Thought Leadership

We like to use our resources and skills to improve general standards in ground engineering. Our people contribute to industry events and programmes such as CIRIA research initiatives or AGS programmes to improve best practices.
CGL supporting industry conferences:
Ground Movement Modelling for Crossrail Excavation Shared at International Seminar in Vietnam
Research by CGL Engineer Joseph Birnie to model ground movements during excavations at the Moorgate shaft of Crossrail was shared at the Numerical Analysis in Geotechnics seminar in Vietnam. The presentation in March 2018 was delivered by JaeSeok Yang, Principal Geotechnical Consultant at MIDAS, the developer of the numerical analysis software used by Joseph.
Basements and Underground Structures Conference
Joseph Slattery was a speaker at the GE Basements and Underground Structures Conference in 2017. Joseph discussed CGL’s work to enable the use of buttress piles at large basement projects in London. One of the projects discussed, Prince of Wales Drive, was a finalist at the 2018 Ground Engineering Awards in the category for Technical Excellence.
Guidance Document for Management of Advanced Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering
CGL is supporting CIRIA (The Construction Industry Research and Information Association) Management of Advanced Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering guidance document planned for release in 2018. Richard Ball, Technical Director and Joseph Slattery, Principal Engineer attended the steering committee as part of this support.
This steering committee will draw upon CGL’s experience developed using Plaxis 3D FE analysis in a range of projects that have covered the reuse of foundations, temporary works design, deep basement wall movements and design of foundations over and around existing sensitive structures.
Engineering Geology 50 Conference
CGL was a proud sponsor and supporter of the ‘Engineering Geology 50 Conference’ in Portsmouth in July 2017.
We have had long links with the Engineering Geology and Geotechnics degree at the University of Portsmouth. Nearly one in six of our current staff have passed through this prestigious school at either undergraduate or postgraduate level. Both have been crucial in the development of the Engineering Geology profession within the UK and wider afield.
2017 marked the 50th Anniversary of Engineering Geology and Geotechnics provision at the University of Portsmouth and 50 years of the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology.
Geotechnica Conference and Exhibition
Adam Branson, Principal Engineer spoke at Geotechnica, the UK’s Largest Geotechnical Conference and Exhibition in July 2017 to share the AGS/BDA survey results that will help move the UK Ground Investigation industry forward.
British Geotechnical Association Conference
Richard Ball, Technical Director took part in the British Geotechnical Association (BGA) Annual Conference in 2017 and 2018 at the Institution of Civil Engineers, London.
Environment Analyst Business Summit
Dan Matthews, CGL Director was a member of the Industry Response Panel on the state of the environmental agency market at the Environment Analyst Business Summit in London in 2017.
Brownfield Briefing Effective Site Investigation and Data Management Conference
Sarah Key, Principal Engineer spoke at the Brownfield Briefing Effective Site Investigation and Data Management Conference in Birmingham in May 2017. Sarah spoke about CGL’s large scale holistic site investigation combining both geoenvironmental and geotechnical testing and assessment at Silvertown in London.
Basements and Underground Structures Conference
Mark Creighton and Joseph Slattery were speakers at the Ground Engineering Basements and Underground Structures Conference in 2016. Mark and Joseph drew on CGL’s award-winning work for the basement for the Subsea 7 offices in Sutton for their presentation.
UK Ground Investigation Sector Analysis
In 2016 two trade organisations, the Association of Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Specialists (AGS) and the British Drilling Association (BDA) joined forces to set up a ‘Task Force’ to put a spotlight on the ground investigation industry and promote a healthy debate around the UK GI sector. This is the first time the industry has attempted something like this on this scale.
The project centred on an anonymous survey sent to consultants, contractors, suppliers and clients/specifiers that represent the wider industry. The results of this survey will help shape and direct the future to ensure we have an industry we are proud to be a part of.
Adam Branson, Principal Engineer at CGL is part of the ‘Task Force’ Consultants team and is keen to develop tangible deliverables which can really help move the industry forward. For the latest developments on this initiative, please follow the Task Force at:
Twitter: @AGS_BDA
Facebook: AGS BDA Task Force
Latest Guidance by ICE on Contaminated Land
The third edition of ICE’s guide on contaminated land investigation was published in 2016, co-authored by CGL’s Jo Strange and Nick Langdon.
Contaminated Land Guidance: The route to sustainable economic solutions is aimed at professionals who do not deal with contaminated sites on a day-to-day basis. It provides authoritative guidance on the challenges associated with contamination on brownfield developments. This edition updates the subject following significant changes in legislation and updates by key bodies including Government, the Environment Agency, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) and the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
Copies are available via the ICE bookshop at £45
ISBN 978-0-7277-6106-4
www.icebookshop.com/Contaminated/Land/Guidance/Third/Edition
Publications:
Contaminated Land Guidance, Third Edition Nick Langdon, Jo Strange, Alex Large
ICE Publishing October 2016
The Female Face of Civil Engineering (TFFOCE)
Supported by the Women’s Engineering Society and New Civil Engineer, August 2016
Prediction of party wall movements using CIRIA report C580 Nick Langdon and Richard Ball
Ground Engineering, September 2014
Getting to the Bottom of It Nick Langdon and Richard Ball
Ground Engineering, April 2013
Women in Engineering
Guardian supplement published by Media Planet, November 2012
ICE Manual of Geotechnical Engineering, Volume II J Burland, T Chapman, H Skinner and M Brown Thomas Telford 2012 – (Contribution to Vol 1 Geoenvironmental testing – N Langdon, J Strange and C Swords)
www.icebookshop.com/bookshop_main.asp?ISBN=9780727757098.
ICE Manual of Geotechnical Engineering, J Burland, T Chapman, H Skinner and M Brown Thomas Telford 2011 – (Contribution Vol 1 Geo-environmental testing – N Langdon, J Strange and C Swords)
www.icebookshop.com/bookshop_main.asp?ISBN=9780727757074 .