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

Learn more about Frank Pita.

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

Learn more about Leo Titus.

   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

Learn more about Mike Yost.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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.