Meet the team engineering our Geo-environmental solutions

Our geo-environmental and geotechnical engineering teams are experts in providing effective solutions for challenges above and below ground. Combining technical expertise with practical insight, they are integral to our delivery of reliable and effective designs and approaches for complex ground and environmental conditions.

We recently sat down with some of the team, from across our offices, to discuss all things geo-environmental engineering – from their early inspirations through to what projects and challenges have impacted them and the way they work.

Why did you choose a career in geo-environmental engineering?

Adam Taylor: I have always considered myself a keen problem solver, which is fundamental to all branches of engineering. After studying and obtaining a masters in geology from the University of Leicester in 2015, I was eager to apply my passion for geology and earth sciences to solving the practical challenges of the construction world.

Chris Wilson: I was brought up in the countryside and I’ve always enjoyed being outside and working with nature. Based on the enjoyment that the countryside has given me through my childhood and growing up, I always have wanted to protect that for the future, and one thing that I can do is support the development of brownfield sites to limit preventable urban sprawl.

Andy Gwatkin: From an early age I developed a great passion and fascination for nature, the outdoors and the environment as a whole. This interest led me to study subjects including biology and geography at A-Level and later environmental science at the University of Nottingham. Upon graduation I was keen to find a role that would allow me to utilise and develop the skills gained throughout my studies.

Andy Smith: My interest started at high school, where I did a GCSE in geology, I then followed that through to A-level and a degree. I then moved into a career in ground investigation and geo-environmental engineering, mainly because I enjoy the outdoors. I like the fresh air. I like to get out and about. I like to solve interesting technical problems that specifically relate to the ground. It has always been an interest of mine, and will continue to be.

Is there a significant project that has had an impact on your career or the way you work?

Adam Taylor: A few stand-out; including Awsworth in Nottingham, which is a residential development on land heavily impacted by recorded and unrecorded coal mining legacy issues, notably significant bell pitting and shallow voids. I have provided key contributions from early conception (desk study / CMRA at pre-planning), through to site investigation and remediation design, and onwards to construction, which has given me thorough appreciation of the positive impact sound engineering advice can have on our clients’ projects at all stages. I felt proud to see the first foundations being successfully cast, which was only possible after several years of investigation, remediation and design work.

Andy Gwatkin: I think all projects you work on have an impact to some degree – shaping the way you work and think. A large residential development scheme in Stoke-on-Trent that I worked on early in my career had a particularly big impact on me personally. The site had a number of geo-environmental constraints including coal mining legacy, deep made ground, heavy metal contamination and elevated ground gas. The scheme really opened my eyes to the potential of geo-environmental engineering to solve complex problems and ultimately achieve environmental and social betterment.

Chris Wilson: I would say a current project that I have been involved in from the outset. We’re building 4,500 houses and a large commercial area on a former steel works. The fact that it’s a multi-disciplinary project means I have been involved on several fronts across the scheme. It has developed me into a rounded engineer who knows so much about so many elements of a project.

Andy Smith: I can’t necessarily pick a favorite. I’d say I enjoy all the projects I get involved with because they’re all different. Every one of them throws up a different problem that needs to be solved, whether it’s chalk dissolution, ground improvement techniques required to develop the site or surcharging of a landfill. All those things are interesting to me, and I think separating one particular one would be difficult. So, I think I’ll just have to say all of them.

What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?

Adam Taylor: Earlier this year, I presented the findings of a detailed ground investigation, including ground related risks and opportunities, to the leadership, engineering and commercial team at one of our key national housebuilder clients. The site in question was a former deep opencast coal mine, infilled with Pulverised Fuel Ash, and containing numerous significant constraints – such as >70m of non-engineered made ground, highwalls, adjacent landfill and steep slopes. The key challenge was not our ability to understand the data and implications for development, but being able to effectively communicate this in an engaging manner to a mixture of technical and non-technical staff, including regional directors. My successful presentation on the key features of the site, the findings of our works, and a roadmap to potential solutions, was the culmination of many years of on-the-job learning and experience.

Andy Gwatkin: I would say achieving chartership (CEnv) through the Society for the Environment (SocEnv) and Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), alongside undertaking my day-to-day engineering role. Sustainable thinking has become increasingly prevalent within the industry as my career has progressed, and it was both challenging and rewarding to draw on my experience and expertise in sustainable engineering to achieve chartered environmentalist status.

Chris Wilson: That’s a difficult one for me, because challenges are something that make my work enjoyable. But the biggest thing that I’ve found recently is that I am a huge advocate of change, but choosing the right sort of change is challenging. It’s important to get behind the right sort of change that proves positive and helps us in our careers.

Andy Smith: I would have to say my biggest challenge so far would be undertaking my diploma part time while in full time work in the industry. I really enjoy working technically in the industry, and I wanted to enhance my knowledge by doing the diploma, but I think while doing it in full time work was definitely a challenge, especially while at the same time I was renovating my house. It was a lot all at once, but I came through it and managed to achieve my diploma at the same time asenhancing my technical abilities.

What makes a good geo-environmental engineer?

Adam Taylor: Geo-environmental and geotechnical engineering presents such a wide variety of challenges to solve – no two projects or days are ever the same! To develop novel solutions to ground engineering problems requires someone who is persistent, a strong critical thinker, and has a thirst to constantly learn and apply new knowledge. Excellent communication skills are a must – the multidisciplinary nature of our projects requires collaboration with other specialist team members, and of course with the client and wider design team to ensure key ground related risks and opportunities are fully understood.  There is an old adage that the best geologists are those who have seen the most rock – hence a love of being outdoors (in all weather) certainly helps on those dark, damp winter mornings.

Andy Gwatkin: I could list many characteristics here but I think the main qualities are a strong work ethic, creativity, excellent communication skills and attention to detail. Our industry is extremely diverse, complex and constantly evolving with new technology, shifting regulation and emerging contaminants all providing both opportunities and challenges. A good engineer needs to use their knowledge and experience to solve complex challenges while also considering potential future implications and trends. Ultimately, communicating your findings and recommendations in a way that is easy to understand and interpret for a wide range of stakeholders is vital in achieving desired objectives.

Andy Smith: Attention to detail, enjoyment from working outdoors and an ability to problem solve and think on your feet. You can’t be scared of getting your hands dirty, or tackling technical problems that need to be solved in the ground. The ground isn’t black and white, you do have to think of all the different outcomes that may occur.

Chris Wilson: Flexibility, happy working outside in the elements and finding enjoyment from working with contractors to overcome unforeseeable on-site challenges.

Are there any emerging methods or technologies that make you excited about the future of geo-environmental engineering?

Adam Taylor: Over the past decade, significant developments have been made in 3D modelling software and the powerful computers required to run them. This is a trend likely to continue with the emergence of AI, and I am excited to see the opportunities this presents for our industry. An effective ground model not only presents field data in a way that can be understood by non-engineers, but can be used to make useful predictions on scenarios such as mine workings, contamination plumes and ground gas sources. Converting field data into useful ground models has, however, always been a complex and time-consuming task. If used correctly, AI and ever improving 3D modelling software has the potential to transform the creation of ground models, enabling information on ground hazards to be carried forward and interrogated by future designers and non-geoscientists. As always, the ground model is only as good as the data used to create it – detailed ground investigation and the advice of a competent and experienced geo-environmental engineer will always be required to inform sound decision making.

Andy Gwatkin: Throughout my career, I’ve seen huge developments in science and technology within the geo-environmental sector. It has been very rewarding personally to be at the forefront of the transition to electronic site logging and paperless data management processes at Rodgers Leask, as well as the advancement of our in-house 3D modelling capabilities. Over the past few years, we have seen the emergence of AI, and it will be interesting to see the potential benefits that this technology may provide over the coming years, particularly in interpreting large datasets and producing ground models. Sustainable remediation technologies, particularly in-situ treatment options, continue to develop at pace and will play a key role in our future management of emerging contaminants including PFAS.

Andy Smith: There’s plenty of emerging technologies, specifically in ground improvement and brownfield land development – turning them back into usable spaces. The benefit of these technologies is you get to look in greater detail at the design, assessing how it will actually work in the ground. I’ve specifically enjoyed looking at CMCS in a bit more detail, undertaking design checks associated with that.

Chris Wilson: This one probably is relevant to a lot of industries at the moment, and this is using AI as a tool. AI should enable us to complete our work more efficiently and I have seen it used for many things, including Excel, quick assessment of data and logs. The one thing that is really interesting at the moment is training. I’ve found that with things like AutoCAD, it can really help training for junior staff.

To find out more about our geo-environmental engineering work visit: https://rodgersleask.com/our-services/geo-environmental-engineering/