The 18th Glossop Medal - ‘Variability and ground hazards: how does the ground get to be 'unexpected'?’

The 18th Glossop Medal

8th November 2017

presented by the Engineering Group of the Geological Society
at the premises of the Royal Institution, London.

Jackie Skipper
(BSc, PhD, DIC, CGeol, Specialist Consultant Geologist at Geotechnical Consulting Group)

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

Preceded by the 21st Glossop Award presentation: Gemma Sherwood – The Construction of Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station

Programme:
Pre-lecture Tea/Coffee in the ground floor Atrium/Café (Royal Institution) from 17:15;
Prompt start for Glossop Award/Glossop Lecture in the Faraday Theatre (Royal Institution) at 18:00;
Glossop Reception in the Lower Library (Geological Society, Burlington House) at 20:00.

Synopsis
When something goes wrong in a civil engineering project, ‘unexpected ground conditions’ are often blamed. Natural variability of the ground can indeed be the cause of engineering hazards - but what are the causes of this variability? The systems in which sediments are laid down, weathered, eroded, faulted, frozen, transported, all make soils (and their behaviour) more complex. Engineering itself represents a type of assault on the ground, and variable sediments respond variably - leading to a wide range of potential hazards. Understanding why the ground is variable therefore leads to a better understanding of this response, allowing improved prediction and management of risks.

Using case histories, the 18th Glossop Lecture will explore the relationship between ground variability and engineering risk, in particular how training can increase the level of understanding of the ground at every level of a project.

Download the flyer here
For further information and registration, please contact:
Event Convenor: Thomas D Hall email: tom.hall@mottmac.com