National / EU Ground Engineering Registration – Workshop

There will be an international workshop on ground engineering registration on the 25th April in Lueven, Belgium. The workshop will be held ahead of the "Design of Piles in Europe" meeting. Contributions are welcome but please notify the organisers in advance.

When: Monday 25^th April 2016 11 am to 5 pm & Tuesday 26^th April 2016 9 am to 3 pm.

Where: Hotel Park Inn by Radisson, Martelarenlaan 36 –  BE-3010 –  Leuven –  Belgium –  +32 (16) 61 66 00

Draft Agenda

Attendees: F. Buggy (Ireland);  J. Cook (U.K.); M. Herten (Germany); G. Franzen (Sweden); M. Korff (Netherlands);  M. Bottiau / N. Huybrechts (Belgium);  + others TBC.

Apologies: A. Gens (ISSMGE – Europe Vice President)

Monday 25^th April 2016

11:00 – 11:15 Introductions & Agenda Review

11:15 – 12:30 Experiences and national concerns with specialist registration to date (contributions from UK, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Netherlands)

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch.

13:30  – 14:00 Experiences and national concerns cont’d  (Belgium, Macedonia + ?)

14:00 – 15:30 Overall goals and framework for a) EU registration system;  or b) national systems with sufficient common characteristics which can be mutually recognised by other EU states; c) European Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (EDRPQ)
(J. Cook UK)

15:30 – 15:45 Break

15:45 – 17:00 Role of EN1997.

• Define “adequately qualified and experienced personnel” currently in EN1997 text ?
• Ground Engineering activities outside current scope of EN1997 which do not relate to buildings and civil engineering works ? (slope stabilisation; quarrying & mining; landfill; geo-environmental;  ? etc)
• Complexity of design – Geotechnical Categories 1 – 3. (M. Jovanovski Macedonia)

Tuesday 26^th April 2016

09:00 – 14:45 Draft descriptions for common aspects of registration systems, sufficient for further consideration by individual national societies.  Relevant issues are:

• Range of professions who might apply for specialist  registration (Geotechnical engineers; engineering geologists; mining engineers; geophysicists; geo-environmental scientists etc ?)
• Minimum Qualifications – Professional & Educational
• Minimum Professional Experience levels – single or multi – tier levels for registration
• Continuous Professional Development (CPD) / Training
• Application Process / Minimum Documentation Requirements
• Designated Administration Body

10:30 – 10:45 Break

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch.

14:45 – 15:00 Review Actions & Agree Next Workshop Meeting location & date.