Article

AGS Guide: The Selection of Geotechnical Soil Laboratory Testing

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It was at a fateful AGS Committee meeting in 2015 that John Powell from Geolabs suggested that the AGS guide: The Selection of Geotechnical Soil Laboratory Testing might require some updating. The genesis of the guide stretches back some 25 years to previous AGS Committee meeting in 1993 where the need for such a guide was identified. Some 5 years later, with contributions from over 20 individuals the first edition of the guide was published in 1998.

After a slightly longer than anticipated gestation period, the AGS is pleased to announce the publication of the 2018 version of the guide, which can be downloaded here. Like most AGS publications, the guide is being published in electronic format and is available to download from the AGS website.

The updating of the guide has had its challenges – not least because no electronic version of the original publication could be found and neither were there originals of the numerous figure available. The remit from the AGS Committee was simply to update the guide where necessary and not to re-write the document. Therefore whilst the text has been updated by and large most of the original figures and the overall format of the have been retained.

When the working group embarked on a review of the guide it was heartening to have colleagues offering well-thumbed and slightly dog-eared versions of the guide to start the laborious task of scanning and retyping the document. Clearly many practicing engineers had regularly consulted the guide when preparing specifications and scheduling laboratory testing.
One of the key drivers in updating the guide was to reflect the gradual withdrawal of BS1377 and its replacement with BS EN 17892 in its various parts. The AGS recognises the evolving situation with regard to the publication of European standards and it is anticipated that periodic updates of the document will undertake to reflect this. The original publication includes a significant list of references, not just British Standards but also a significant number of ASTM as well as Russia, Danish and other national standards. The 2018 version cites the latest version of these standards.

Despite the fact that 20 years have elapsed since the first edition there are very few innovations and new forms of test that have emerged in the interim. This perhaps reflects the fact that the 1998 edition of the guide covered all of the modern testing techniques that were available at the time such as various small strain testing techniques, the use of bender elements and resonant column testing.

The contents list of the 2018 edition will be familiar to users of the 1998 edition. Changes of note include the re-titling of Chapter 8 which is now ‘Testing of Anthropogenic Soils’ and Chapter 9 –which is ‘Tests for Special Applications’. Chapter 9 is now split into two sections. The short section 9.1 on ‘Special Testing’ includes tests not readily included elsewhere in the guide, for example durability and testing of stabilised soils. However the majority of Chapter 9 comprises section 9.2 Advanced Geotechnical Testing. This section has been substantially reviewed updated and expanded and the original 14 pages of text now runs to some 20 pages. The AGS has Professor Chris Clayton to thank for producing this part of the guide – which not only benefits from Chris’s personal experience and knowledge but includes input from internationally renowned experts who Chris was able to call upon for their opinion and input. We are confident that experienced practitioners and those relatively new to the industry alike will find this a useful reference document for those contemplating use of advanced triaxial testing as part of their ground investigation.

Special thanks are extended to fellow members of the task group. Lynne Llewellyn (Structural Soils) and Geraint Williams (ALS Global) for updating several chapters as well dealing with many of the formatting challenges.

It is not intended that a further 20 years will elapse before the next version of the guide is published and the baton for the next update has already been handed to Neil Chadwick and the recently formed AGS Geotechnical Working Group.

The AGS Guide: The Selection of Geotechnical Soil Laboratory Testing can be downloaded here.

This article was contributed by Peter Boyd, Operations Director, Ground Engineering, AECOM and featured in the March/April 2018 issue of the AGS Magazine, which can be viewed here.

Article Business Practice Contaminated Land Executive Laboratories Loss Prevention Safety

Making a Difference: A look at some of our members’ who volunteer outside of the AGS to make positive change for the industry

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With over 130 different member companies, the AGS has a huge network of talented and influential practitioners which form the Association and its nine different working groups.

Our practitioners don’t just look to improve best practice within the AGS; they work to improve and enhance the industry as a whole by working across numerous external committees and working groups.

AGS Secretariat, Katie Kennedy, speaks to 10 of our Working Group members to see what committees outside of the AGS they belong to, and how they hope to improve our industry for the better.

Jim Cook
Director at Geotechnical Services Bureau
Past AGS Chairman, past Treasurer and current Member of the AGS Senate
• RoGEP (UK Register of Ground Engineering Professionals)
http://www.ukrogep.org.uk/
As the Chair of RoGEP since it was established 10 years ago, Jim’s role includes the general management of the association, attending up to eight meetings a year and reviewing membership applications. Jim is currently developing RoGEP to include technician and incorporated engineer levels, and to open the organisation to Irish chartered engineers and professional geologists.
• European Ground Engineering Organisation
Jim is working with the European Ground Engineering Organisation to develop “levels of competence” and a “common platform” for undertaking ground engineering work in accordance with EC7 Part 1.
• The Geological Society
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/
As a Scrutineer for the Geological Society, Jim is called upon several times a year to interview candidates for chartership. This involves reviewing candidate applications followed by an in-depth face to face interview.

Ken Marsh
Director at Ian Farmer Associates
Member of the AGS Senate and Business Practice Working Group
• Ground Forum
http://ground-forum.org.uk/
Ken is the immediate past Chair of the Ground Forum and is also involved with the CIC Council and Parliamentary & Scientific Committee. He believes it is important for the industry to be represented at the highest level and to lobby key industry issues to this form. The Ground Forum / CIC link enables this, and the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee provides an opportunity to present key industry issues to Parliamentarians. His involvement with the Ground Forum includes attending four meetings a year plus additional time preparing for meetings and completing actions.

Adam Latimer
Operations Director at Ian Farmer Associates
Leader of the AGS Safety Working Group
• BGA (British Geotechnical Association)
https://www.britishgeotech.org/
Adam is the AGS’ representative at the BGA; the principal association for geotechnical engineers in the United Kingdom. Adam believes it is important that all working groups and committees work collaboratively to improve the industry, and that knowledge sharing between groups is invaluable. His involvement with the BGA includes attending regular technical meetings and events with other learned groups.

Roger Clark
Director at Marlowclark Consulting Ltd
Member of the AGS Contaminated Land Working Group
• AGS Director for SiLC and AGS representative for SiLC PTP (Professional and Technical Panel)
https://www.silc.org.uk/
Roger believes it is important to be involved with SiLC to assist in the professional development in the land contamination field. He also feels that as the profession has supported him over the years, he wants to give something back to the industry.
Roger plays a hugely active role within SiLC. This includes attending regular SiLC Board and PTP meetings, carrying out interviews, drafting Disciplinary Procedures for SQPs, coordinating the new assessors, participating in the Marketing Sub-Committee and developing a SiLC Affiliate Scheme. Roger is also a member of the Exam Sub-Committee so is instrumental in setting examine questions and ‘Answer Guidelines’ for each exam and assessing/marking completed candidates’ exam papers.

David Hutchinson
Honorary Member of the AGS
Member of the AGS Loss Prevention Working Group
• Geotechnical Asset Owners Forum (GAOF)
https://www.ciria.org/gaof/
David’s involvement with the Geotechnical Asset Owners Forum includes attending up to four meetings a year, which are attended by representatives from organisations such as Highways England, Network Rail, London Underground, Canals and Rivers Trust, ADEPT and HS2. He believes involvement with this forum helps the communication and the sharing of knowledge between UK infrastructure owners which should benefit the UK by more efficient use of its resources.

Neil Holford
Technical Manager at SOCOTEC UK
Member of the AGS Laboratories Working Group
• UKAS Construction Industry Technical Advisory Committee
https://www.ukas.com/about/our-structure/technical-committees/
Neil believes it is important to be involved with this committee to ensure the AGS has a voice and is made aware of industry developments and related issues. Being on the UKAS Construction Industry Technical Advisory Committee involves attending up to two meetings each year which take place at UKAS HQ.

Matthew Baldwin
Technical Director at Soil Engineering
Immediate past AGS Chair and Member of the Senate, Executive Committee and Business Practice Working Group
• A convenor for Task Group 1 of Working Group 2 of the TC250 SC7 group, tasked with the update and rewriting of Eurocode 7
• Lead UK expert for ISO-TC182-WG4, which is the committee involved with the update and rewriting of BS EN ISO 22475-1
• Member of B526 03 on Ground Investigation
• Committee member of the Engineering Group of the Geological Society https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/engineering
• Committee member of Ground Forum
http://ground-forum.org.uk/
Matthew explains that although many industry practitioners feel the geotechnical and ground investigation sector is slow-moving, European and international standards are constantly changing. Over the past five years, there have been more standards published (that affect these sectors), than were published in the past thirty years.
He believes it is vital for UK practitioners to make their views known in terms of the technical content of these standards and has joined the above committees where he feels he can make a positive contribution.
Matthew attends a large volume of meetings over the year as well as teleconference calls to allow for progress to be monitored. He gives up a significant proportion of his time to review and update existing standards and documents. He also plays a role alerting the AGS and the wider industry of new initiatives and trends.

Seamus Lefroy-Brooks
Principal at LBH Wembley
Past AGS Chair and Member of the Contaminated Land and Loss Prevention Working Groups
• Land Forum – Chair of Land Forum NQMS Steering Panel
https://www.claire.co.uk/projects-and-initiatives/land-forum
The Land Forum brings central government departments together with the devolved administrations, local authorities, expert agencies and industry organisations (including the AGS) to discuss issues of brownfield development. The Forum also oversees and coordinates contaminated land and brownfield policy and encourages the exchange of best practice and knowledge.
• Chair Elect of CL:AIRE TRG
The CL:AIRE Technology and Research Group (TRG) supports CL:AIRE on issues associated with technology development, providing guidance on issues relating to sustainable land reuse and offering strategic review and steering functions for all its activities.
• JIWG – Joint Industry Working Group on Asbestos in Soil
The JIWG brings together the asbestos management, occupational hygiene and brownfield management sectors along with the HSE & HSL to promote the development of a consistent and harmonised approach to the regulation, investigation, analysis, assessment and management of asbestos in soil.

Seamus is also involved on the BSI 526/03 “Site Investigation and ground testing”, EIC Contaminated Land Working Group, EIC Waste Management Group and BS 8485 Drafting Committee “Code of practice for the design of protective measures for methane and carbon dioxide ground gases for new buildings”.

Chris Raison
Director at Raison Foster Associates
Member of the AGS Senate and Geotechnical Working Group
• BSI B/526 Geotechnics, TC250/SC7/WG3/TG3 Piling and TC250/SC7/WG3/TG7 Ground Improvement
Focusing on the evolution and development of British and European Standards within the geotechnical and foundation areas, Chris works as a convenor and UK principal expert covering pile design within TG3, and as a UK member of the TG7 task group. His involvement includes attending regular meetings and the review of drafts and proposals for revisions to existing standards. The groups also involve discussions with experts across the UK and Europe and providing feedback to other UK associations including the Federation of Piling Specialists, the British Geotechnical Association and the Midland Geotechnical Society.

Tim Carrington
Head of Geotechnical Services at Fugro GB Marine Ltd
Member of the AGS Laboratories Working Group
• Technical Panel working on ISO19901-8 Marine Soil Investigations and Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics Committee affiliated to Society of Underwater technology (OSIG)
https://www.sut.org/specialist-interest-group/osig-offshore-site-investigation-and-geotechnics/
Tim and the OSIG committee meet four times a year and produce industry guidance notes, run training courses on offshore geotechnics and geophysics, and organise an international conference on a 4-yearly basis.
He also sits on the ISO19901-8 Marine Soil Investigations and Offshore Site Investigation panel, which meet in person annually. Currently, the panel are starting on the first revision to the standard, expected for publication in 2020. Sub-committees of the panel will hold video conference calls on a quarterly basis to review and propose updates to the different chapters and annexes of the standard. Tim feels that it is important to make sure the ISO standards reflect the capabilities and the needs of the industry and his involvement within the standard allows the AGS to have a voice.

This article was featured in the March/April 2018 issue of the AGS Magazine, which can be viewed here.

Article Loss Prevention

Japanese Knotweed – Professionals should know the law and their responsibilities

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Tags: Featured Japanese Knotweed LPA

Photo of Japanese knotweed invading a site recorded during a walkover survey.

Japanese knotweed is a non-native invasive bamboo-like plant that is very strong and grows incredibly quickly. It can cause damage to drains, paths, walls and foundations. Many mortgage lenders will not agree to lend against a property that is located within 7m of the plant.

In the County Court case of Waistell v Network Rail (2017), Network Rail was ordered to pay compensation to two home owners whose properties backed on to Network Rail land which was rife with Japanese knotweed. This case potentially opens the way for claims against owners of land containing Japanese knotweed and to property professionals advising them. The AGS have published Loss Prevention Alert No 67 which reminds Members of the law relating to Japanese knotweed, describes the Waistell case and the reasoning behind the Court’s decision, and discusses the responsibility Members have relating to Japanese knotweed when advising their clients on the purchase of land or on construction activities. AGS Members should also be aware of other invasive species such as giant hogweed which land owners could have a responsibility to control.

The case is significant as it holds landowners to account and imposes a positive duty on them to ensure that any knotweed that is on their property is not preventing neighbouring landowners from being able to sell their property for market value.

Damages can be claimed for costs of removing the Japanese knotweed or an order requiring the defendant to remove it, costs of any remedial works to the claimant’s property and diminution in value of the property.

The full Loss Prevention Alert 67 – Japanese Knotweed – Professionals should know the law and their responsibilities can be downloaded here.

Further information on Japanese knotweed and related issues can be found on the following websites.
Environment Agency (www.environment-agency.gov.uk)
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (www.sepa.org.uk)
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (www.rics.org/standards)
UK Government (www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading)
The Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (www.innsa.org)

This article was contributed by David Hutchinson, Honorary Member of the AGS and featured in the March/April 2018 issue of the AGS Magazine, which can be viewed here.

Article Business Practice

John Talbot; Honorary Life Member of the AGS

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John Talbot, one of the AGS’s longer serving members, is stepping down as Leader of the Business Practice Working Group in April 2018, following 12 years of service to the committee, the last three of which he was its Leader.

Having been a member of the AGS for over 28 years, John has been closely involved for the last 5 years with the updating of AGS governance, which involved producing a huge volume of documents. Here, we look at John’s history within the AGS and some of his contributions and changes he’s helped to make for the industry:

• 2006: became a member of the Business Practice Working Group
• 2011-12: drafted the AGS Code of Business Conduct
• 2013: drafted new Membership Bye-laws, with the assistance of Diane Jennings
• 2013-2014: developed a new and rational model for the AGS annual subscriptions
• 2014: appointed an Honorary Life Member of the AGS in recognition of his sustained contributions to AGS matters
• 2015: drafted the new AGS bye-laws in collaboration with Andrew Milne, which generated;
o the removal of the Executive Committee and the introduction of the AGS Senate in its place 2016
o the introduction of the AGS Executive Council 2016
o new membership categories and production of the associated revised and additional membership application forms 2016
• 2015-2017: drafted the new Articles of Association with Johanna Jennings
• 2015-2018: Chairman/Leader of the Business Practice Working Group
• 2015-2018: revived liaison with AGS Hong Kong
• 2016: drafted the AGS Complaints Procedure
• 2016: instigated registration of AGS for tax relief on members’ subscriptions
• 2016: wrote the Terms of Reference & modus operandi for most of the AGS’ Working Groups, committees and panels, based on the newly instated bye-laws
• 2017: presented with the first Senate Award in recognition of his further contributions to modernising the governance of AGS

We spoke to John before his biannual trip to Hong Kong, when he hopes to be talking to AGS HK, in continuation of our liaison with them, and managed to extract the following snippet:

“I suppose that the greatest challenge during my 12-year membership of the BPWG has been the updating of the Association’s governance. The review of the AGS and its future direction that took place in 2012-15, enabled the production of completely new Bye-laws in collaboration with Andrew Mine. These led to the need to rewrite the Articles of Association (with Johanna Jennings) to ensure that the two documents were mutually aligned.

Sitting quietly, researching and bashing a keyboard to draft these documents, with their concomitant revisions, changes of thought and amendments, was as nothing when compared to the prospect of putting both the Bye-laws and the new Articles to the vote at successive AGMs. All sorts of possible nightmare scenarios were envisaged, of argumentative – even vitriolic – ‘discussions’ that might potentially happen. This impacted adversely not only on those of us who had written the drafts, but on the entire membership of both the Business Practice Working Group and the Executive Committee where a very considerable amount of fingernail biting resulted. However, in the event and to our immense relief, we were given a very easy ride by the AGS Members at the AGMs, when the two governing documents were voted for acceptance, effectively without quibble – huge sighs of relief all round, not to mention profound thanks to the AGM attendees for their positive support!”

John is also the current Vice-President Chartership of the Geological Society and Chair if its Professional Accreditation Chartership Committees. In his ‘spare time’ he is a Director and Trustee of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, dedicated to restoring a 19th century derelict canal in Surrey and West Sussex.

This article was featured in the March/April 2018 issue of the AGS Magazine, which can be viewed here.

Report Data Management

AGS Data Management Working Group: March 2018 Meeting Update

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The first AGS Data Management Working Group meeting of 2018 took place on 7th March 2018 and the Data Management Leader, Jackie Bland of Geotechnics, has provided an update on the top three current issues the Data Management Working Group are discussing.

5 Year Plan
The Data Management Working Group have been discussing their five year plan, in order to know what the Group will be doing during the next five years. The plan was drafted in this meeting.

AGSi / Ground Modelling
Transferring ground models is a holy grail for the Data Management Working Group and the topic has been discussed on and off for the last five years. The sub-group working on this issue has been recently reassembled to continue their good works.

ERES Code Approval
Environmental / Contaminant codes are the key to AGS Data transfer for geoenvironmental laboratories – if there is no code available for a specific contaminant, then no data can be transferred. The AGS Laboratories Working Group and AGS Contaminated Land Working Groups have been informed of this issue and have agreed to take over the process of authorising the codes. However, guidelines will need to be drafted before this can happen.

Report Loss Prevention

AGS Loss Prevention Working Group: January 2018 Meeting Update

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Tags: Featured

The first AGS Loss Prevention Working Group meeting of 2018 took place on 23rd January 2018 and the Loss Prevention Leader, Hugh Mallett of BuroHappold, has provided an update on the top three current issues the Loss Prevention Working Group are discussing.

Loss Prevention Guidance (formerly known as the “Tool Kit”)
All the former toolkit papers have now been reviewed, checked and re-drafted. The papers that had become no longer relevant to current practice have been archived. All the other 23 papers will all be re-issued as the “AGS Loss Prevention Guidance – 2017” at AGS Members’ Day on 11th April 2018. (The 2017 date refers to the date the laws and legal citations were checked). The Loss Prevention Guidance is important to the AGS as the Guidance provides a substantial body of advice to members on matters ranging from the basis upon which members are appointed to provide their professional services, the potential for professional liability and how this can be managed, through to the risks of working alone and the implications of the Freedom of Information Act. The Guidance provides essential information for all members and their staff. Knowing that the legal aspects have all been checked for current relevance and up-dated should increase the confidence of member’s employees in dealing with these matters. AGS Members should always aware that specific matters can always be discussed via the AGS legal advice line managed by BLM Solicitors.

Loss Prevention Alerts on the Case of MT Hojgaard AS v E.ON (LPA 65), Construction Act Payment Provisions (LPA 66) and Japanese Knotweed (LPA 67)
These Loss Prevention Alerts have been developed and prepared over the last year. All three LPA’s were published on the AGS website in January and February 2018. The three new Loss Prevention Alerts respond to recent issues that have been raised with or on behalf of the Working Group. They provide members with an explanation of the issues that gave rise to concern and advice as to how to mitigate potential risks. The LPA’s can be downloaded here.

The Shortage of Reservoir Panel Engineers
A Position Paper highlighting the issue of the shortage of reservoir Panel Engineers has been drafted and discussed at AGS Senate. This is not solely an AGS matter of concern and it is proposed for the AGS Chairman to discuss the paper and the issues it raises to the President of the ICE. The shortage of registered Panel Engineers was identified by a member of the Loss Prevention Working Group as a looming problem due to the increased required for inspection of reservoirs, the decreasing number of persons qualified to do so and the difficulties of entry onto the register for young engineers. The position paper to be discussed with the ICE is very much a plea for action to address this gap between the requirements of the regulations and the ability of the wider industry to deliver people with the necessary skills and experience to fulfil those responsibilities.

News

Supporting the Aldous Bill

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The AGS have joined a confederation of almost 70 trade bodies and industry groups to back the so-called ‘Aldous Bill.’

The aim of the Aldous Bill (named after Peter Aldous MP who introduced it), is to change the practice of retentions and protect monies from insolvency; hopefully releasing millions of pounds back into the industry. To put it into perspective, the abuse of retentions has been abandoned by many other countries, including the USA, Germany, France, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Yet here in the UK, recent government research indicated that £700 million worth of retentions was lost as a result of insolvencies over the past three years. This means that for each working day, the construction industry is haemorrhaging almost £1 million of cash retentions.

This statistic alone justifies urgent intervention to ring-fence the monies, but in the aftermath of the Carillion liquidation, there is an unprecedented campaign from the industry calling on government to act. Proposals to stop the abuse of retentions have been made before, but in January 2018 the Aldous Bill passed its first reading unopposed and as we approach the second reading on April 27th ‘Aldous Bill’ has the broad backing of many industry associations, and cross-party support from over 100 MPs.

For further information, visit the BESA website.

News Data Management

Version 3.1 of the AGS Format to be retired from 8th March 2018

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Tags: AGS Data Format AGS Format 3.1 Featured

An earlier version of the digital data transfer format used to transfer ground investigation, laboratory testing and monitoring data rapidly between contributing parties to a geotechnical or geoenvironmental project will cease to be supported from 8th March 2018.

Version 3.1a of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) digital data transfer format, the so called ‘AGS Format’, was published in March 2005 and has been widely adopted within the ground engineering industry.

In May 2010 version 4 of the AGS Format was published, and has been gaining users and popularity since then. The latest 4.0.4 update was released in February 2017 in response to new laboratory industry standards and updated UK practice, and contains many features that are not available in the old 3.1 version.

The maintenance and updating of the AGS Format is carried out by a working group of volunteers. The decision to retire AGS 3.1 has been taken in order to allow the working group more time for future developments, and to speed up the response times to queries posted on the website.

Jackie Bland, Leader of the AGS Data Management Working Group said:

“This does not mean that industry colleagues will have to stop using the AGS 3.1 format, but it simply means that the working group will no longer respond to queries on 3.1 or its associated codes.

This should free up time to provide a swifter response to queries related to AGS4, which should now be the go-to choice for the efficient transfer of ground investigation, laboratory testing and monitoring data.”

Notes to Editors:
In 1991 the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) set up, and subsequently has supported, a Working Group to establish and maintain a digital data transfer format.

This format, known to many simply as ‘AGS Format’, has now been generally accepted as the most appropriate means to transfer ground investigation, laboratory testing and monitoring data rapidly between the contributing parties to a project that involves geotechnical or geoenvironmental elements.

Since its first publication in 1991 the AGS Format has become the de-facto industry standard for the reliable transfer of ground engineering data in the UK and has been adopted and adapted for use around the globe, including Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia.
The AGS Format enables transfer of geotechnical and geoenvironmental data in a digital form. It allows for the standardised representation of factual information, focusing on field and laboratory test results and monitoring data. AGS Format data are typically generated by a ground investigation specialist, a testing laboratory or on-site drilling crews and technicians and then shared with all project team members, be they designers, or contractors carrying out construction.

This team then uses the data without time consuming and expensive re-keying of data with the associated potential for errors or incomplete data entry.

Following completion of the project, the AGS Format data is easily archived and passed into the asset management sphere, for retrieval at a later date without requiring knowledge of the software used in its generation, or a requirement to have access to that software.

For more information contact:
Katie Kennedy
Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists
Forum Court, Office 205
Devonshire House Business Centre
29-31 Elmfield Road
Bromley
Kent BR1 1LT

Tel: +44 (0)20 8658 8212
Email: ags@ags.org.uk
Website: www.ags.org.uk

Article Business Practice Contaminated Land Data Management Executive Laboratories Loss Prevention Safety

AGS Members’ Day 2018 – Programme

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Tags: Featured Members Day 2018

AGS Members’ Day 2018 is taking place on Wednesday 11th April at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

Celebrating 30 years of the AGS, this full day event will see a series of industry experts present on topics such as sustainable remediation, Eurocode 7, sheer box testing and mineworking remediation. There will also be an extended Annual General Meeting and summary reports on each of the AGS’ Working Groups;

Introduction
Neil Parry, AGS Chair and Technical Director at Geotechnical Engineering

Business Practice Working Group Report
Sally Hudson, Regional Manager at Coffey

Data Format Working Group Report
Jackie Bland, IT Manager at Geotechnics

Loss Prevention Working Group Report
Hugh Mallet, Technical Director at BuroHappold Engineering

Working with the new BS ISO 18504:2017 – Sustainable remediation
Dr Paul Nathanail‎, Managing Director at Land Quality Management

Geotechnical Working Group Report
Neil Chadwick, Associate, Geotechnics at Arup

Laboratories Working Group Report
Dimitris Xirouchakis, Director of Laboratories at Structural Soils

Contaminated Land Working Group Report
Vivien Dent, Associate Technical Director, RSK

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes: Eurocode 7 in 202X
Andrew Bond, Director at Geocentrix

Safety Working Group Report
Adam Latimer, Director at Ian Farmer Associates

AGM and Awards

Bridging the Gap between Investigation, Testing, Design and Construction – Case Study and Panel Discussion
Yuli Doulala-Rigby (Tensar International), Dr. Gary Fowmes (Warwick University), Tracey Radford, (Atkins), Dave Hutchinson (ex Network Rail), Jim Webster (Kier Chief Materials Engineer), Patrick Waterhouse (Bowdon Consulting) and Dimitris Xirouchakis (Structural Soils). Panel discussion to be compared by Claire Smith (Editor of Ground Engineering Magazine).

Mineworking Remediation
Scott O’Neill-Gwilliams, Technical Director at AECOM

Legal issues in connection with the use of the AGS Digital Data format
Guy Lane, Partner at BLM

Closing Summary
Neil Parry, AGS Chair and Technical Director at Geotechnical Engineering

The programme can be viewed here.

MEMBERS’ DAY SPONSORS

Soil Engineering
With over 50 years of experience, Soil Engineering are one of the country’s foremost Ground Investigation and Specialist Grouting Contractors. The comprehensive in-house geotechnical laboratory, continually updated plant fleet, and ongoing investment in training and staff development, allow Soil Engineering to provide a reliable and cost-effective solution for any geotechnical project, throughout the UK.
www.soil-engineering.co.uk

AmbiSense
AmbiSense is a technology company operating in the environmental sector. We build real-time sensor platforms to generate unique insight about a multitude of industrial and environmental issues to help our customers solve complex environmental problems. Our signature product, GasfluX is the world’s first continuous gas and flow monitoring device for ground-gas applications. The technology enables, real-time monitoring of landfills, brownfield sites, onshore O&G facilities and industrial sites.
www.ambisense.net

Concept
Concept specialises in the design and implementation of highly complex geotechnical, geo-environmental and structural site investigations. Our client base includes some of the UK’s largest Engineering Consultancies, Developers, Project Managers and Public Bodies.
We offer a one stop planning, contracting and when required interpretative service which includes every aspect of investigative work required for a new development.
www.conceptconsultants.com

Envirolab
Envirolab provides laboratory services spanning a broad organic and inorganic portfolio. Our reputation for excellence is built on continually providing our clients with reliable results delivered on time and within budget. Our UKAS and MCERTS accreditations guarantee our commitment to quality. We are the utterly reliable analytical laboratory.
www.envlab.co.uk

Fugro
Fugro provides geo-intelligence and asset integrity services worldwide. With experts in testing, mapping, measuring and investigating the built and natural environments we help clients reduce uncertainty and manage risk. We offer clients the widest range of site investigation capabilities to deliver a digital replica of the subsurface.
www.fugro.com

Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering Ltd is the UK’s largest privately-owned ground investigation contractor, renowned for providing a range of innovative ground investigation services for thousands of land-based projects since 1961. From Utility Surveying to all aspects of ground investigation and having our own UKAS accredited laboratory, we are proud to call ourselves industry experts.
www.geoeng.co.uk/

i2 Analytical
i2 Analytical is an leading independent testing and analytical laboratory. Our Geotechnical department supports a range of sectors including Civil Engineering and GeoEnvironmental contractors/consultants. We also have expertise in asbestos testing and perform a range of chemical analyses using state of the art techniques on waters, soils and associated materials.
www.i2analytical.com

In Situ Site Investigation
In Situ Site Investigation is a multi-national specialist geotechnical and geo-environmental site investigation company, which specialises in the use of Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) techniques including seismic, shear vane, video cone, pressuremeter, magnetometer, MiHpt & MOSTAP sampling. Our specialised rigs enable us to work in most locations including railways, marine, Brownfield sites, river slopes and rugged, mountainous terrain.
www.insitusi.com

Land Science
We are an established ground investigation specialist in contaminated land and ground engineering projects for public and private clients in a wide range of scenarios including development, infrastructure, civil engineering, legal, and regulatory. We have bases in London and the South and operate our own rigs and a geotechnical laboratory.
www.landscience.co.uk

Lankelma
Lankelma is a leading company in the field of Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) & site investigation for construction projects both onland and overwater. With our large fleet of CPT rigs and ingrained knowledge we go beyond simply supplying accurate and reliable data, and provide our clients with high-value interpretation and engineering input for their projects.
www.lankelma.co.uk/

NHBC
Established in 1936, NHBC sets standards for its registered house builders and works to improve the construction quality of the homes they build. This is ultimately for the benefit of homeowners.
NHBC is a non-profit distributing organisation with no shareholders that dedicates resources and technical expertise to support the industry in raising the standards of new homes.
www.nhbc.co.uk/lqe

Quantum Geotechnical
Quantum Geotechnical, based in South Wales and South West England, working nationwide, provides a comprehensive service across the ground investigation, geotechnical contracting and geotechnical consultancy sectors. We have a specialist fleet of multi-purpose drilling rigs, a UKAS accredited in-house laboratory and a team of experienced and chartered engineers and geologists.
www.quantum-geotech.co.uk

Robertson Geologging
Robertson Geologging (RG) pioneered the development of wireline conveyed, slim-hole, digital logging systems and techniques. With extensive international experience of providing geophysical instrumentation and onsite services, RG operates in the geotechnical, mining, water, environmental and hydrocarbon sectors. RG headquarters in North Wales house the main design, development and assembly capability.
www.geologging.com

SOCOTEC
As a leading geotechnical services provider, SOCOTEC – formerly ESG – offers a diverse range of geotechnical and geoenvironmental investigation capabilities. From deep boring, wireline drilling and dynamic sampling to specialist in situ testing, in-house laboratories and engineering consultancy, SOCOTEC’s service offering covers the whole project lifecycle, through design, construction and the built stages.
www.socotec.co.uk

Structural Soils
Structural Soils Ltd has evolved into a national, multidisciplinary integrated, geotechnical and geo-environmental Site Investigation Company with the proven capability, capacity and confidence to undertake contracts of any size, in any location and virtually any scope. The company undertakes contracts across the UK through its offices in Bristol, Castleford, Coventry, Glasgow, Hemel Hempstead and Tonbridge.
www.soils.co.uk

Landmark Information
Landmark’s Envirocheck provides industry-leading site-specific environmental reports that analyse and assess risks for Phase 1 studies. The Envirocheck Analysis digital platform and mobile app was launched to revolutionise site assessments by enabling users to instantly overlay an extensive archive of historical mapping and environmental data, online, to immediately determine associated risks.
www.landmark.co.uk

Article

The National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Contamination Management

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Tags: Featured

As many will know, the NQMS was launched by the Land Forum in January 2017. It is administered for the Land Forum by CL:AIRE. It is a system designed to ensure that land contamination management work meets necessary technical and regulatory standards. It applies in particular to the presentation of environmental information to the regulators in the form of reports setting out both factual and interpretative information.

Reports are prepared in line with good practice and signed off by a suitably qualified and experienced person (SQP) registered under the NQMS who ensures that:

• The work has been planned, undertaken and written up by competent people who have relevant experience and/or qualifications in their respective disciplines.
• The underlying data has been collected in line with established good practice procedures and its collection has been subject to control via established quality management systems.
• The data has been processed, analysed and interpreted in line with established good practice and any specific advice provided by the relevant regulatory authorities or regulatory bodies.
• The reports set out recommendations or conclusions that are substantiated by the underlying data and are based upon reasonable interpretations.
• Any limitations in the data or uncertainties in the analysis are clearly identified along with the possible consequences of such limitations.

The scheme is voluntary and has been designed to operate alongside and within existing quality management systems. It has the support in principle of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Environment Agency (EA).

The Environment Agency in particular, fully support the scheme and have a position statement (J9) in the land contamination section of their principle groundwater protection document: The Environment Agency’s approach to groundwater protection (GP3)
In providing a Quality Mark to reports, the aim is to provide assurances to problem holders and regulators alike that land contamination issues have been adequately managed. The intention is to help speed up regulatory permissions or decisions on regulatory compliance resulting in savings to both public and private sector participants.

The scheme applies to;
• Desk Studies/Preliminary Risk Assessments
• Site Investigations, Generic or Detailed Quantitative Risk Assessments
• Remedial Options Appraisals, Remediation Strategies
• Remediation Verification and Monitoring Reports
• Or a combination thereof.

Although the NQMS can be applied to the management of land contamination under a range of regulatory regimes, its primary focus is to improve the quality of work done to manage land contamination under the Town and Country Planning System. However, it could also be applied to Part 2A, environmental permitting, pollution incidents and enforcement actions.

The SQP Provider is the organisation which examines the capabilities of prospective SQPs and compiles a register of their details. This role is currently carried out on behalf of the Land Forum by SiLC (Specialist in Land Condition Register). There are two routes whereby an individual can become an SQP. Someone who is already a registered SiLC can take an on-line Conversion Course which leads to an on-line multiple choice exam. If the required marks are achieved, the person will be registered as an SQP in addition to being a SiLC. For someone who is not a SiLC and has the required expertise and experience, they can apply via examination and interview to become both SiLC and SQP. There are currently 84 registered SQPs and 194 registered SiLCs. Those SiLCs who have not yet taken the on-line conversion course are encouraged to do so. The more SQPs there are to fulfil the need, the more inclined clients will be to specify a requirement for an SQP so that declarations can be submitted for the reports that relate to their project.

The scheme works by the SQP making a Declaration, registered with CL:AIRE, to confirm that the principles outlined above have been followed and they can certify that the work has been carried out by appropriately qualified people, that proper quality control procedures have been followed and that the recommendations given and conclusions drawn, including uncertainties, are appropriate and can be justified by the data on which they are based.

There are currently 17 Declarations that have been registered with CL:AIRE. There should be many more. For the scheme to gather momentum, more clients need to be made aware of the scheme and the benefits. SQPs are the ambassadors that can achieve this. A client will not request that a Declaration be made unless they know about the scheme and can see the benefits. So, SQPs – educate your clients, generate interest, and thereby make the scheme work. You have put in the effort to become an SQP, now make it worthwhile.

The potential benefits of this scheme are enormous. It is not intended to remove the need for regulatory scrutiny. However, the purpose is to enable regulators to spend less time and resources on reports which have a Quality Mark thereby enabling them to concentrate more of their time on those reports which do not have this quality designation. The benefits to a developer are less potential for delay in the approval of land condition reports as part of the planning process.

For the scheme to be more widely used there needs to be greater awareness of the scheme within regulatory organisations, within client organisations such as developers and generally within the contaminated land community.

Obviously, the NQMS is in its early stages and still needs to prove that it does result in improved standards. The Land Forum are in the process of developing an audit process and SiLC have prepared a disciplinary procedure to deal with any complaint that an SQP has not followed the Code of Conduct. In due course the EA will be doing their own audit and will be sharing the results with the Land Forum. It is anticipated that by these means confidence in the NQMS can be established.

Some of the words in this article rely heavily on the documents on the CL:AIRE website. Where comments and observations are made which are not on the CL:AIRE website, these are the thoughts of the authors of this article. Please visit the CL:AIRE website for further information.

Roger Clark, Marlowclark Consulting Limited
Angela Haslam, Environment Agency
Phil Fitzgerald, Environment Agency

This article was featured in the January/February issue of the AGS Magazine, which can be viewed here.

News Data Management

A New Era for AGS Data Format

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Tags: Featured

The AGS Data Format organisation is going through a period of change within AGS to ensure it can meet the demands of a digitalised industry. The way it is currently supported has to change. Jackie Bland explains…

The AGS Data Format stands as one of the most useful digital standards ever developed for our industry. It’s the product of collaboration between like-minded technical experts who all saw the need to share site investigation data in a standard way between their different organisations, irrespective of the software and people involved. Yet for many its purpose is unknown or not understood.

The AGS Data Format saw a group of enthusiasts come together with no budget and little dedicated time to create something that has become a defacto standard within the UK Site Investigation industry. Expanding on its UK success, it has been adopted abroad in countries such as Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. It anticipating the demands of digital construction (BIM) when it was created 25 years ago.

Throughout its life it has been maintained by the volunteers of the AGS Data Management Committee, with little or no budget towards its upkeep. Today we are rebuilding the technical infrastructure that sustains the Data Format to ensure that it will stand for the next 25 years. To support this invaluable work we have taken the decision to put it on a more sustainable footing financially so that we can safeguard it into the future.

The AGS publication ‘Electronic Transfer of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Data’ (AGS data format versions 1-4.0) has, to date, been maintained using a one-time fee for registered users. As the AGS Format’s use has grown, the process of responding to queries, extending the format and maintaining the website has become costly and time consuming which needed to be addressed.

While the publication itself will still be completely free to download and use. The AGS has decided that an annual fee should be payable as a contribution to its upkeep for those wishing to make regular use of data transferred in this way and to interact with the Data Management Group when proposing new codes and needing answers to queries.

From 2018, the annual fee for AGS member organisations is £50 + VAT and annual fee for non-member organisations is £150 + VAT.

From April 2018, the existing list of Registered Companies on the website will be cleared and only those organisations and individuals who have paid the fee for that year will be included in the revised list. A logo and certificate will be supplied annually by AGS to those who are registered for inclusion on their website, email and social media feeds to demonstrate their registration and involvement.

We would ask that, if you are a consumer of AGS data, you check that any company supplying you with AGS data is shown on the list of Registered Users.

The benefits of being registered for AGS Data include:
• Ability to use the AGS Format for any application
• DOC and RTF versions of the Publication
• A copy of and the ability to use the AGS Data Logo on your SI reports and logs
• The AGS Data Dictionary in CSV or Excel format
• Company listing on the Registered list

Visit the AGS Data Format website here to become a registered user of AGS Data Format or email ags@ags.org.uk.

Article Business Practice Executive

Q&A with Sally Hudson

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Tags: Featured

Sally Hudson BSc (Hons), MSc, DIC, CGeol, FGS
Regional Manager and Associate Geotechnical Engineer at Coffey Geotechnics Ltd, a Tetra Tech Company

After nearly 30 years in the geotechnics industry, I have worked on many aspects of ground engineering and currently have responsibility for technical management of a wide range of operations and for design delivery. I have a background in site investigation but have since worked for design consultancies for many years on significant transport and energy infrastructure schemes, and so I am well placed to represent the consultancy sector as part of this important trade association.

What or who inspired you to join the geotechnical industry?
I joined the industry as a young geologist interested in all things sub-surface. One career open to a geology graduate is that in ground engineering, a route I chose and have not looked back. I specialised and further qualified as an engineering geologist and then geotechnical engineer, quickly becoming hooked on finding out about the ground and its behaviours during interaction with the built environment and the associated geo-hazards.

What does a typical day entail?
As Coffey is a specialist geotechnical design consultancy working in all sectors in all corners of the globe, it’s difficult to pin down a typical day. I deal with delivering projects and managing our technical team and workload in almost all aspects of ground engineering. The day can comprise attending design team meetings for major projects, inspecting highway earthworks, reviewing tender designs or looking at in-country health and safety and design risks associated with working on overseas ground investigations.

Are there any projects which you’re particularly proud to have been a part of?
Certainly; High Speed 2 has presented a unique set of challenges for the geotechnical industry to tackle and I have been involved in this prestigious scheme in one form or another since 2012. We have had roles at tender assessing the geodynamic effects of high speed rail traffic on UK soils and how to mitigate this at unprecedented design line speeds, and also the engineering of heave of overconsolidated clay in very deep cuttings.

What are the most challenging aspects of your role?
The main challenge is always the tight timescales imposed on us by many of our clients – either due to them not being aware how much they will need geotechnical specialist input on a tender or design until very late in the day, or due to delay of award date of a scheme but not of the delivery date. This constraint can affect the entire design team, not just in geotechnics.

Another key challenge is trying to ensure that the ground investigation data we rely on so heavily as designers is available in AGS format to those that need it. It is staggering how difficult it often is to obtain the data that we know has been commissioned and produced but has not made it along the chain to those who need it most.

What AGS Working Group(are you a Member of and what are your current focuses?
I have been on the Executive Committee and now the Senate since 2014 and am a member of the Business Practice Working Group. Working with the Marketing Sub-Group we have overhauled the bye-laws and are looking at how to widen the AGS membership. Most recently, I have also joined the newly formed Geotechnical Working Group and have specific focus on addressing key issues such as excavation safety during in-situ tests like permeability and soakaway.

What do you enjoy most about being an AGS Member?
I have followed the AGS since my graduation and from an early stage in my career I have been glad of the advice given in the AGS guidance notes and publications such as the recently revised guidance on the selection of laboratory tests for construction schemes. Now I have the opportunity to help out and return the favour!

What do you find beneficial about being an AGS Member?
I am long-standing member of the geotechnical community and I am always assured that the AGS are there looking out for the interests of all geotechnical and geo-environmental practitioners and promoting best practice and quality. I can access a plethora of advice and guidance documents produced by the AGS for use by all members and for use in educating clients, colleagues and suppliers.

Why do you feel the AGS is important to the industry?
There is no other trade body dealing with the geotechnical and geo-environmental industry as a whole. There is a huge amount of work being done by members of the AGS alongside their day job to promote excellence and safe working practices across the industry. The well-established data format is hugely beneficial and as we deliver more schemes in BIM this format really comes into its own.

What changes would you like to see implemented in the geotechnical industry?
I would like to see greater awareness of the AGS and its activities. Does everyone know there is a legal help line who can assist in advising on tricky contractual matters? I encourage everyone to sign up to the AGS website and talk to your AGS company representative about the benefits of membership. I look forward to seeing you all at the AGS Members’ Day.

This Q&A was included in the January/February issue of the AGS Magazine, which can be viewed here.