Observational Method Conference
Perspectives and feedback from academics, consultants, contractors, clients, and technical committees.
About the Conference
The Observational Method (OM) remains a cornerstone of modern geotechnical practice, providing a framework to manage geotechnical uncertainties through adaptive design and construction. This Observational Method Conference, is hosted by TC206 at Imperial College and brings together perspectives from academia, consultancy, contracting, and client organisations to explore recent developments and challenges in implementing OM across disciplines.
CIRIA have recently let a contract to Arup and Mott Macdonald to update the OM Guide R185 on OM. This Conference provides an opportunity to obtain industry feedback on OM for this Guide. A goal is also to promote interaction with other Technical Committees such as TC220 (I&M), TC204 (Tunnels), and TC309 (Machine Learning), where OM is already practised.
Keynotes presentations addressing statistical control of uncertainty, reliability of instrumentation, and lessons from tunnelling practice. Subsequent sessions highlight progress in real-time back analysis (RTBA), surrogate modelling, and data bases. A session is also planned on how tunnelling, piling and ground treatment works are using data-driven methods to influence designs during construction.
Sponsorships & Collaborations
Keynote Speakers
Presenters
Invited lectures on the topic of the Observation Method
Conference Program
1 / Session 1– Overview of TC206 OM activity and Revised Ciria Observational Method Guide
9 AM
Chair: Duncan Nicholson
Speakers:
1. Tony O'Brien
Contracts, - Codes - Guides (Revised CIRIA OM Guide).
What needs to change?
2. Marcelo Sánchez
Links with Technical Committees- - Introduction –
Panel Discussions with
TC204: Giulia Viggiani
TC220: Andrew Ridley
ERTC7/TC103: Franz Tschuchnigg
2 / Session 2 – Keynote Presentations
11AM
Chair: Ying Chen
Speakers:
1. Suzanne Lacasse
Statistical Framework for controlling uncertainty in OM
2. Jamie Standing
Reliability in instrumentation and monitoring
3. Colin Eddie
Tunnelling -- Lessons for Observation Method
Lunch
Catering is included in the conference ticket.
3 / Session 3 – Developments in Real-time back analysis
2 PM
Chair: Franz Tschuchnigg
Speakers:
1. David Taborda, Imperial College London
Surrogate modelling for observational method
2. Luca Piciullo, NGI
Real-time analysis of slope stability
3. - Hock Liong Liew, Mott McDonald
DAARWIN and Cloud-Integrated Data Processing in Practice: A Case Study
4. Stuart Hardy, ARUP
Gofer/Meta program development
5. Fadi Haddad, Bauer
Piling instrumentation and the observational method
6. Ignasi Aliguer, SAALG
Real-time data analysis to increase the performance of a tunnel boring machine
4/ Session 4 - Closing discussion on New CIRIA Guide
5 PM
Chair: Hoe Chian Yeow
The floor will be open for discussion on the revision of the guide on the observational method. Authors for the revised R185 will be available for comment.
5/ Closed: Post conference reception
6 PM
Drinks available after conference