Developing Engineering Intuition
John Eckersley
The limitations of our knowledge base result in occasions when “engineering judgement” is required. But what is this, and can it be developed? Engineering and geotechnical training focusses on technical and perhaps managerial aspects but pays little attention to the development of engineering instincts.
This talk explores the concept of engineering intuition, and suggests directions that may be pursued by (young) engineers to encourage its growth. This is based on reflections on my own experience and is primarily explored and illustrated within a geotechnical context. The talk is based on a 2016 paper with the same title published in Australian Geomechanics.
John Eckersley Retired Geotechnical Engineer
John Eckersley retired from engineering practice in 2019 after 2 years as Technical Director (Geotechnical) at AECOM, 19 years at Coffey in Townsville (Senior, Associate and Principal Geotechnical Engineer), 17 years teaching at JCU, and 3½ years as the first geotechnical engineer at Goonyella open strip coal mine. He has BE, MEngSc and PhD degrees from JCU, and was an RMS NSW Accredited Slope Risk Assessor. His JCU research mostly focussed on flowslides and moisture movements in coking coal stockpiles. His consulting work varied widely including soft soil to hard rock, landslide remediation and slope risk assessment, retaining walls and residential development on sloping sites, bridge pile and levee bank design. He provided the key geotechnical input to high profile projects in Townsville including The Strand Redevelopment Project, response to the Castle Hill Landslides in 2000, Townsville Railway Station, the Townsville V8 Supercar Project and the Townsville Port Access Road.
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