Policy plan

KIVI policy plan #thereforegeotechnology

KIVI Department of Geotechnical Engineering

Date : 18 September 2017

Geotechnical engineering is an indispensable link in the construction process. Therefore, the Geotechnical Engineering Department aims to promote socially responsible broad application of knowledge in the field of geoengineering and generate interest in soil mechanics, foundation engineering and related fields. The department plays a linking function in the network between its members and other professionals, both nationally and internationally.

#thereforegeotechnology

Why geotechnical engineering department?

  • Unique professional network of geotechnical engineers in the Netherlands, supporting members at decisive moments in their careers, offering opportunities to keep abreast of the latest developments and broadening horizons through links with non-geotechnical engineers.
  • Training, knowledge retention and knowledge development, by organising and continuously updating courses, organising knowledge meetings and excursions, and stimulating scientific and innovation-oriented research, aimed at quality improvement and sustainability, among other things.
  • Visibility for the benefit of a strong discipline, which is on the map in the Netherlands and has long-term continuity.
  • Internationalisation, cooperation and knowledge exchange with foreign colleagues and participation in international symposia, activities and technical committees.

Geotechnical engineering department activities:

Unique professional network (prog. cie)

  1. Organising at least 6 informative professional meetings per year for members, including at least 1 excursion or company visit. Organising the geotechnical day and the foundation day. The activities are laid down in an annual programme.
  2. Cooperating with other construction-related departments of KIVI , the Belgian sister organisation ie.net, by jointly organising activities.
  3. Maintaining the relationship with the NEN and ENW with regard to national and European geotechnical standards, including following national and international geotechnical standardisation activities and distributing information about them to the members and occasionally, on the basis of concrete proposals, financially supporting the establishment of geotechnical European standards.
  4. Promoting exchange of information between organisations partly active in the field of geotechnical engineering, in particular with the CUR/SBR/CROW, Concrete Association, VOTB, STOWA, Soil Mechanics Netherlands, NGO, NVAF, study associations (Underground) and Ingeokring; through the promotion of personal liaisons with other boards by the board members and sending our annual programme to these organisations.


Education and knowledge (opl. cie)

  1. Promoting education in the field at MBO, HBO and (post) academic level and encouraging 'continuous learning'.
  2. Updating, developing and monitoring the quality of course materials and providing lecturers for the CGF and PAO courses, including providing a contact person.
  3. Developing and implementing policy on certification and quality assurance, through Chartership KIVI Geotechnics.
  4. Stimulating scientific and innovation-oriented research, aimed among others at quality improvement and sustainability within the discipline, both nationally, such as through TUs and Deltares, and in a European context (ELGIP). If necessary, provide financial support as far as appropriate within departmental objectives.


Visibility

  1. Contributing to the continuity of the specialist journal Geotechnical Engineering(1) and the geotechnical web platform GEONET(2).
  2. Awarding the Keverling Buisman Prize jointly with Deltares every two years.
  3. Spreading the social significance of the field of geo-engineering can be translated into sustainable use and utilisation of the subsurface, through traditional and social media.
  4. Organising an event around 100 years of geoengineering in the Netherlands in 2018, generate wide media attention (national press).


Internationalisation

  1. Participation in international symposia, conferences and activities.
  2. Maintaining the relationship with the ISSMGE and acting as the NSSMGE including international exchange of geotechnical knowledge through the ISSMGE for and by members.
  3. Participating in the international board meetings and registering the Dutch members of the ISSMGE and remitting dues to the ISSMGE.
  4. Encouraging and proposing Dutch members for representation in European Technical Committees (TCs) and international TCs. and publishing an overview of these on GEONET and KIVI site. our Dutch representatives are asked to provide feedback to members on the activities of the TCs.
  5. Maintaining contacts with our sister organisations in other countries, such as ie.net, DGGT, BGA etc.


(1) Contributing to the continuity of the Geotechnical trade journal

  • Providing at least one member for the Editorial Board.
  • Providing at least 2 members for the Editorial Board.
  • Publishing departmental activities and departmental news in the trade journal.
  • Contributing to the annual publication of at least 4 issues.
  • To promote and co-finance the publication of a fifth issue as a special for the Geotechnical Day and Foundation Day.

(2) Contributing to the continuity and expansion of the geotechnical web platform GEONET

  • Serving on the Steering Committee of the partnership of Deltares, CUR and the KIVI Geotechnical Department.
  • Participating in the Editorial Board of GEONET.
  • Providing information for direct posting on the GEONET site.
  • Providing occasional financial support for extensions/modifications of GEONET based on proposals submitted for this purpose and fitting within the spending objectives of the Congress Fund.


Working arrangements for the effective functioning of the Geotechnical Section

  1. To strive for a broad-based board of the Geotechnical Section (3).
  2. Contributing actively to membership recruitment and membership retention of KIVI(4).
  3. Conducting an active PR policy to ensure that the activities of the Section are well publicised to members and potential members, including maintenance of the Section's website.
  4. Ensuring a sound financial policy for the continuity of the section.
  5. Participating in the Construction Cluster Consultation, in which the construction-related departments of KIVI are united.
  6. Participating in KIVI's Members' Council, including financial committee.


(3) Aim for at least 1 representative from the sectors respectively:

  • Education (TUD and/or HBO institutions);
  • Deltares (GTI);
  • Large municipalities (preferably via municipal geotechnical office);
  • Fugro N.V. (internationally operating geotechnical agency);
  • Smaller specialised geotechnical offices
  • Larger civil engineering firms (with geotechnical expertise);
  • Larger contractors/dredging/offshore
  • Foundation contractors/NVAF;
  • Public Works Department;
  • Other traffic infrastructure operators/designers (including ProRail).


(4) To actively contribute to membership recruitment and membership retention of KIVI

  • Promoting the presence of young members in the activities of the Section.
  • Providing member recruitment activities during the lecture afternoon for graduate students in cooperation with the Construction & Hydraulic Engineering Department and the Tunnel Engineering & Underground Works Department.
  • Keeping the Geotechnical Department's information package up to date and distributing it for distribution to graduating students of TUD Civil Engineering and Geosciences, UT-Civil Engineering and Universities of Applied Sciences (Civil Engineering).
  • Conducting a biennial survey of members of the department.
  • Evaluating any membership cancellations, including through follow-up calls, supported by the head office account manager.
  • Preparing a biennial PR plan for the department.
  • Keeping department information up-to-date on the KIVI site and on GEONET.
  • Sending meeting announcements via e-mail and by post to KIVI members.
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