GBA Releases Five More Case Histories: 31-35 GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring.  They are also being used in universities to bring “real-world” lessons into the classroom.  Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeating mistakes of the past which is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA is updating them all, while adding new ones, too. Five more case histories have been issued. CASE HISTORY NO. 31 (download)                   An architect requested a proposal from the geotechnical-engineering firm whose office was next door to the site of a proposed newspaper plant. The architect selected another firm because it offered ...

GBA Releases Five More Case Histories: 26-30 Refreshed GBA Case Histories have been downloaded over 2,000 times since May 1, 2017 and they are being used by GBA members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring.  Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeating mistakes of the past which is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA is updating them all, while adding new ones, too. Five more case histories have been issued. CASE HISTORY NO. 26 (download)                   PROJECT MANAGEMENT The Client A multi-disciplinary consulting-engineering firm retained by an electric utility The Project A 12,000kW, fast-tracked, power-generating facility comprising a 110-foot-high rock...

Refreshed GBA Case Histories have been downloaded almost 1,000 times since May 1, 2017 and they are being used by GBA members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring. Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeating mistakes of the past which is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA is updating them all, while adding new ones, too. Five more case histories have been reissued. Case History 16: The GBA-Member Firm completed about 150 exploratory borings, excavated test pits, and conducted seismic surveys in support of design and construction of a new building and campus for a state-owned college. Lessons Learned Include: Take an Active Interest in the Project Bedrock Contour Maps Should Includ...

  The word is out: GBA’s redevelopment of its case histories is a smashing success! Possibly the most important of all GBA loss-prevention/risk-confrontation resources is its unique series of case histories; over 100 examples of how projects begun with optimism can unexpectedly end in dispute. Each provides details of the project, its background, the role of the GBA-Member Firm, the problems encountered, and lessons learned. They’re sometimes painful lessons, but better to learn from others’ lessons than your own. GBA has overhauled the first ten case histories.  Each has been refreshed and updated to reflect contemporary methods and dollars. The format of the case histories has been changed to make it easier to read and to emphasis the lessons learned. Consider...

GBA Case Histories #1 through #5 Are Refreshed Possibly the most important of all GBA loss-prevention/risk-confrontation resources is its unique series of case histories; 101 examples of how projects begun with optimism can unexpectedly end in dispute. Each provides details of the project, its background, the role of the GBA-Member Firm, the problems encountered, and lessons learned. They’re sometimes painful lessons, but better to learn from others’ lessons than your own. BIG NEWS! GBA Executive Director Joel Carson has announced that GBA is committed to update and expand the Case History Series. The original cases all will be refreshed, with new graphics and keywords for efficient searches. According to Joel, “The first five updates are complete and they look fantastic!” ...

GBA has a tradition of collaborating on issues that impact the geoprofessions. One of the ways we work together is by providing lessons learned through GBA Case Histories. GBA Case Histories provide unprecedented real-world learning examples related to project and business management.

Case History #101, the last of the archived real-life stories of member-firms’ projects that went wrong and how they overcame problems is now available. When a GBA-Member Firm realized it had committed a serious error while conducting construction-materials engineering and testing (CoMET) services for a new hospital building, it knew it was in trouble. The project – a 738,000-square-foot hospital – was the key element of a high-profile, $800-million project and the constructor-in-charge faced significant penalties if it failed to complete its work by the targeted date. The errors made by the CoMET firm were likely to cause a significant delay that would result in major penalty payments, plus a serious cost overrun, all of which the GBA-member CoMET firm feared it would have to pa...

Possibly the most important of all GBA loss-prevention/risk-confrontation resources is its unique series of Case Histories. In February 2018, GBA volunteers embarked on a seemingly impossible challenge to refresh the first 101 Case Histories. We are thrilled to report, the mission has been accomplished and now all are rebranded, updated, and refreshed. Most importantly they are all available to all our members. This effort was made possible under the leadership of Woodward L. “Woody” Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, F.ACI, F.ASTM, F.GBA (Paradigm Consultants) who established the schedule and led the review process. Woody was assisted on each update by Kurt R. Fraese, L.G., F.GBA (Fraese and Associates) and Dr. James L. “Jim” Withiam, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.GBA (retired) with additional ...

A GBA-Member Firm provided suggested changes to a sewer pipe design in order to keep construction moving forward on a five-story senior-living facility. Four years later, swelling clays caused the sewer line to back-up and the lower-level slab began showing heaving related distress. That good deed with other project related complications resulted in a $25 million claim that required an extensive defense of contract limitations of liability, standards of care, and project documentation. Lessons Learned: • No Good Deed Goes Unpunished • Prevent Recommendations from Becoming Requirements • Do Not Unilaterally Deviate from the Scope of Services • It Pays to Be Your Brother’s Keeper • Documentation Can Be Your Best Defense • Consider Limitation of Liability During Your ...

GBA Publications Committee After terminating an employee for poor attendance and inadequate job performance, a member firm is faced with alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ATDA).  This Case History emphasized Project Managers must be trained in basic human resources (HR) issues and the importance of documentation when dealing with employee performance management. Learn from others.  Don’t repeat the mistakes of the past!  GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring. That is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA continues to produce new ones. GBA Case Histories are FREE to all Members. Download GBA’s Ca...

100th Case History published Milestone for essential lessons learned from members

The GBA-Member Firm was retained by Client 1 to conduct a Phase I ESA on a 1000-acre tract of undeveloped land prior to the property sale.  To save money, the client did not want the title information to be purchased from a third-party and instead told the Member Firm that they would provide title information for review. As it turned out, the client never provided the promised chain-of-title information that  would have contained important historical information about pipeline easements. Lessons Learned:  This case history teaches six important lessons: It’s risky to work for both the seller and buyer of real estate. Inappropriate verbal communications can increase risk of liability. When the client agrees to provide important project information, make sure you receiv...

An experienced project manager assigned an experienced field representative to be on site full time to observe construction of the building pad and MSE wall.  Confident in the field representative’s abilities, the project manager confined his involvement to occasional site visits and preparation of written progress reports.  Unfortunately, communication between the two was poor, field reports were not thoroughly reviewed, and significant issues that compromised the project including changes in design were missed. Lessons Learned in this Case History: Residential Construction Projects Involve More Risk Project Risk is Inversely Proportional to Project Size and Complexity Perform Initial and Ongoing Go/No-Go Analysis If It Isn’t in Writing, It Didn’t Happen Projec...

          Read the real-life saga of a landowner’s tenant who tries to swindle a member-firm for medical costs for his horse and for lost breeding opportunities.  The Client A real-estate development company The Project An 87-acre, single-family home subdivision Assignment of the GBA-Member Firm Perform a pre-acquisition, preliminary geotechnical-engineering study.  Background A real-estate development company – a long-time client – engaged the GBA-Member Firm to perform a preliminary geotechnical-engineering study of an 87-acre tract of land the developer was considering for a single-family residential development. The tract, still being used for cattle grazing, was enclosed with barbed-wire fencing and a single...

NEW! Case History #103 – Nuclear Gauge Management If you own or operate nuclear densometer gauges, you must read this GBA Case History. After three destroyed gauges and numerous other violations, a Member-Firm was facing civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and revocation of their license to own and/or operate nuclear gauges. They paid a $150,000 settlement but more importantly developed a compliance program hailed as “a model for the industry”. Learn from their mistakes and from their commitment to change their culture through immediate action to create, test, launch, and monitor sustainable, institutional controls to address the underling causes of the violations, as well as specific regulatory compliance issues. GBA Case Historie...