The Observational Method in Civil Engineering (PDF)

Alan Powderham is a former Director of Transportation of Mott MacDonald and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers. Over the past four decades he has taken a leading role in the development and application of the Observational Method and pioneered many award-winning innovations in the design and construction of major infrastructure projects including the Channel Tunnel and the Boston Central Artery. He has served on many technical committees and, as a Visiting Professor at Imperial College, has supported research in foundation engineering.

Anthony O'Brien is Mott MacDonald's Global Practice Leader for Geotechnics and has over thirty years of international experience for transportation, water and energy projects. He has led geotechnical design teams through major projects in the UK, North America, central and south-east Asia. As a Visiting Professor at Southampton University he has led applied research in earthworks behaviour, soil dynamics and soil-structure interaction. He actively contributes to the work of professional committees and provides industry guidance, notably in the fields of advanced numerical modelling, retaining walls, foundation engineering and earthworks asset management.