Uncertainty and Ground Conditions: A Risk Management Approach

Book excerpt: All civil engineering and construction projects require some sort of solid foundation, but ground conditions bring some degree of uncertainty to every project. Dealing properly with uncertainty over ground conditions can make the difference between the commercial success and failure of a project. With margins in the construction industry at historic lows, and with costs of failing to accurately predict ground conditions becoming increasingly high, the importance of proper management of the variety of ground-related risk is paramount. Risk management has demonstrated its value in many industries, but the full lessons of that experience has not yet fully reached all aspects of civil engineering. In particular the importance of individuals and their own awareness of risks and how to manage them has often been overlooked. Martin van Staveren has written a new kind of book on ground risk management. Based on many years of professional experience and proven risk management techniques, Uncertainty and Ground Conditions demonstrates how to ensure the construction and civil engineering projects succeed in delivering on time and on budget.