1. science
2. engineering

ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
Geotechnical Engineering in Problematic Grounds
Jointly organized by
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Hong Kong Section
and
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Date:
Time:
Venue:
Language:
7 November 2014 (Friday)
09:30 – 17:00 (registration starts at 09:00)
Chiang Chen Studio Theatre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
English
Highlights of the Workshop
 Construction and design of stone columns in soft soils
 Interdisciplinary training in geotechnical and environmental engineering leading to the
effective remediation strategies
 Challenges of foundation design in difficult grounds
 Use of geosynthetics in solid waste landfills
 Design procedures and advanced numerical techniques for soil liquefaction assessment;
ground improvement solutions to mitigate the hazard
Course Fee
Fee
HK$700
Eligibility
Member of ASCE. PolyU CEE Deartment and Supporting Organizations;
or Early-bird registration (payment mde on or before 24 Oct 2014,
postmarked); or Group registration (≥ 4 persons)
HK$800
Non-member
HK$300
ASCE Student Member (limited seats)
Fee includes lecture notes, tea/coffee and an attendance certificate. Lunch is not included.
Seats are limited. First-come-first-served!
Supporting Organizations
1
Program (subject to minor modifications without prior notice)
09:00 – 09:30
Registration
09:30 – 09:35
Welcome address
09:35 – 10:25
Dr Wilhelm DEGEN, Ground Improvement Solutions LLC
Offshore stone columns: installation and quality control, with particular
consideration of low headroom conditions
10:25 – 10:45
Coffee break
10:45 – 11:35
Dr Chao LI, Lambeth Associates
Design and analysis issues associated with stone column techniques in soft
clay
11:35 – 12:25
Ir James SZE, ARUP
Challenges of foundation design in difficult ground condition
12:25 – 12:35
Souvenir presentation
12:35 – 14:00
Lunch (not included in the registration fee)
14:00 – 14:50
Ir John COWLAND, Geosystems Ltd
Use of geosynthetics in solid waste landfills
14:50 – 15:40
Dr Kaimin SHIH, The University of Hong Kong
Remediation of contaminated grounds
15:40 – 16:00
Coffee break
16:00 – 16:50
Dr Gang WANG, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Assessment and mitigation of earthquake-induced soil liquefaction:
empirical procedures and numerical approaches
16:50 – 17:00
Closing remarks and souvenir presentation
17:00
Distribution of CPD certificates
Certificate:
This course is recommended for one CPD day.
Enquiry:
Dr Songye ZHU
[email protected]
2
Tel: 3400 3964
About the Speakers
Dr Wilhelm DEGEN, Ground Improvement Solutions LLC
Dr. Wilhelm S. Degen is a technical expert for ground improvement using
Vibro-Compaction and Vibro Replacement Stone Column technology. He
has more than 25 years of experience in these techniques and is recognized
as an expert in this specialized field. Over the course of his career, Dr.
Degen has been instrumental in the design and implementation of numerous
significant ground improvement projects both in the USA and internationally.
Dr Chao LI, Lambeth Associates
Dr. Chao Li is a Principal Engineer in Lambeth Associates Limited (the
design and engineering branch of Gammon Construction). He obtained his
PhD in computational geomechanics from Stanford University, CA, USA.
He has 16 years experiences in research and consulting works in
geotechnical engineering related fields. His consulting works include design
and analysis for major infrastructure projects in US, China, India, Middle
East, South East Asia and Hong Kong. Particularly he has been involved at
various stages in construction works in the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Link Project
which has made extensive use of stone columns and other ground improvement methods.
Ir James SZE, ARUP
James Sze is a Director of Arup. He is a Registered Geotechnical Engineer
leading a geotechnical team in design and supervision of the geotechnical
aspects for a variety of developments. He has 20 years of experience in
investigation, design, instrumentation and construction supervision for deep
foundation and basement excavation projects in a range of ground
conditions across different cities and countries.
3
Ir John COWLAND, GeoSystems Ltd
John Cowland is an Independent Geotechnical and Geosynthetics
Engineering Consultant, based in Hong Kong, China, with 40 years of
experience. John has provided advice to numerous government and private
sector clients throughout the Asia Pacific region on geotechnical,
environmental and geosynthetic projects; including solid waste landfills,
dams, tunnels, mines, deep excavations, slopes, soft ground, coastal
reclamations, liquid storage and disposal of contaminated soil. He has
advised on the use of geosynthetics in all these areas, often in an innovative manner, since
1986. John has also provided advice on project management for environmental, tunnelling
and water supply projects, for projects up to US$ 10 billion in value.
John is a Council Member of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), an invited
Member of the Environmental Geotechnics Committee TC 215 of the International Society
for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and Chairman of the
Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists Hong Kong (AGS HK). He
has published 48 technical papers on geosynthetics and geotechnical engineering.
Dr Kaimin SHIH, The University of Hong Kong
Dr. Shih received his M.S., Ph.D. and the postdoctoral training from the
Department of Civil and Engineering at Stanford University before joining
the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 2007. He has been leading an
“Environmental Materials” research group at HKU and their work is
primarily to engineer and employ material properties for innovative waste
and wastewater treatments. Dr. Shih is particularly interested in observing
the pollutant behavior in solid matrices and at water-mineral interfaces. He
has conducted research projects related to sludge/ash management, material resource
recovery, perfluorinated and pesticide pollution control and soil remediation. Dr. Shih
currently also serves as executive committee members in 3 environmental associations, and
as the editor or associate editors in 4 peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Dr Gang WANG, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Dr Gang Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology. He graduated with PhD in civil engineering from the University
of California, Berkeley in 2005. He is Treasurer of ASCE Hong Kong
Section, member of Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI),
Seismological Society of America (SSA) and a registered Professional
Engineer in the state of California, USA. His research interests include geotechnical
earthquake engineering, soil dynamics and engineering seismology. Dr Wang was awarded
Li Foundation Heritage Prize in 2010 for his outstanding research contribution in earthquake
engineering and geo-hazard mitigation.
4
ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
Geotechnical Engineering in Problematic Grounds
7 November 2014 (Friday), Chiang Chen Studio Theatre, PolyU
Registration Form
Name:
(Surname)
(Given Name)
Office Tel.:
Mobile:
Email:
Membership
(if
applicable)
Membership
grade:
Company:
ASCE / PolyU / AGS(HK)
HKIE / ICE / IOM3
Membership
No.:
Member/Associate member/Affiliate member/Student member
Group Registration (Please use separate sheets if necessary)
No.
Surname
Given Name
Email
1
Contact Person (contact information refers to above)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Phone
Payment
I enclose a crossed cheque no. ______________________ (Bank: _____________________)
For the amount of HK$ ___________ x ___ person = HK$______________
Remarks




All payment are non-refundable once booking is confirmed.
Please make a cheque payable to “American Society of Civil Engineers – Hong Kong Section”
and post to
Dr Songye ZHU, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon
Seat will only be confirmed when payment is received.
ASCE Hong Kong reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule the workshop at its discretion
Enquiry Dr SongyeZHU (Email: [email protected]; Tel: 3400 3964)
5
Campus Map
Workshop venue - Chiang Chen Studio Theatre
6