164th IAEG Connector
Three major landslides and floods this week — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector Newsletter is available to read online.
Society News
Bright Spark Lecture Award
The International Young Professionals Workshop on Railroad Infrastructureis proudly sponsored by the Transport Research Centre (TRC), University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track (ITTC-Rail) will be held on Friday 26th November 2021. The workshop receives unreserved support from the Australian Geomechanics Society and International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering through TC 202: Transportation Geotechnics. Under the leadership of Distinguished Professor Buddhima Indraratna, Director of TRC UTS, the workshop will showcase the recent advancement in the field of Transport Infrastructure with special reference to ground engineering and construction materials. HDR students and young professionals will present on a range of emerging themes and advances in the areas of Transport Geotechnics such as innovative R&D outcomes, practices, technological applications and case studies. It will provide young professionals exposure to the industry, to further their careers, and network with peers and industry leaders.
The Conference Organising Committee wishes to invite all ISSMGE member societies to nominate their most promising young geotechnical engineers as candidates to speak at the International Young Professionals Workshop on Railroad Infrastructure on 26 November 2021 held by Transport Research Centre at University of Technology Sydney. Two young engineers will be chosen based on their research track record or industry experience. They will have the opportunity to present their work as the recipient of the ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture Award.
The awardees will be invited to give a 15-20 minute keynote presentation at the workshop. The Bright Spark award will go to the young geotechnical engineer that exemplifies mature research or practice and epitomises what the ISSMGE is looking for in engineers of tomorrow.
The Award criteria are as follows:
Age 36 or under on the last day of the workshop (26 November 2021)
Deadline of 30 August 2021 for nominations.
Please submit the application form online and providing the CV and referee letters of the applicants via ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture award Application Form.
Please contact Christine Smith via email christine.smith-1@uts.edu.au for issues and questions.
Special offer on Geotech Books
Special offer for AGS members from Whittles Publishing!
With the forthcoming publication of Environmental and Engineering Geology by Prof. James S. Griffiths and Prof. F.G. Bell the publisher is pleased to extend the offer of 15% discount which also applies to all their geotechnical list such as Soil and Rock Description in Engineering Practice, 3rd edition and two books featuring Professor Alan W. Bishop, soil mechanics pioneer.
Just enter WPAGS15 at checkout to receive the discount.
163rd IAEG Connector
41 new articles in Volume 80, Issue 8 of the IAEG Bulletin — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
162nd IAEG Connector
Dr. Kiril Angelov of Bulgaria to become Honorary Member of IAEG — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is now available online.
2021 Baden Clegg Award
On Tuesday 13th of July 2021, the Western Australian Chapter held an in-person technical meeting for their annual Dr Baden Clegg Award. This annual event gives a platform for our younger (under 35) geo-professionals to present their work, gain feedback from experienced colleagues and become involved in AGS activities. There were three presentations on a wide range of topics and delivered to a number of AGS members and guests.
Rachel Cheung’s (WSP Australia) presentation on “Lessons Learned from Drilling in the Thick Gravels in the Fortescue River Basin” was announced as the overall winner and will receive a $1,000 prize along with a miniature “Clegg Hammer” trophy. Exceptional presentations were also delivered by the other two finalists: Eduardo Bittar Marin (UWA) on “Field Investigation to Evaluate the Pile Aging Behaviour of Driven Piles”, and Max Kulessa (Rio Tinto) on “Behaviour of Clays and Weak Rock Slopes in Open Pit Mining: Observations from Marandoo Mine, WA”. Each of the runners up will receive a $250 prize.
Special thanks to Doug McInnes, for his presentation of Dr Clegg’s achievements, and Jim Crandell and Stephanie Clegg, Dr Clegg’s eldest daughter, for presenting the award to Rachel Cheung.
ISSMGE News & Information Circular, July 2021
The July 2021 issue of the ISSMGE News & Information Circular is available online.
161st IAEG Connector
Professor Viktor Osipov of Russia chosen to be Honorary Member of IAEG — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
5th AGERP’21 lecture on Soil Erosion
The organising committee of the Lecture Series on Advancements in Geotechnical Engineering: From Research to Practice (AGERP) is pleased to invite the members of AGS to the 5th lecture of the 2nd Edition of AGERP’21, which will be on ‘Soil Erosion‘. This is scheduled to be hosted in two sessions on 12:00 – 13:00 and 17:00 – 18:00, 23rd July 2021 (AEST). Registration (free and mandatory) for this lecture closes at 00:00, 22nd July 2021 (AEST).
The 5th Lecture will be delivered by Professor Jean-Louis Briaud (Texas A&M University, USA) and Mr. Amir Shahkolahi (Global Synthetics Pty Ltd., Australia).
Further info. and registration: https://www.age-rp.com
The flyer for the lecture is attached here: Link to Flyer
SA-NT 50th Anniversary Celebration Photos
Photos from the South Australia-Northern Territory Chapter 50th Anniversary Celebrations.
Webinar: Insights on Debris Flow Growth: Collisions and Contractile Skins
The HKGES and the HKIE Geotechnical Division would like to invite the members of Australian Geomechanics Society to join the webinar Insights on Debris Flow Growth: Collisions and Contractile Skins by Dr Clarence E. Choi.
Abstract
Debris flows are perhaps the most unique type of landslide because of their ability to grow several orders of magnitude in size from initiation to deposition. In this study, a review of existing theoretical, experimental, and field data on debris flow erosion is carried out. New insight and scaling is proposed to highlight the importance of collisional and capillary stresses on the erosion process. The proposed scaling is evaluated using unique physical model tests. Collisional stress induced by the flow on a soil bed should not be overlooked because it significantly governs debris flow erosion. The assumption of a saturated soil bed underestimates erosion at low bed water contents. Not to mention soil beds are seldom saturated when landslides occur. The importance of advanced numerical tools that can capture the spatial variation of collisional stress in a flow, particularly the collisional front, and the hydro-mechanical properties of the soil bed is revealed. The sensitivity of soil bed erosion to capillary stresses shows the importance of soil-atmospheric interaction for debris flow growth. This webinar is an extended version of the ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture 2021.
The Speaker
Dr Clarence E. Choi is Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining the University of Hong Kong, he was Research Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Junior Fellow of the HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study. His research focuses on sustainable development and climate resilience against landslides.
He was awarded the Bright Spark Award from the ISSMGE, Telford Premium Prize by the ICE and the R.M. Quigley Award by the Canadian Geotechnical Society. He serves as Chair of the Debris Flow and Steep Creek Hazards Mitigation Committee of the Association of Geohazards Professionals, Chair-nominated member of TC208 of ISSMGE on slope stability, Board member of the International Consortium of Landslides of UNESCO, a nominated member of the Joint Technical Committee 1 on natural slopes and landslides of the joint Federation of the International Geotechnical Societies, and an Editorial Board Member of the journal Landslides.
Registration & Enquiries
This Lecture is free of charge. For HKIE members, please register online via the website. Overseas applicants
register at https://forms.gle/xRgS1BnyzstGUBjh6. Successful applicants will be noticed individually. For enquiries, please contact Dr Andy Leung at andy.yf.leung@polyu.edu.hk.
159th IAEG Connector
All talks from MLS 2021 (Mediterranean Landslide Symposium) available on video — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
Jack Morgan Award Nominations
The Award
The winner will receive:
- a trophy;
- a cash prize of $1,000; and
- two year’s free membership of the Australian Geomechanics Society.
Runners up will receive:
- one year’s free membership of the Australian Geomechanics Society.
How to apply
Candidates should submit:
- A 500 word abstract on a project with which they have been involved (please note that your employers consent is required);
- A detailed CV; and
- The attached application form.
Applications will be reviewed and a shortlist of candidates will be selected. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to make a 20 minute presentation to a meeting of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Geomechanics Society in August 2021. The judging panel will announce the winner at the conclusion of this meeting.
Call for nominees
The inaugural Jack Morgan Young Geotechnical Practitioners Award was presented in 2009. The award is presented biennially to an outstanding Victorian geotechnical practitioner under the age of 35. Shortlisted applicants will be judged on their contribution to geotechnics and understanding of geotechnical issues.
Timeline for Award
30 June 2021:
Deadline for abstract submissions;
14 July 2021:
Shortlisted candidates selected; and
11 August 2021 6.00PM – 8.30PM:
Shortlisted presentations to the AGS.
Applicants must be
- Under the age of 35 as at December 2021
- A member of the Australian Geomechanics Society;
- A resident of Victoria; and
- Have their employers consent to apply for this award.
Please forward your submission to the secretary of the Australian Geomechanics Society, Victorian Chapter, Clare Bridgeman via victoria@australiangeomechanics.org
For queries, contact Mahdi Miri Disfani (mahdi.miri@unimelb.edu.au)
About Jack Morgan
The Jack Morgan Award honours the career of one of the unsung heroes of geotechnical engineering in Melbourne. Jack Morgan graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1957 and claimed an additional accolade as dux of Civil Engineering. He followed up his stellar undergraduate results with a PhD, also from the University of Melbourne.
His first job was with the Department of Works during which time, he was a senior engineer responsible for geotechnical investigation and design of major Commonwealth buildings, dams, and bridges in all states of Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea. This was at a time when analytical soil mechanics was relatively new.
In 1963, he moved to academia, taking up a position as Senior Research Fellow with The University of Melbourne. He stayed at Melbourne University full-time for 12 years, leaving in 1975 as Reader, in charge of soil mechanics. He maintains an affiliation with The University of Melbourne to which he returns as an occasional lecturer to this day.
In 1975 Jack moved into geotechnical consulting taking up a role as Principal with Golder Associates, a role that he worked in for 22 years until his retirement in 1997. He still works part time at Golder Associates as a senior consultant and mentor.
Jack pioneered work on deep basements in Melbourne, many would be familiar with his paper on basement construction in the Engineering Geology of Melbourne “Blue Book”. The Arts Centre basement is one of the earliest large soft ground basements in Melbourne, one on which Jack had a significant involvement. A number of significant learnings came from Jack’s work on this and other projects. One such example was the effect of depressurisation of the Moray Street Gravels and its effect on consolidation of the Coode Island Silt.
Jack became the Managing Director of Golder Associates from 1985 to 1991 and Chair of the Board of Directors from 1991 to 1996.
Jack has had an outstanding technical career during which he has authored more than 20 papers published in international and local journals. A comment from one of Jacks colleagues who worked with him over the course of his consulting career:
“Jack excels as a consulting engineer by his technical capability, communication skills and wide experience. He has an approachable and understanding manner but quickly identifies wrong thinking and finds practical ways forward in apparently complex situations”.
Webinars from the NZGS 21st Symposium, Dunedin
The NZGS have made the following recordings of presentations at the NZGS 21st Symposium available for viewing on YouTube. Follow the links below to see the presentations.
- Opening Ceremony with Sissy Nikolaou Presenting “Functional Recovery – Design Utopia or Elective Reality”
- Modeling Slope Instability Due to Undrained Creep by Ross W Boulanger
- Seismic Performance of Caisson Gravity Quay-Walls by George Gazetas
- Temporary Support of Deep Excavations in Rock by Chris Haberfield
157th IAEG Connector
Muldrow Glacier in Alaska on Denali Mountain is surging — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector online newsletter is available to read online.
ISSMGE News & Information Circular, June 2021
The June 2021 issue of the ISSMGE News & Information Circular is available to read online.
156th IAEG Connector
Rockfall in Corinth Canal blocks major passage in Greece — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available to read online.
Webinar: Soil Improvement Solutions to Increase Slope Stability under Seismic Conditions
The NZGS, Auckland Branch, invite AGS members to attend the webinar: Soil Improvement Solutions to Increase Slope Stability under Seismic Conditions – Design and Techniques
Presented by Jason Redgers, Dr Serhat Baycan and Dr Philipp Schober from Bauer Spezialtiefbau Gmbh.
11th August 2021 5.30pm – 7pm
155th IAEG Connector
EUROENGEO in Athens in October to be face to face meeting — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.
154th IAEG Connector
Keynote Speakers Announced for First IAEG Regional Conference in South America — the latest issue of the IAEG Connector newsletter is available online.