British Geotechnical Association
The BGA is the UK's main association for geotechnical engineers, organising key events annually.
- Date
- 08 September 2026
- Time
This event has now ended
Overview
Chris Raison takes the audience through nearly forty years of experience dealing with foundation projects associated with chalk bedrock.
Chris points out that there are a huge number of technical papers, conference papers, guidance documents, and case histories providing information and giving recommendations for engineering in chalk.
Yet the UK industry keeps encountering problems, claims, and disputes all relating to chalk. It appears that large sectors of the construction industry are still not learning the lessons that are out there and are still not adopting good practice recommendations.
Chris presents seven brief case histories covering various periods of his career, ranging from 1987 to 2022. They all have some association with piling, but the lessons learnt are relevant to all foundation engineering. A number have been a disaster [for someone else, not Chris]; a few have been very successful.
All illustrate some fundamental engineering issues associated with chalk and give pointers on how to deal with the geological and geotechnical risks.
Chris emphasises that ignoring or being unaware of these risks can lead to potential and significant commercial and financial problems.
.
Programme
18.00 - 18.30
Registration and refreshments
(Those joining online are advised to log in at 18.15 to test their connections.)
18.30 - 18.35
Welcome address by James Lawrence, vice chair, British Geotechnical Association (BGA)
18.35 - 19.20
Keynote address by Chris Raison, Raison Foster Associates
19.20 - 19.45
Q&A session
19.45 - 19.50
Closing remarks by James Lawrence
19.50 - 21.30
Networking drinks reception in the Council Room
Speaker
Chris Raison
Raison Foster Associates
director
Read more
Chris Raison
Chris is a founder member and Director of Raison Foster Associates providing specialist geotechnical advice and guidance, design calculations and reporting to the Piling and Ground Improvement industry, Main Contractors, Developers and Consulting Structural Engineers. Chris is actively involved within the geotechnical industry including technical presentations at BGA, MGS and regular attendance at informal evening meetings and symposiums. Currently he is serving as a committee member with the Association of Geotechnical Specialists, British Standards technical committee B/526 and is part of the Eurocodes TC250/SC7/WG1 working group dealing with the Second-Generation development of BS EN 1997 Eurocode 7.
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