This summer, the ASCE Geo-Institute teamed up with Geopier for a compelling two-part webinar series focused on ground improvement in geotechnical engineering. The series brought together two respected voices in the field, Dr. Allen Bowers and Dr. Kyle Rollins, to share insights on engineering failures and liquefaction mitigation.
Part 1: What the Ground Improvement Industry Must Learn from Three Catastrophic Engineering Failures
Speaker: Dr. Allen Bowers, Director of Engineering at Geopier
Date: June 17, 2025
Dr. Bowers kicked off the series with a sobering look at three infamous engineering disasters: the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the Johnstown Flood. His presentation emphasized the importance of understanding soil and structural mechanics, recognizing that ground improvement elements are part of a larger system, and always considering the consequences of failure. With over a decade of experience and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, Dr. Bowers brought both technical depth and practical wisdom to the discussion.
Part 2: Rammed Aggregate Piers for Liquefaction Mitigation Based on Field Case Histories
Speaker: Dr. Kyle Rollins, Professor of Civil Engineering at BYU
Date: August 12, 2025
Dr. Rollins followed with a deep dive into the use of Rammed Aggregate Piers (RAPs) for liquefaction mitigation. Drawing on field case histories, he explored how RAPs can improve seismic performance and reduce settlement. With over 190 technical papers and numerous awards, including the Wallace Hayward Baker Award and the Jorj Osterberg Award, Dr. Rollins is a leading voice in geotechnical earthquake engineering and soil improvement.
For more on Geopier’s solutions and the Geo-Institute’s upcoming events, visit https://www.geopier.com and http://www.geoinstitute.org.
