBLICATION DATE

Will cover those tests in Parts 2-8 of BS

Being initiated in BSI

2021

Public comment period ended 16 March

December 2020

SUPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUBLICATION DATE

BS EN ISO 11063:2013

Proceeding to FDIS

Comment period

D & SITE ASSESSMENT - In preparation

1377:1990 that have not been replaced by Parts 1 to 12 of BS EN ISO 17892 or BS 1377-3:2018.

PAS 128: 2014

ARDS ON SOIL & SITE ASSESSMENT - In preparation

ended 7 August 2020 BS EN ISO 12404: 2015 and BS EN 16123:2013

Proceeding to FDIS (UK disapproved)

2020/21

BS EN 15169:2007 and BS EN 15935:2012

Comment period on prEN ended 18 May

2021

ion

BS EN 15936:2012 and BS EN 13137

Comment period on prEN ended 17 August

2021

900)

New standard

Comment period on prEN ended 9 June.

2021

ce

New standard

Comment period on prEN ended 17 August

2021

ns

New standard

Project initiated

2022

New standard

Comment period for DIS ended 9 Sep’ 2020

2020/21

New standard

Project initiated

2022

SUPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUBLICATION DATE

Will partially replace BS EN 1997-1: 2004 + A1: 2013

Comment period for prEN ended 8 Jan 2020

2023

Will replace BS EN 1997-2: 2007

Comment period for prEN ended 8 Jan 2020

2023

Will partially replace BS EN 1997-1: 2004

Comment period for prEN ended 8 Jan 2020

2023

Part 1- New standard

Comment period for CDs ended 21 January

2021

Part 2 - ISO TS 22475-2:2006 (BS ISO 22475-2: 2011)

2020. Not approved to proceed as DIS. UK

Part 3- ISO TS 22475-3:2007 (BS ISO 22475-3: 2011)

voted against approval. Future TBD.

BS EN ISO 22475-1:2006

Comment period for FDIS/FprEN ended 7

il at

GEOTECHNICAL” STANDARDS – In preparation

dure

2020/21

April.

New standard

Comment period for DIS ended 14 June 2020

2021

New standard

Comment period for DIS/prEN ended 28

2020/21

August 2020 New Standard

Comment period for FDIS/FprEN ended 14

2020/21

July 2020

September / October 2020

33

Training Courses

Resumed Training: Specialist Geotechnical Courses Equipe Training are delighted to confirm that their specialist geotechnical training courses are returning to be delivered in person at our dedicated training facility just outside of Banbury, Oxfordshire. The courses will be operating with limited places to ensure social distancing.

Available upcoming dates are provided below: •

29th October 2020 - Professor David Norbury’s Soil Description Workshop

•

10th December 2020 - Professor David Norbury’s Rock Description Workshop

•

11th November 2020 - Earthworks Design and Construction (Online Course)

•

19th November 2020 - Geotechnical Foundation Design (Online Course)

•

18th November 2020 - Slope Stability Design (Online Course)

Places on these courses can be booked online here, or via contacting Equipe on +44 (0)1295 670990 or info@equipegroup.com

Resumed Training: Specialist Geotechnical Heath and Safety Courses Equipe Training and their health and safety training partners RPA Safety Services and EB Safety Solutions are delighted to announce their collection of specialist health and safety courses for the geotechnical market have resumed being delivered in person, as well as being delivered online where required.

These courses are approved and certified by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and meet the requirements of UK Health and Safety regulations for working on geotechnical and land drilling sites. Upcoming courses have limited numbers of places available in order to maintain social distancing within the classroom environment. Upcoming dates include: • 10th - 11th November 2020 (Online Course) - IOSH Safe Supervision of Geotechnical Sites • 16th November 2020 - IOSH Avoiding Danger from Underground Services Other health and safety courses include our latest H&S, asbestos-focussed course: •

4th & 5th November 2020 (Online Course) - Managing and working with Absestos Risk in Ground Investigation

Places on these courses can be booked online here, or via contacting Equipe on +44 (0)1295 670990 or info@equipegroup.com 34

Magazine

How to become a Member of the AGS AGS Members all share a commitment to quality in the geotechnical and geoenvironmental industry. This has become widely recognised by clients, governmental bodies and other associations that touch issues to do with the ground.

We welcome both companies and individuals who want to be recognised for their quality of practice to join our growing membership of over 130 Members. We shape our industry, continually improve practice and collaborate on issues that affect us all; from clients, all the way through to the people who use the land and the buildings we help develop.

To become a Member of the AGS, please visit http://www.ags.org.uk/about/become-a-member and submit your application online. Please note that all membership applications are reviewed by the Membership Committee 6 weeks in advance of each quarterly Executive meeting.

The deadline for the next round of completed applications is Tuesday 13th October 2020.

AGS Chemical and Legal Helplines All Members of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are entitled to free chemical and contractual advice through the use of Loss Prevention Committee Members, Marquis & Lord and Beale & Co. For advice on chemical safety and best practice, Marquis & Lord will provide 30 minutes of free advice to all AGS Members.

Additionally, if you’re an AGS Member and are looking for legal advice, please contact Beale & Co and ask quote ‘AGS Helpline’ where the first 15 minutes of legal advice will be free of charge.

CHEMICAL SAFETY HELPLINE Marquis & Lord Tel: +44 (0) 121 288 2386 www.marquisandlord.com

LEGAL HELPLINE (Please quote Beale & Co ‘AGS Helpline’) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 0400 www.beale-law.com

Member Reporting Service for Industry Issues If you have any queries regarding AGS Data Format, there is a discussion forum on the AGS Data Format website, where queries can be posted and answered by the Data Format team.

If a Member has any issues with regard to Safety, Contaminated Land, Geotechnical, Instrumentation & Monitoring or Laboratories which you think the industry should be aware of please email ags@ags.org.uk, we will then forward your email to the relevant AGS Working Group.

Disclaimer These articles are the opinions of the authors and are not intended to be a complete or comprehensive statement of the law, nor do they constitute legal or specialist advice. They are intended only to highlight current issues from date of publication that may be of interest. Neither the writer, nor the AGS, assumes any responsibility for any loss that may arise from accessing, or reliance on the material and all liability is disclaimed accordingly. Professional advice should be taken before applying the content of the articles to particular circumstances.

September / October 2020

35

Advertising and Rates An online advertising campaign within the AGS Magazine will help to build and increase industry awareness of your company’s profile, initiatives and offerings.

The AGS can help build a package to suit your needs and budget; whether it’s a series of adverts across multiple issues, a combination of event sponsorship and advertising, or a single advertorial.

How to Advertise in the AGS Magazine The AGS Magazine is a free email publication that looks at a range of topical issues, insights and concerns, whilst publishing new guidance notes, working group activities and information on upcoming industry seminars.

With 10 issues each year, our subscribers include industry professionals such as practitioners, chartered specialists, senior decision makers and managing directors To receive a media pack or to discuss advertising rates, please contact Caroline Kratz on 0208 658 8212 or email ags@ags.org.uk

Adversiting Requirements

Advert Sizes and Rates

All adverts should be sent in a PDF, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PSD (Photoshop) or EPS (Illustrator) format.

 FULL PAGE W: 210mm H: 297mm RATE: £400  HALF PAGE W: 210mm H: 145mm RATE: £250  QUARTER PAGE

COMPANY NAME ADDRESS CONTACT NUMBER EMAIL

W: 105mm H: 145mm RATE: £160

LOGO

 DIRECTORY Company name, address, contact number, email and one logo.

RATE: £50

36

All advertising artwork must be supplied in 114 dpi resolution.

Magazine

Artwork must be delivered to the AGS using the agreed artwork specification size listed left.

Artwork should be emailed to ags@ags.org. uk no later than 10 days prior to publication.

Directory

ADVERTISE HERE FOR JUST £50

ADVERTISE HERE FOR JUST £50

AGS Dates for Your Diary Critical Links in Ground Engineering

AGSi

Online Webinar

Online Webinar

• • • •

• • • • •

• •

Time: 10am Date: Wednesday 4th November 2020 Duration: 4 hours Confirmed speakers: Julian Lovell (AGS Chair and Managing Director at Equipe), Jonathan Gammon (AGS Instrumentation and Monitoring Working Group Leader and Advisor/Non-Executive Director at Geotechnical Observations) and Roger Chandler (Director Geotechnical Information Management at Bentley Systems) Cost: £60 for AGS members or £90 for nonmembers Sponsorship: Gold packages available

For more information, contact ags@ags.org.uk Or visit https://www.ags.org.uk/item/criticallinks-in-ground-engineering/

Time: 11am Date: Wednesday 25th November Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes Cost: Free of charge Sponsorship: Diamond and Gold packages available

For more information, contact ags@ags.org.uk Or visit https://www.ags.org.uk/item/ exchange-of-ground-model-and-interpreteddata-introducing-agsi/

AGS 4.1 Online Webinar • • • • •

Time: 11am Date: Tuesday 8th December 2020 Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes Cost: £30 for AGS Members and £45 for nonMembers. Prices exclude VAT. Sponsorship: Gold packages available

For more information, contact ags@ags.org.uk September / October 2020

37