GBA Written History
SYNOPSIS The Association of Soil and Foundation Engineers (ASFE) is an association of consulting geotechnical engineering firms. Established in 1969, ASFE has developed a variety of professional liability loss prevention programs and materials. By using these programs and materials, members of ASFE have gained what reportedly is the best professional liability loss prevention record of all U.S. design professionals. In the year of ASFE’s formation, geotechnical engineers had the worst liability record of all U.S. design professionals, a situation which threatened the continuance of consulting soil and foundation engineering as a distinct practice.
INTRODUCTION
The Association of Soil and Foundation Engineers (ASFE) is, perhaps, the most successful of ...
First Look: Fall Conference Speakers Announced —Register Now!
The Fall Conference agenda has been finalized and this will be an incredible gathering. The theme for the conference is "Committing to Continuous Improvement" which supports our members' daily effort to build stronger, smarter, more successful businesses. Conference speakers will help you to build a high-performance culture, communicate your brand clearly to employees and clients, stay current with new technology, and in GBA's unique way, learn from the mistakes of others as we explore several case histories from our members.
Join us in Music City, Nashville, Tennessee — November 1-3, 2018
Keynotes include:
Principles for Building a High-Performance Culture
Brent Gleeson — Former Navy SEAL combat veteran, Brent Gleeson, turned his discipline and battlefield lessons to t...
GBA TOP 10 2017 DOWNLOADS
What are your Peers Reading?
GBA’s Most Downloaded Resources in 2017
GBA provides hundreds of highly effective resources developed to satisfy the unique needs of geoprofessionals, giving members essential tools for achieving success. However, we also know that it can be overwhelming to sort through them all. So, to help, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 GBA resources by numbers ordered in 2017. This is a great place to start your exploration of GBA’s resources, or to get acquainted with a publication loved by your peers and “new to you”.
GBA’s CASE HISTORIES were very popular downloads with over 1,100 downloads of updated Case Histories during the year.
The list below is the top 10 GBA resources, in order by popularity, with the most ordered resource at the t...
2013 Fall Conference Proceedings
Members: Make sure you are logged in when viewing these videos to get free, easy access to them.
Download the handouts.
These videos were produced when the Geoprofessional Business Association was known as ASFE.
GBA Timeline
Year
1969
GBA is launched as ASFE
1969
Loss-Prevention Seminars
Now incorporated into GBA Conference content
1970
Standard Clauses
1970
Free Publications
All materials are available free to all members
1971
Limitation of Liability
The most significant AE contract provision of the past 40 years
1972
Fundamentals of Professional Practice
A unique six-month program for firms' rising stars
1972
Case Histories
101 cases of geoprofessional mistakes, presented to help others learn
1972
Report Review
An early sharing/self-help program
1972
Loss Prevention Manual
Since replaced by a variety of specific, in-depth guides and manuals
1972
Audio Education Prog...
Member Benefits
GBA member benefits help you and your firm grow and prosper.
What Our Members Say!
GBA member testimonials explain better than we ever could why GBA membership is so important for geoprofessionals. Read on to learn why members stay for years and how GBA has helped their firm succeed.
Top 10
GBA provides hundreds of highly effective resources developed to satisfy the unique needs of geoprofessionals, giving members essential tools for achieving success. However, we also know that it can be overwhelming to sort through them all. So to help, we’ve compiled a list of the top 25 GBA resources by numbers ordered over the last two years.
Environmental Business Committee
Welcome to the Environmental Business Council Portal, your one-stop shop for information to help you in your environmental practice!
Construction Materials Engineering and Testing (CoMET) Committee
Welcome to the Construction Materials Engineering and Testing (CoMET) Business Council portal, your one-stop shop for CoMET-related information!
Find a Resource
There are many ways to find GBA resources that have been developed to satisfy the unique needs of geoprofessionals, giving members essential tools for achieving success.
Geotechnical Business Committee
Welcome to the Geotechnical Business Council Portal, your one-stop shop for information to help you in your geotechnical practice!
Publications
GBA publications are at the core of how GBA provides its members with the unique business tools that geoprofessionals need to succeed.
Reinbold Addresses GBA Leaders on the Year Ahead
Welcome to the GBA Winter Leadership Conference.
ASFE Changes Its Name to Geoprofessional Business Association
Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) is the new name of the organization formerly known as ASFE/The Geoprofessional Business Association.
GBA CASE HISTORY # 15
After footings for a housing project went unprotected over the winter, the developer blamed the Member Firm for failing to provide an adequate warning....
GBA CASE HISTORY # 16
The Member Firm's client decided that it was not necessary for the firm to observe construction. Problems occur because the firm's recommendations were......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 17
Personal conflicts lead to problems at a processing plant. Because of improper professional etiquette, communications channels went cold, causing......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 18
The GBA Member Firm narrowly avoided responsibility for damages that occurred when recommendations for a flood control pump station were not followed....
GBA CASE HISTORY # 19
The Member Firm decided to fight a frivolous suit filed by a housing developer client. The Member was found not negligent, but it cost $89,000 in......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 20
Risks relating to a chemical terminal were not properly defined. As a result, the Member Firm experienced a severe loss for actions it took on its......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 21
Case History No. 21 . Inadequate client selection, failure to notice subtle problems, and a lack of construction observation forced the Member Firm to pay for problems......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 22
After a condominium's retaining structure failed, a Member Firm took aggressive action to prevent the firm from becoming victim of a frivolous suit....
GBA CASE HISTORY # 23
. A sole proprietor was retained orally to perform a single-family home inspection. After experiencing "buyer's remorse," the owners claimed that the......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 24
The Member Firm developed an innovative design approach that the client decided to use. But then the client began cutting corners and serious problems......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 25
The project manager of a Member Firm assumed, incorrectly, that his mistaken judgment led to severe settlement of an elementary school. Subsequent......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 26
Case History No. 26 . Failure to warn its client - an electric utility - and failure to react quickly to a discrepancy resulted in problems on this fast-track......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 27
A member's ability to keep lines of communication open permitted a relatively small settlement cost after problems developed on an addition to an......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 28
When a geotechnical engineer's recommendations were ignored, the contractor made a ten-foot error in laying out the building. The engineer documented......
GBA CASE HISTORY # 29
Case History No. 29 . A corrugated metal pipe fabricator retained the GBA Member Firm to observe the installation of a culvert pipe. The manufacturer changed specs and......