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Embedding Geo Risk Management. The Geo-Impuls Approach
L’implantation du management des risques géotechniques. L’approche Geo-Impuls
Staveren van M.Th.
VSRM
Litjens P.P.T., Cools P.M.C.B.M.
Rijkswaterstaat Dienst Infrastructuur
ABSTRACT: Geo-Impuls is a Dutch and industry wide geotechnical development programme. It aims to strengthen the geotechnical
community by substantially reducing geotechnical failures in all types of construction projects. Over 40 Dutch organizations,
including client organizations, contractors, engineering firms and knowledge institutes, work closely together in this programme that
runs from 2009 up to 2015. All Geo-Impuls participants embraced geotechnical risk management (GeoRM) as leading working
method to realize projects within budget and planning, as well as according to actual safety and quality standards. However, routinely
applying GeoRM in projects requires embedding GeoRM in its organizations. This paper aims to present how the Dutch geotechnical
community is currently embedding geotechnical risk management in its organizations. First, the Geo-Impuls program is introduced.
The remaining part of this paper summarizes the four pillars of the Geo-Impuls program: (1) the process of geo risk management, (2)
geo risk management principles, (3) geo risk management tools, and (4) geo risk management implementation. Finally, the main
conclusions are drawn.
RÉSUMÉ : Geo-Impuls est un programme hollandais de développement géotechnique au niveau de l’ensemble de la profession. Son
objectif est de renforcer la communauté géotechnique en réduisant les accidents géotechniques dans tous types les projets. Ce
programme mis en œuvre de 2009 à 2015 regroupe plus de 40 organisations hollandaises (clients, entreprises, bureaux d’ingénieurs
conseils et instituts d’enseignement et de recherche). Tous les participants au projet Geo-Impuls ont adopté le management des risques
géotechniques (GeoRM) comme méthode principale pour réaliser des projets conformes aux budget et planning, et respectant les
normes de sécurité et de qualité en vigueur. cependant, l’application routinière du GeoRM dans les projets exige son implantation
dans les organisations. L’article vise à présenter de quel façon la communauté géotechnique hollandaise est en train d’implanter ce
management des risques géotechniques. Tout d’abord, on présente le programme Geo-Impuls. Ensuite l’article fait une synthèse des
quatre piliers du programme Geo-Impuls: (1) la processus de management des risques géotechniques, (2) les principes du
management des risques géotechniques, (3) les outils du management des risques géotechniques, (4) l’implantation du management
des risques géotechniques. Enfin, les conclusions les plus importantes sont tirées.
KEYWORDS: geotechnical risk, geotechnical risk management, project risk management, risk management implementation, tool box
1 INTRODUCTION
Building in, on, or with ground is risky. According to several
assessments, on average geotechnical problems during
engineering, construction, and operation of civil engineering
projects result in cost increases of 5% of the original budgets. In
the Netherlands only, this adds up to hundreds of millions of
Euros, annually. So action within the geotechnical community
is needed, which resulted in a major geotechnical development
program in The Netherlands: Geo-Impuls.
First, the GeoImpuls program will be described, including
three top geotechnical risks that drive the program, six
dilemma’s related to these top risks and three resulting research
and development themes for providing effective and cost
efficient risk remediation.
Next, the concept of geotechnical risk management or
GeoRM will be presented, including an explanation what
GeoRM is about and why GeoRM should be embraced by all
geotechnical professionals.
An important element of GeoRM is provided by eight so-
called Geo-Principles. These principles are derived from the
generic risk management principles of the ISO 31000 risk
management guideline (ISO 2009). By adopting these
principles, Geo-Impuls decided to apply a modern principle-
based risk management approach, rather than a more traditional
rule-based one. The main advantage of a principle-based
approach is that any type of organization, in any type of
construction project, is able to design its own tailor-made risk
management activities and processes. This avoids a well known
“one size fits nobody” situation. The Geo-Principles are
introduced in the paper by a checklist, which is ready to be used
in practice by any reader.
In addition to the principles, risk management tools are
welcome and useful. Therefore, a Geo-Impuls risk management
toolbox is in development. Together with already available
techniques, this toolbox will be filled with the results of 12
working groups. It contains sub boxes for contractual matters,
for geotechnical design and construction, as well as for dealing
with the many project stakeholders and its environment. The
latter is particular important for the growing number of complex
underground projects in densely populated and sensitive build
environments.
While having the risk management processes, principles,
and tools, a fourth element proves to be of paramount
importance: the organizations that have to deal with
geotechnics. These are either client organizations, contractors,
or engineers. Adapting geotechnical risk management activities
to existing working procedures and process in these
organizations is a key success factor for continuous GeoRM
application. Rijkswaterstaat, executive agency of the Ministry
of Infrastructure and the Environment and the largest Dutch
