Date and location: Friday, 25 April 2025, at the Avaya Auditorium, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Building at the University of Texas (main campus), Austin, TX.
The UT Geotechnical group is pleased to announce that Dr. Donald A. Bruce will be delivering the 2025 Lymon C. Reese Distinguished Lecture on “What Quality Means in Specialty Geotechnical Construction.” Dr. Donald A. Bruce is the President of Geosystems, LP, in Venetia, PA.
We thank Fugro for the generous sponsorship of the 2025 Reese Lecture, which makes it possible to offer the full program free of charge (including the Career Expo and Reception).
Individual Registration to attend the 2025 Reese Lecture Activities
(Lecture, Reception, Golf)
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Abstract:
What Quality Really Means in Specialty Geotechnical Construction
The pursuit of quality in every phase of a project is synonymous with achieving the mutual goals of schedule, cost, and compliance. Quality – either by control or assurance – is not something that happens only in the field. It must pervade each successive process on the way to building a product which satisfies the specifications and is fit for purpose. The underlying themes of quality are:
- avoiding rework by doing every task correctly the first time, and optimizing each successive process.
- devising plans and specifications which are sensible and constructable, and which allocate risk sharing in an equable manner between all parties in the contract.
- conducting and clearly reporting upon an adequate site specific hydrogeological investigation.
- designing and implementing each task in compliance with the contract documents.
- preparing comprehensive Work Plans, which are fully understood, and approved, by the Engineer/Regulator.
- conducting the work in accordance with the Work Plans, based on the referenceable standard of care for the industry.
- using real time methods of QA/QC/verification which are pragmatic and related specifically to the product being built.
- providing comprehensive records in a Post-Construction Report: this will be invaluable for future generations who happen upon the particular project.
The author trusts that this presentation will serve as a guide to practitioners, and as an encouragement to younger professionals striving to make sense of the hectic world of specialty geotechnical construction. In addition to providing this general guidance, recommendations specific to the different specialty construction techniques are provided.
Friday 04/25
1:00 – 4:30 PM: Check-in desk open (near Avaya Auditorium)
2:30 – 4:00 PM: Geotechnical Industry Career Expo (EER Center)
4:30 – 6:00 PM: Reese Lecture (Avaya Auditorium)
6:00 – 8:00 PM: Reception (EER Lobby)
Saturday 04/26
7:00 AM Practice/Driving range included in the registration
8:00 AM Reese Memorial Golf Tournament Tee Time (Teravista Golf Club)
Biography
Donald A. Bruce, Ph.D., C.Eng., L.G., L.E.G., P.G., D.GE., F. ASCE, F.ICE, has degrees in Geology and Geotechnical Engineering. He worked for U.K. based specialty geotechnical contractor Colcrete for almost 10 years in the U.K., Europe, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Egypt and the Middle East on projects relating to grouting, anchors, soil nails, and micropiles. Thereafter he was Technical Director of Nicholson Construction Company, in Pittsburgh, PA, covering the same topics, plus diaphragm walls and Deep Mixing, for another 10 years. In 1996, he founded Geosystems, LP, a consultancy operating in the same specialty construction techniques, primarily relating to dam and levee remediation, tunnels, mines, and deep foundations. He serves on projects worldwide, primarily as a member of Boards of Consultants, as a peer reviewer and for litigation support. He has published over 340 technical papers, and 4 textbooks. He has received three national awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers including the Terzaghi Award, and from the U.S. Society of Dams and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. He has also acted as Principal Investigator for the FHWA for micropiles and Deep Mixing, and for CEATI for rock anchors. He is active in many professional societies, and has taught at Short Courses internationally. He is the Honorary Chairman of the International Society of Micropiles, and the former Chairman of the GeoInstitute’s Grouting Committee and DFI’s Slurry Wall Committee.