TECHNICAL
Underground Investigation
and Risk Management PART 2
Risk and projects
By Masoud Manzari, P.Eng. and Mark Tigchelaar, P. Eng., GeoSolv Design/Build
The first article of this series covered “What is Risk?”
Now we will discuss how risk and projects interact.
There are many complex models and references for
geotechnical risk management from the beginning
(conceptual design stage) to the end of a project (construction
and operation). A proper geotechnical risk management plan
has many detailed steps involved in it, such as identifying the
hazards and sharing risk. Although a geotechnical investigation
is just one step in the process, it is by far the most
important one.
A geotechnical investigation done improperly can cause
significant construction delays, increased cost overruns,
redesigns and much more; ultimately and negatively impacting
a project. A recent study of 41 legal court cases, where the
claim was related to geotechnical issues, revealed that 55 per
cent of the claims were the result of “changed soil conditions.”
This type of claim is directly related to the geotechnical
investigation. Other types of claims such as “design inaccuracies”
may also be rooted in the geotechnical investigation.
This same study also found that approximately 45 per cent
Considering that in one study, 45 per cent
of claims against consultants were directly
related to the geotechnical investigation,
it makes sense to do an effective site
investigation in the first place
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