The Geotechnica 2026 conference will be asking some thorny questions this year with the aim of breaking down barriers to change and growth.
Each session will start with a talk providing essential information related to the subject. This will be followed by a panel discussion where audience participation is key and openly welcomed. The panel of experts will discuss each subject in an open, frank and honest environment and provide an insight into the challenges and problems. They will encourage live questions and the group will hope to break down myths, provide expert advice and discuss potential actions which could be taken to keep moving the industry forward.
Ten years ago, the original AGS/BDA Task Force produced a Spotlight on the Industry survey that caused a stir within the ground investigation industry by asking whether its investigation techniques were fit for purpose. Now, ten years later, Geotechnica will be asking that same question to determine whether positive changes have been made in the last decade.
Ground investigation underpins every design decision we make, yet many of the core techniques have changed little. Are they still delivering the reliability, efficiency and value modern projects demand - or are we accepting limitations as standard practice? This session challenges assumptions and explores whether evolution or revolution is needed.
Will sonic drilling ever replace traditional drilling methods?
Presented by: Julian Lovell
Session Chair
Liz Withington,
Principal Engineering Geologist, CC Ground Investigations
& Chair, AGS Safety Working Group
Speaker
Julian Lovell,
Managing Director, Equipe Group
& Lead Researcher, Sonic Drilling Research Project
Panelist
Jack Wheeler,
Managing Director, Wheeler Site Investigation
Panelist
Rutger van Goethem,
Director, Royal Eijkelkamp
British Standards shape specifications, procurement and professional liability across the sector - but are they always clear, current and practical? This session examines how standards influence real-world ground engineering, where they add value, and where they may be holding progress back. Expect a frank discussion on compliance, interpretation and future direction.
Vertical Borehole Standard
Presented by: Chris Davidson
Session Chair
Stuart Hardy,
Associate Director, Arup
& Chair, B/526/8
Speaker
Chris Davidson,
Chief Technical Officer, Genius Energy Lab & HPA UK Drilling Standards Chair, Heat Pump Association
Panelist
Nigel Pickering,
Director of Geotechnical Engineering, Buro Happold
The Standard Penetration Test remains one of the most widely used in-situ tests in ground investigation. But how confident are we in the consistency, calibration and interpretation of the results it produces? This session explores reliability, modern alternatives and whether long-standing industry habits deserve a second look.
Standard penetration tests in clays derived from weathered Jurassic mudstones in central England.
Presented by: Nick Sartain
Session Chair
Hilary Shields,
Associate Director (Engineering), Tony Gee and Partners
Speaker
Nick Sartain,
Associate Director, Arup
Panelist
Darren Ward,
Managing Director, In Situ SI
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly moving from theory to tool across engineering and data-driven industries. But what could it genuinely mean for ground investigation, risk assessment and design decision-making - and what new risks might it introduce? This session explores the opportunities, uncertainties and practical implications of opening the AI toolbox in ground engineering.
If AI was a sandwich filling, would you feed it to your kids?
Presented by: Paul Nathanail
Session Chair & Speaker
Paul Nathanail,
Director, LQM
Panelist
Mark Bevan,
Associate Director, Structural Soils
Panelist
Lee Jordan,
Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Arup
Ground engineering generates vast amounts of data - but are we extracting its full value? From digital ground models to collaborative data environments, this session explores how better data management can improve decisions, reduce risk and create efficiencies across the project lifecycle. A practical look at turning information into advantage.
Evolving toward a digital ground model
Presented by: Neil Chadwick and Tomasz Daktera
Session Chair
Vicky Corcoran,
Discipline Lead for Digital Transformation & Sustainable Ground Engineering, Atkinsrealis
Session Chair
Holger Kessler,
Senior Stakeholder Manager, Atkinsrealis
Speaker
Neil Chadwick,
UK/Ireland Representative, SoilCloud
& Director, Digital Geotechnical
Speaker
Tomasz Daktera,
Co-Founder, SoilCloud
Panelist
Judith Nathanail,
Director, LQM
Panelist
Ben Wood,
Director, PebbleGeo
Panelist
Simon Baxter,
Business Development Manager, Soil Engineering Geoservices
