Editorial: 20th Biennial BDS Conference 2018 – Binnie Lecture: the role of inspection and monitoring in risk and asset management

Abstract

My civil engineering career has been bookended by significant embankment dam and mine waste facility failures which have had severe consequences both for life and for the environment. Such dam incidents have driven my approach to design and construction over the last fifty years, and have influenced UK legislation as enacted in the aftermath of Aberfan in 1966, and European Directives following the tailings dam failures in Spain and Romania around 2000. This paper reflects on the impact of these dam failures and legislative changes, and demonstrates the absolute need to address risk and consequence, whether for a 1000 m3 silt lagoon or a 1 000 000 m3 water supply reservoir, regardless of the regulatory environment. The engineering approach to the reservoirs described, both mining- and water-related, has been determined by the need to develop a risk assessment and mitigation strategy in the form of a detailed risk register. Such a register is applicable throughout all stages of design and construction, enabling competent engineering of the structure and assisting third-party scrutiny and verification. It is concluded that a comprehensive independent inspection and monitoring system is essential in order to verify compliance with design function, construction specification and operating rules.