NEWS 2014

Posted August 26, 2013 (Updated May 14, 2014)

Event: May 15, 2014

GSE 2014 AGM: Dr. Dennis Becker, PhD FEIC PEng, Golder Associates - Lessons Learned To Date

Location: Faculty Club, University of Alberta (11435 Saskatchewan Drive)

Time: 5:30pm registration, 6:00pm dinner, 6:30pm presentation

Cost: $40 Members, $45 Non-Members, $15 Students (Payment Options)

Confirm Attendance (By May 13)

Agenda for the 2014 AGM (PDF)

Experiences from successes, failures, and the insight gained from the interactions with colleagues on projects and in the technical community interpret into meaningful lessons learned. The presentation shares lessons learned to date by the presenter through his personal experiences over 35 years in his professional career. The recognition of uncertainty, risk management, technical expertise and effective communications are essential components in the geotechnical industry and business. The presentation shares technical information, experiences and insight gained from a large variety of projects, big and small, including the Confederation Bridge, Beaufort Sea, St. Clair River Tunnel, international mining projects, P3 transportation projects, and participation in national and international learned societies and technical committees. The presentation, at times, is a light-hearted talk and perspective that combines the technical and people sides of the geotechnical business and community.

Dennis Becker, PhD FEIC PEng, is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer and Principal of Golder Associates with 30 years of national and international experience on numerous large scale civil engineering and resource development projects. He has substantial experience with all aspects of geotechnical engineering and has developed extensive and varied areas of expertise. Dr. Becker is frequently responsible for overall technical and administrative control for projects that involve difficult ground conditions and/or require the development of innovative solutions using both standard and new technologies. His prime areas of expertise include site characterization, foundations, stability of slopes and excavations, liquefaction potential evaluation, earthquake effects and seismic stability of earth dams and tailings management areas, soil-structure interaction, soft ground tunneling, ground improvement, specialized geotechnical analysis/modeling, and fundamental soil behaviour. Dr. Becker is the Leader of the International Ground Engineering Group in Golder Associates.

Dr. Becker is active in many key engineering and professional societies, and maintains close liaison with universities. He is a registered professional engineer in the Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. From 1993 to 1995 he was a member and then Chair of NSERC's Civil Engineering Grants Selection Committee. From 1994 to 1997 he was the Chair of the Canadian Geotechnical Research Board. Dr. Becker was an Associate Editor between 1987 and 1996 and then the Editor (1997 - 2002) of the Canadian Geotechnical Journal, which has an international reputation for high quality applied research articles that are timely and relevant to industry. He was President of the Canadian Geotechnical Society in 2005 and 2006. He is the Vice-President (North America) of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) in 2008 and 2009. He also serves on technical committees of the Canadian Standards Association, the National Building Code of Canada, the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code, and the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), being extensively involved with the development and implementation of limit states design for foundations. In addition, Dr. Becker was a Co-Editor of the 4th Edition of the Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual that was published by the Canadian Geotechnical Society in 2006.

In 1994, Dr. Becker was awarded the Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium (a prominent commissioned work and award given by the Canadian Geotechnical Society), and in 1996 he was elected as Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC). In 1998, Dennis was recognized for his technical capabilities and contribution to geotechnical engineering by being selected to do the Cross-Canada Lecture Tour, a prestigious lecture tour that is presented across Canada. In 2001, he was awarded the G.G. Meyerhof Award by the Canadian Geotechnical Society for his foundation engineering involvement on the Confederation Bridge. In 2004, he was awarded the EIC Canadian Pacific Railway Engineering Medal. In 2010, the EIC awarded Dennis with the Julian C. Smith Medal for “engineering achievement in Canada”. Also in 2010, the Canadian Geotechnical Society awarded Dennis the R. F. Legget Medal, their most senior and prestigious award for the development of techniques to geotechnical issues of national concern. In 2011 Dennis was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.