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GBA Appoints Five New Fellows
GBA is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to the prestigious GBA Council of Fellows. GBA established the Council of Fellows in 1975 to provide guidance for GBA’s direction and to pursue other activities its members deemed appropriate.
The new fellows are:
• Thomas “Tom” Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F.GBA, F.ASCE, F.ACEC (Blackburn Consulting)
• Frank W. Pita, P.E., L.H.G., F.GBA, F.ASCE, D.GE (Retired)
• Terence J. Scanlan, Esq., F.GBA (Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S.)
• Leo J. Titus, Jr., P.E., F.GBA (ECS Group of Companies)
• Michael “Mike” J. Yost, Esq., F.GBA (Terracon)
Mr. Blackburn is president of Blackburn Consulting, an employee-owned firm he started with his wife Grace 
in 1998. He earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology). Tom served as GBA President in 2021-2022 and his board and committee participation includes:
• Peer Review Committee member: 2011-present
• Peer Review Committee Chair: 2015-2016
• Board of Directors: 2016-2022
• GBA President: 2021-2022
Learn more about Tom Blackburn.
Mr. Pita has been participating in GBA activities and meetings for 35 years. Over this time, he served as
a firm representative from CH2M Hill, Shannon & Wilson, Milbor-Pita and Associates, and Jacobs Associates.
His GBA board and committee participation includes:
• Chairman, Geo-environmental Committee: 1992-1993
• ASFE Board of Directors: 1993-95
• Codes & Standards Committee / Professional Practice Committee: Mid 1990s-Early 2000s
• EIT Committee: 2010-2019
Mr. Scanlan is an attorney at Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S., who’s litigation practice includes contract disputes, risk management,
professional negligence, errors and omissions claims, as well as wrongful death claims and catastrophic torts. A long-time supporter of GBA, Mr. Scanlan led a team of attorneys in rewriting GBA’s popular Contract Reference Guide. He’s also been a perennial presenter at GBA conferences. Terry’s committee participation includes:
• Legal Affairs Committee member: 2003-present
• Legal Affairs Committee Vice Chair: 2008-2020
• Legal Affairs Committee Chair: 2019-2024
Learn more about Terry Scanlan.
Mr. Titus is a GBA Past-President (2022-2023) and current Chief Operating Officer at ECS Limited.
Leo earned his master’s degree in geotechnical engineering at the University of Maryland. He was recognized in 2019 for his work in the development of a GBA Case History that serves as a valuable resource for all firms.
Leo’s GBA board and committee participation includes:
• Emerging Issues and Trends Committee member: 2011-present
• Board of Directors: 2017-2023
• President: 2022-2023
Mr. Yost is the Chief Administrative Officer at Terracon. Not only does he present valuable information at GBA conferences, he also represents the association at other industry events. Yost earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Mike’s GBA board and committee participation includes:
• Legal Affairs Committee Chair: 2008-2016
• Legal Affairs Committee member: 2008-present
These geoprofessionals are outstanding examples of the breadth of expertise and level of commitment to risk management, business optimization, and professional development that GBA members display across the board. We are proud to recognize them and their contributions to our organization and to elevating geoprofessional value by providing leadership, knowledge, and resources. Please join us in congratulating these industry leaders on their appointments!
New Case History Published! #117: Disaster Averted… The Power of a Peer Review
GBA has a long history of sharing the painful and sometimes expensive lessons its member firms have learned through its popular
GBA Case History Series. Member firms can also learn from one another from projects that turned out successfully.
As described in our newest Case History, #117, a GBA member firm was hired to peer review the geotechnical exploration report completed by a non-member firm at the site of a new warehouse with a mezzanine level.
The GBA member firm’s review revealed the original report – completed by
the non-member firm’s inexperienced engineer, who lacked senior staff support – used limited consolidation tests at shallow depths and a reliance on correlations to estimate ground settlement. The GBA member firm noted that the stress overlap of the large footings supporting the mezzanine level was not considered, thereby underestimating the amount of settlement the footings could undergo.
The non-member firm quickly understood that without the peer review, they could have been in a lawsuit that would have cost them many times their fees. The GBA member firm gained additional work with the developer thanks to a successful project outcome and built on their relationship as a trusted consultant.
GBA Case Histories provide unprecedented real-world learning examples related to project and business management. Learn where others went wrong, how they handled their problems, and how you can learn from their experiences to avoid the same problems in the future.
Case Histories are FREE for all GBA Members.
DOWNLOAD CASE HISTORY #117 HERE.
View the GBA Case History Digest or search the GBA resource library to find other learning opportunities for your firm.
Important GBA Mine Tailings Resources Now Available to ALL
In the spirit of elevating geoprofessional value, acting as trusted advisors, and holding health, safety, and welfare paramount, the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) has made three important mine tailings documents available for the first time to everyone at NO COST, regardless of GBA 
membership. These documents will guide mine owners, regulators, and practitioners toward a more efficient and safer approach to designing and maintaining mine tailings dams.
To download these resources, you will need to have a GBA account. LEARN MORE. Non-members, or those without accounts, will need to click “Don’t have an account?” and follow the prompts.
Previously only available to GBA member firms, you may now access the following documents at no cost:
Proposed Best Practices for Engineer of Record for Tailings Dams: DOWNLOAD HERE
This document provides recommendations from an informed body of geotechnical engineering practitioners for defining the roles and responsibilities of an Engineer of Record for a tailings dam or coal combustion residuals dam to enhance safety, environmental suitability, and social sustainability.
Business Brief: Addressing the Issue of Engineer of Record for Tailings Storage Facilities: DOWNLOAD HERE
This document informs and educates engineering firms of the ever-increasing levels of risk associated with tailings-related work.
Important Information About this Tailings Storage Facility Design Report: DOWNLOAD HERE
This report was prepared by a GBA member firm in accordance with guidelines developed by GBA and reviewed by other recognized dam and mine safety organizations.
These materials supplement each other and you are encouraged to download all of them and begin using them immediately.
If you need assistance accessing the resources or setting up your GBA account, please contact GBA at info@geoprofessional.org or 301-565-2733.
Other feedback, questions, or commentary may be directed to GBA Executive Director Joel G. Carson at jcarson@geoprofessional.org.
These resources are examples of GBA’s ability to positively impact the geoprofessional industry through planning and collaboration – and increasing access to them will elevate the safety of mine tailings dams worldwide.
GBA helps members become better educated, more skilled, more professional, and more successful, and it does so largely through its library of hundreds of resources: publications, audio programs, videos, webinars, training curricula, model documents, case studies, and more.
Learn more about GBA resources, which are almost all available free to members. Select resources may be purchased by non-members.
Are you interested in becoming a GBA member and gaining access to hundreds of industry-specific risk management materials to help you train and retain staff and operate your firm more successfully? Learn more here.
Role-Play Your Way: How to Talk with Terzaghi
GBA Business Technology Committee
In the ever-evolving landscape of the geoprofessional industry, artificial 
intelligence (AI) continues to drive innovation, efficiency, and curiosity. GBA’s Business Technology Committee is producing a six-part series to educate GBA members on the implications of AI on the geoprofessions. The articles, written by Enrique Farfan, Ph.D., P.E. ENV SP (HDR), explore how this technology works and its potential uses.
The fifth article in the series teaches readers how to role-play with an AI version of someone (a digital twin) and uses a ChatGPT conversation with the esteemed “Karl von Terzaghi” as an example.
Role-playing with large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT offers an immersive way to interact with data and knowledge. The benefits could include learning through interactive simulations, training programs, and entertainment. With LLMs, creativity can meet the boundless potential of AI and forge new paths toward knowledge and innovation.
Although using AI to create digital twins of ourselves raises many questions about mental health impacts, ethics, and legality, digital twins have the potential to connect people and spread knowledge.
This article provides specific, actionable guidelines for writing a superprompt in ChatGPT to role-play with a LLM version of someone, and a real example of how to apply those guidelines.
In addition to chatting with real historical figures, you can interact with data through role-play by establishing a fictional character that you can gather information from or bounce ideas off.
This technology has a long way to go before it can provide reliable and accurate information. However, this little game of role-play offers a glimpse into what could be possible in the near future.
READ “ROLE-PLAY YOUR WAY: HOW TO TALK WITH TERZAGHI”
See the previous articles in the series:
AI Unveiled: The Wizardry Behind Chatbots and Intelligent Systems
How Large Language Models Work: In a Nutshell
The Ghost in the Machine: Hallucinations
Superprompts: How to Talk with the Genie and Keep it in the Bottle
Registration is Open for the Fall Leadership Summit
GBA’s Fall Leadership Summit is an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and network with geoprofessionals from across North America. This year’s Summit isn’t just business meetings, it’s an opportunity to contribute to Association success in 2024-2025, as well as your 
individual success and that of the geoprofessional industry as a whole.
The Summit will include a workshop to help improve negotiating skills, committee meetings, and keynote addresses that will inform and inspire all who attend.
Dan Oblinger will lead two workshops and a keynote on “How to Communicate Like a Hostage Negotiator.” Oblinger is a retired hostage negotiations commander who has translated the most important and relevant lessons from his crisis work to the A/E/C industries. LEARN MORE.
Woodward L. Vogt Project Excellence Award recipient Frank Morris, Jr. (S&ME, Inc.) will present on Duke Energy’s Great Falls, South Carolina Dearborn Diversion Dam Bypasses project. LEARN MORE.
Attendees will also receive a Midyear Report by GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, F.ASCE.
Additionally, there will be receptions and other opportunities to connect with fellow geoprofessionals from across North America.
Engage in meaningful discussions, connect with your peers, and gain valuable knowledge as you shape the future of GBA.
DETAILS
Dates: October 23-25, 2024
Location: Westin Denver Downtown Hotel, Denver, CO.
Registration Fee: $250
What you get:
• 2 ½ hour workshop – How to Communicate Like a Hostage Negotiator
• Committee meetings
• Up to 3.5 PDHs
• Two receptions and all meals during the event
• Keynote addresses to educate and inspire
You need not be a GBA committee member to attend the Fall Leadership Summit – all GBA members are welcome!
Plan Smarter, Perform Better: GBA’s Annual Financial Survey
Plan Smarter, Perform Better: GBA’s Annual Financial Survey
How does your firm stack up? What are the trends for GBA member firms? What should you be leveraging? The results of GBA’s Business Practices Committee’s annual financial-performance survey can help provide guidance for geoprofessional industry leaders involved in planning and decision making.
ACCESS AND COMPLETE THE GBA MEMBERS ANNUAL FINANCIAL SURVEY
VIEW THE SURVEY INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR RECORDING
For more than 20 years, GBA has been collecting and sharing key financial metrics from member firms in our annual, confidential, financial-performance survey. Results of the survey allow our members to measure their success against other firms, improve business performance, and optimize efficiency.
GBA is once again partnering with the Environmental Financial Consulting 
Group (EFCG) to facilitate the GBA Annual Financial Survey in 2024. Those who complete the survey will have exclusive access to the entire EFCG data set, which includes more metrics and trends so our participating members can track their progress on key financial indicators for companies that match their firm’s size (including firms outside of GBA’s membership).
BENEFITS OF SURVEY PARTICIPATION AND ONGOING GBA/EFCG PARTNERSHIP
• Survey improvements: Easy to fill out and provide information.
• Exclusive access to in-depth data from across the industry (including firms outside of GBA’s membership), which provides a snapshot of AEC industry performance and key trends.
• First-time respondents will receive a benchmarking analysis to help them understand their strengths and weaknesses in relation to peers and identify high-priority areas and initiatives to focus on.
• Data will be presented in an easy-to-understand format.
• Data is customized to GBA member firms, but also meets EFCG’s survey needs so there is no duplication of efforts for firm staff (i.e., there is no need to complete EFCG’s survey).
• Elevates the quality and quantity of information for GBA member firms by accessing a bigger data set from the EFCG survey community of comparable AEC firms.
NEXT STEPS
A representative of each GBA member firm will 
receive the survey and submission instructions via email from GBA on Monday, July 29, 2024. The deadline to complete the survey is September 2, 2024 and the full results will be provided in October 2024 to all who complete the survey. All individual submissions will remain completely confidential, and no firm-identifiable data will be shared in the consolidated survey results or the benchmarking analysis.
We look forward to providing GBA members with meaningful financial metrics to help benchmark their business, and be smarter, stronger, and more successful.
QUESTIONS?
A webinar will be held on August 14, 2024 from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern to provide information about filling out the survey and to answer any questions you may have. Register for the webinar HERE.
You can also contact GBA at (301) 565-2733 or info@geoprofessional.org with questions.
Insights into GBA’s Yearly Achievements: Read the New Annual Report
GBA’s Annual Report was prepared to report progress and highlight key accomplishments of the Association during the fiscal year 2023-2024. It is intended to keep all members current with significant accomplishments of the Board, Committees and all the volunteers who support it.
“GBA is the only professional organization I know of that prepares an annual report like this,” said one member. “It is valuable to see GBA’s progress and it’s refreshing that GBA is so transparent.”
The Annual Report includes updates on:
• Association Membership 
• Annual Awards
• Conference Attendance
• New and Updated Publications and Multimedia
• Alliance Organizations
• Association Finances
• GBA Committees
• Member Firms Represented
• Other Notable Accomplishments
• Plans for Fiscal Year 2024-2025
This is an opportunity for every member of GBA to better understand what GBA accomplished last year, where we are today, and the direction of the association going forward.
Download the Annual Report HERE.
Message from the Executive Director: I Was Hacked! Lessons Learned
GBA Executive Director Joel Carson
On Wednesday, July 17, I received a call from a GBA Board Member asking
if I was trying to send him a proposal. While this seemed suspicious, I just told him it must be a phishing effort and asked him to disregard the email.
That was the start of an onslaught of emails, text messages, and phone calls from friends and colleagues from across North America. It quickly became apparent that my Microsoft Outlook account had been hacked and I became very concerned, very quickly. I thought about worst case scenarios and started sweating.
Here are the steps I took to overcome this significant issue.
SECURE ACCOUNT
I quickly contacted GBA’s IT consultant who thankfully is always quick to respond, even though today he was in an important meeting. He stepped out of his meeting and immediately started working with me to resolve the issue and it was not simple. It was determined that the hacker accessed my email server through my Google account and was sending out notices asking my contacts to open a proposal. Additionally, when my contacts responded by email asking if the proposal request was legitimate, the hacker responded giving a false sense of security! This is a new and sophisticated approach to hacking that I had not heard of but something we should all be aware of now.
We tried to reset my Microsoft password but it was challenging because my authenticator app had been compromised as well. After clearing select apps and setting up my email account, the issue was resolved, resecuring my account and updating my authenticator. Although I felt some relief, the work was not done.
RESPOND TO INQUIRIES
I started responding to emails and text messages about this issue. In some cases, the messages were simply to let me know something was suspicious and in other cases my contacts were asking me to send the proposal in different formats as they had followed the hacker’s instructions, provided their account information, and still could not see my proposal.
PROACTIVELY COMMUNICATE
I also asked our IT consultant for a list of all the emails that had been sent from my account since the previous day. I felt it important to let everyone know about this issue so I sent an email to each of them. I apologized, explained the situation, confirmed we take cybersecurity seriously, and provided suggestions to manage the risk.
I received numerous email responses which helped ease the stress. Our members are compassionate and supportive.
LESSONS LEARNED
Consistent with our members Case Histories, I compiled a list of lessons I learned during the day.
1. If there is an issue with your computer or suspect it has been compromised, don’t hesitate. Contact your IT support immediately and let your colleagues know.
2. If you receive a suspicious email do not open it.
3. If you think an email is suspicious but need to double-check, don’t send an email on the same format asking if it is legitimate. Call or text the person. It is important to use a different communication method to verify legitimacy.
4. When you have an issue, let anyone that could be impacted know. Start with an apology, be clear about the issue, confirm the issue is resolved, provide suggestions on ways to manage risk, and end with an apology. Transparency is critical.
5. GBA Members and our business partners are awesome. They are understanding, compassionate, and supportive. I already knew this, but the points were emphasized on this day.
CLOSING
One of the things I most appreciate about GBA is the mutual support of our members through good times and through challenging times. I see this in Committee Meetings, Peer Groups, and regular communication among our members. I witnessed this firsthand. Another thing I appreciate about GBA members is our willingness to share experiences with each other so we can all learn together and elevate our profession together. In part, I was prompted to prepare this lesson learned in response to the sharing I observe each day as Director and this is why GBA Case Histories are so important.
If you have other best practices to share about computer security or technology in general, please let me know. I appreciate your support and willingness to elevate our profession.
Superprompts: How to Talk with the Genie and Keep it in the Bottle
GBA Business Technology Committee
In the ever-evolving landscape of the geoprofessional industry, artificial
intelligence (AI) continues to drive innovation, efficiency, and curiosity.
GBA’s Business Technology Committee is producing a six-part series to educate
GBA members on the implications of AI on the geoprofessions. The articles,
written by Enrique Farfan, Ph.D., P.E. ENV SP (HDR), explore how this technology works and its potential uses.
The fourth article in the series focuses on superprompts – elaborate commands to secure relevant responses from large language models (LLMs). LLMS are like mischievous genies that require precise requests. Without precision, a genie might place caveats on a wish, and so will LLM when generating a response.
The article provides examples of responses from prompts versus those from superprompts, as well as general guidelines to observe when prompt writing.
How people communicate will computers has come a long way. Technology professionals no longer just need to understand coding language – they need to be able to generate precise superprompts for communicating with LLMs. Focusing on this crucial skill will allow users to leverage AI for problem solving and future innovation.
READ “SUPERPROMPTS: HOW TO TALK WITH THE GENIE AND KEEP IT IN THE BOTTLE”
See the previous articles in the series:
AI Unveiled: The Wizardry Behind Chatbots and Intelligent Systems
How Large Language Models Work: In a Nutshell
The Ghost in the Machine: Hallucinations
Update Resource for GBA Members: Model Access Authorization Form
Update Resource for GBA Members: Model Access Authorization Form
GBA Environmental Business Committee
Studies indicate that two key causes of liability problems are unfulfilled expectations and inadequate communication. By clearly communicating what can occur, expectations can be grounded in reality, and – should problems materialize – relationships enhanced through effective communication can result in acceptable outcomes being achieved quickly.
To that end, GBA’s Environmental Business Committee has updated a valuable resource: the Model Access Authorization Form. It has been prepared for use by members of GBA as a source of suggestions they can consider in developing a form of their own, suited to their own needs and preferences, the customs and laws they work with, and other concerns they deem relevant.
The purpose of an authorization form is to help reduce a consultant’s exposure to claims from the owner of a site in those cases where the consultant’s client is in the process of purchasing that site.
In some cases, clients may object to an access authorization form, especially one as comprehensive as the GBA model. Geoprofessional consultants should advise clients that the authorization affords protection to them as well.
Even if the form serves only to spur discussion of the issues involved, so that all parties know what to expect, it will have served its purpose.
VIEW THE MODEL ACCESS AUTHORIZATION FORM HERE
Welcome to the New GBA Member Experience!
After many months of research and implementation, our new member experience is now live!
VIDEO: SETTING UP YOUR ACCOUNT
Here’s a brief video tutorial on how to update your existing online account with a new password and use the new member site:
The new GBA member section of the website will provide a streamlined experience for your membership needs. Features include:
Membership and Profile Management
• Easily maintain and update your information
• Adjust notification preferences, settings, and subscriptions
• Review transaction history and pay invoices
Resource Library and Content Management
• Search for GBA resources based on topic
• Timely GBA announcements
• Event registration and communication
WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS: SETTING UP YOUR ACCOUNT
Complete the following steps to start accessing the full benefits of your GBA membership (these are the same steps outlined in the video tutorial):
In a web browser, navigate to the new member site:
(Bookmark this site to access GBA resources and event registration going forward.)
You can also access the GBA member experience via the GBA website:
Then from the GBA member site, click the sign in link at the top of the page, then select “Click here to reset your password” OR on the right side of that webpage, click “Forgot your password?”
– OR –
Enter your work email address in the “Username or Email” field and click the “Reset Password” button.
Upon submitting your email address, you will be sent a password reset email. The email will come from sara@geoprofessional.org and the subject line will be “Geoprofessional Business Association: Password Reset Request”.
You may need to check your email program’s SPAM filter or junk folder.
When you get the email, click on the “Reset My Password Now” button and follow the instructions to select a new password.
You will be taken to a confirmation page that shows your username and given the link to sign in with your new password.
You’ll also see a number of areas and features available on the new member site that GBA isn’t using yet. Primarily, you’ll use the site to explore and download materials from GBA’s vast library of resources.
VIDEO TUTORIAL: HOW TO DOWNLOAD GBA MEMBER RESOURCES
While we don’t anticipate any interruptions as we transition reference documents to the new platform and test the new system, there may be some unexpected gaps in access to member benefits and our library of resources.
If you experience any issues finding or downloading GBA resources, please contact the office at info@geoprofessional.org or 301-565-2733 and we will send you the resource you need. Please also contact us if you need any help navigating any aspect of the new member website.
We look forward to bringing you more information on how our new system will provide a streamlined experience for your GBA membership needs!
Under Construction: New GBA Membership Experience Coming Soon!
GBA is transitioning to a new Association Management System on Monday, July 8 to ultimately enhance communication and better serve our members. While we don’t anticipate any interruptions as we transition reference
documents to the new platform and test the new system, there may be some unexpected gaps in access to member benefits and our library of resources.
If you experience any issues finding or downloading GBA resources, please contact the office at info@geoprofessional.org or 301-565-2733 and we will send you the resource you need.
We look forward to bringing you more information on how our new system will provide a streamlined experience for your GBA membership needs!
2024 GBA Photo Contest Open Now!
GBA is committed to promoting the value of geoprofessionals and we want to see it through your eyes. The 2024 GBA Photo Contest is NOW OPEN and this year’s theme is “A Day in the Life of a Geoprofessional”.
Geoprofessionals perform a wide variety of valuable services on significant projects in diverse and often awe-inspiring locations. Each day in the life of a geoprofessional is different, but every one results in the world becoming a better place.
How do you depict the day in the life of a geoprofessional? Is it field activities? Is it meeting with colleagues and clients? Is it performing testing in the laboratory? How is safety incorporated into your work? How are you positively impacting the world? Capture those vibrant moments and tell us what being a geoprofessional means to you by sharing a day in your life, behind the scenes.
Contest Begins – July 1, 2024
Contest Ends – August 31, 2024
Submit photos to: GBA Photo Contest Submission
One (1) Overall grand prize winner will receive:
• A $100 Gift Card
• A photo mention in GBA NEWSlog
• Recognition at an upcoming GBA event
• Winner’s Plaque
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences.
One (1) Overall runner-up winner will receive:
• A $50 gift card
• A photo mention in GBA NEWSlog
• Runners Up Plaque
• Recognition at an upcoming GBA event
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences
One (1) Overall second runner-up winner will receive:
• A $50 gift card
• A photo mention in GBA NEWSlog
• Runners Up Certificate
• Recognition at an upcoming GBA event
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences
Five (5) Category Winners (Geotechnical, Environmental, Construction Materials Testing and Inspection, Safe Working Practices, and Client Collaboration) will receive:
• Recognition at an upcoming GBA event
• Category Winner Certificate
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences
Submission information and contest rules HERE
UPDATED RESOURCE – CoMET Tales
Construction Materials Engineering and Testing (CoMET) Committee
Just as its tail shows you where a comet has been, CoMET Tales – developed and now updated by 
GBA’s Construction Materials Engineering and Testing (CoMET) Committee – will show you where other CoMET professionals have been and what they’ve learned along the way.
CoMET Tale 1 provides updated guidance on clarifying who is responsible for providing facilities to initially cure concrete strength test specimens used for acceptance on project sites.
CoMET Tale 2 describes opportunities for CoMET professionals to visit with design professionals in charge to educate them on the differences between curing methods and discuss alternative testing methods.
Both documents will help CoMET firms stand out by taking initiative and helping project owners, design teams, and constructors recognize the value of their services.
DOWNLOAD CoMET Tale 1: Initial Curing of Concrete Cylinders in the Field HERE
DOWNLOAD CoMET Tale 2: Field Curing Versus Standard Curing of Concrete Cylinders HERE
These updated resources are available at no cost to GBA members. If you’re an employee of a GBA member firm and need to set up your account, please click here. Contact info@geoprofessional.org with questions.
New Podcast! Geophysics Provides the Confidence to Build
GBA Multimedia Delivery Committee
GBA has published more than 115 case histories based on real-life events 
that have happened to geoprofessional firms. GBA Case Histories are unique
because our members share real-life stories of problems that impacted their businesses. They also include the outcomes of corrective action, and lessons learned.
GBA’s Multimedia Delivery Committee also delivers select Case Histories as podcasts.
In the latest episode, host Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (Atlas Technical Consultants) and guest Andy Siemens, P.E. (Siemens Associates) explore how one GBA member firm turned an “unbuildable” site into a construction-ready plot using advanced geophysical exploration.
As described in GBA Case History #114, a school’s building plan hit a roadblock when a non-GBA member firm’s study flagged variable surface conditions and air-filled voids, rendering the site unfeasible. However, the drilling method used was unreliable, causing uncertainties.
Enter a second geotechnical and geophysics firm with a fresh perspective, Siemens Associates. They executed a high-resolution electrical resistivity survey, followed by traditional drilling. This savvy approach cut drilling costs and pinpointed problem areas with surgical precision. The 3D survey unveiled a clear subsurface picture, showing only minor anomalies within the project footprint.
This meticulous assessment flipped the initial verdict, proving the site buildable.
Tune in to discover how cutting-edge geophysics and diligent geotechnical work transformed a seemingly doomed project into a roaring success.
This episode was produced by the following GBA Members: Ryan White, P.E., G.E. (PBS Engineering and Environmental LLC) and Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (Atlas Technical Consultants).