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SWOT analysis Observational Method applications
Analyse FFOM à l’implémentation de la méthode observationnelle
Korff M.
Deltares and Cambridge University
Jong de E.
Geobest
Bles T.J.
Deltares
ABSTRACT: The paper analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for the application of the
Observational Method in civil engineering practice. International cases, many of which are well known in literature have been
analysed along the lines of the SWOT methodology. A specific number of cases has been analysed, having typical Dutch conditions,
to determine country specific aspects as well. This paper describes the evaluation of the cases. This results in conditions under which
the application of the Observational Method is best suitable and conditions in which it is best to avoid the observational method.
RÉSUMÉ : Cet article présente les résultats d’analyses Forces, Faiblesses, Opportunités, Menaces (FFOM) effectuées pour appliquer
la méthode observationnelle au domaine du génie civil. L’analyse FFOM est appliquée à des réalisations internationales, bien connues
dans la littérature et pour lesquelles la méthode observationnelle a été mise en œuvre. Un certain nombre de cas est analysé sous les
conditions néerlandaises, afin de déterminer les éléments spécifiques pour ce pays. Cet article décrit l'évaluation des cas. Les résultats
de cette évaluation sont des situations dans laquelle l'application de la méthode observationnelle est la plus appropriée et des situations
dans laquelle il est préférable d'éviter la méthode observationnelle.
KEYWORDS: Observational Method, SWOT, cases.
1 INTRODUCTION
The Observational Method (OM) can produce savings in cost
and programme on engineering projects, without compromising
safety, and can also benefit the geotechnical community by
increasing scientific knowledge. In some countries the use of
OM is common practice, see for example Britain with famous
papers by Powderham (1994) and Patel et al. (2007) and the
CIRIA report 185 (Nicholson et al., 1999) and France with the
Irex-RGCU guideline by Allagnat (2005). In many other
countries, such as The Netherlands, the method is used in
specific cases only and/or more reluctantly. Many papers in
literature have described procedures on implementing the OM
such as Powderham and Nicholson (1996) and the guidelines
mentioned above, but very little attention is usually paid to the
conditions in which the OM is most adequate. With use of a
SWOT analysis this papers aims to provide such an overview of
hurdles and conditions.
This research is performed as part of “Geoimpuls” in the
Netherlands; a joint industry programme, with the ambitious
goal to half the occurrence of geotechnical failure in Dutch civil
engineering projects by 2015. The measures proposed were
clustered into five themes by Cools (2011): geo-engineering in
contracts, implementing and sharing of existing knowledge and
experience, quality of design and construction processes, new
knowledge for Geo-Engineering in 2015 and managing
expectations. The observational method is seen as a means to
obtain robust en cost-effective projects based on measurements
in combination with risk-based scenarios. The method provides
projects with the possibility to benefit from uncertainties in soil
conditions, which results in opportunities.
2 ANALYSIS OF CASE HISTORIES
The paper illustrates the results of a SWOT analysis based on
various projects reported in case histories. The focus of this
analysis is on the conditions in the projects that make them
suitable for the application of the OM. By collecting these
aspects, one can check whether for a new project the application
of the OM may bring benefits. If this is the case, the authors of
this paper wishes to refer to the use of Eurocode 7 and specific
guidelines for the correct and optimal procedures. Those
procedures are not part of this paper.
Geotechnical monitoring is an essential part of the
Observational Method, and if used separately mostly aims to
control the construction processes and design assumptions. As
part of the OM monitoring is used for design purposes as well.
If the monitoring shows that a design can/must be changed with
less/more conservative assumptions this is foreseen in the OM.
In the SWOT analysis monitoring is also considered, as it is part
of the OM. Parts of the SWOT analysis can therefor be used for
geotechnical monitoring.
It must be mentioned that for a true SWOT analysis the
internal (Strength, Weaknesses) and the external (Opportunities
and Threats) must be clearly distinguished. In the case of the
application of the OM, this may not be so evident, especially if
we consider the soil conditions. In this paper, the soil is
considered an internal part of the project. Furthermore, the
SWOT analysis focusses on the application of the OM from the
start of the project (‘ab initio’) and not as the ‘best way out’,
when unwanted events already have appeared.
Strengths (S)
Some project characteristics can be seen as strengths for the
application of the OM. If the following characteristics exist,
OM could be considered as a serious option. .
1. Multiple stages or parts in a project. Patel et al. (2007)
suggest that for a good application of the OM it is necessary
