ASCE Metropolitan Section

The mission of the Geotechnical Group is to provide members with opportunities to expand and share their knowledge and expertise of geotechnical engineering and geotechnical construction, particularly as it relates to the unique environment of the New York City metropolitan area. The Geotechnical Group aims to accomplish this through monthly technical lectures and annual specialty seminars. Attendees of the geotechnical lectures and seminar will receive accredited Professional Development Hours (PDHs) applied towards the Continuing Education Program of the P.E. licensing renewal. To learn about our upcoming technical lectures and seminars, please look at the event calendar on the right side of this page.

If you would like present one of your projects at one of our monthly lectures, or if you have any particular geotech-related topic that may be of Section members' interest, please do not hesitate to contact any of the Geotechnical Group officers. To be included on our emailing list for future events or if you have any question or comments, please contact Geotechnical Group Chair Walter Papp at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Prof. Harry Poulos Delivers the Eighth Annual Parsons Lecture

Prof. Harry Poulos (left) receiving a golden apple from Geotechnical Group Chair Walter Papp at the end of the 8th Parsons Lecture.

Professor Harry G. Poulos delivered the Eighth Annual William Barclay Parsons Lecture at the CUNY Graduate Center on April 19, 2010. The topic of his lecture was "The Influence of Tunneling – Induced Ground Movements on Nearby Foundations." Prof. Poulos is currently a Senior Principal with Coffey Geotechnics in Sydney, Australia and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Sydney.

Geotechnical Group Chair Walter J. Papp, Jr. (right) presents a Golden Apple to Clyde N. Baker, Jr. (left) after the lecture (Photo by Robert Talby)

Clyde N. Baker, Jr., P.E., S.E. delivered a technical lecture titled "Design of Foundations for the World's Tallest Buildings" at the CUNY Graduate Center on Thursday, March 18, 2010. Mr. Baker is currently the Senior Principal Engineer with AECOM Technology Corporation in Illinois. Mr. Baker has graciously made a technical paper containing his pdf

presentation available.

Dr. Lars Andresen (left) receiving a golden apple from Geotechnical Group Chair Walter Papp at the end of the GZA Lecture.

The First GZA Lecture was delivered by Dr. Lars Andresen of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute at the CUNY Graduate Center on Thursday, February 18, 2010. This was the inaugural lecture of a new annual series sponsored by GZA Geoenvironmental, Inc. The lecture was on "Finite Element Analyses Applied to Design of Offshore Foundations and Anchors."

Walter J. Papp, Jr. (center) presented Golden Apples to Mr. Fisher (left) and Mr. Rhyner (right) after the Kapp Lecture (Photo by Robert Talby)

The 35th Martin S. Kapp Lecture and the 6th Annual "Meet & Greet" Dinner was held at Il Campanello Ristorante in Manhattan on Thursday, January 21, 2010. Alan Fisher, P.E., Chief Engineer of the Construction Structures Group for Cianbro Corporation and Frederick C. Rhyner, P.E., Associate at Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers presented a talk on "Solving the Problem of Creep at Amtrak's Thames River Bridge."

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