Head in the clouds, paws in the clay, 11 November 2025
Retrospective
(NL) The theme of Geotechnology Day 2025 was 'Head in the clouds, feet in the clay'. This theme underlined how essential it is that theory and practice in geotechnics remain inextricably linked. Our field builds heavily on empirical knowledge, but reliable and safe design cannot be achieved without a solid theoretical basis. At the same time, the 'head in the clouds' refers to the rapid advances geotechnical engineering is experiencing in data-driven work, automation and digitalisation. The 'feet in the clay' reminds us that these innovations only have value when they are supported by the professional knowledge and experience of geotechnicians in the field.
This year's Geotechnics Day once again brought together a wide and diverse audience: experts from clients, contractors, engineering and consultancy firms, water boards and educational and knowledge institutions from the Netherlands and Belgium. The theme of the day was inspiration, knowledge sharing and strengthening the connection between research and practice.
As is tradition, the meeting ended with the announcement of the winners of the Keverling Buisman Prize, the prestigious award for the best graduation research in the field of geotechnical engineering.
Winner HBO: Rutger Pinke - Kalk in clay Neder-Betuwe
Winner WO: Jurren Snijders Blok - Characterising the deformation of lumpy fills using micro-CT scanning
Both winners received a cash prize and a special statuette to honour their contribution to the field.
(ENG) The theme of Geotechnical Day 2025 was 'Head in the clouds, feet in the clay'. This theme highlighted how essential it is that theory and practice in geotechnics remain inseparably connected. Our field relies heavily on empirical knowledge, yet a reliable and safe design cannot exist without a solid theoretical foundation. At the same time, the 'head in the clouds' refers to the rapid advancements in data-driven work, automation, and digitalisation within geotechnics. The 'paws in the clay' reminds us that these innovations only have value when supported by the expertise and hands-on experience of geotechnical professionals in the field.
As in previous years, Geotechniekdag brought together a broad and diverse audience: experts from clients, contractors, engineering and consultancy firms, water authorities, and educational and research institutions from the Netherlands and Belgium. The day was marked by inspiration, knowledge sharing, and strengthening the connection between research and practice.
As tradition dictates, the event concluded with the announcement of the winners of the Keverling Buisman prize, the prestigious award for the best graduation research in the field of geotechnics.
HBO winner : Rutger Pinke - Kalk in clay Neder-Betuwe
WO winner: Jurren Snijders Blok - Characterizing the deformation of lumpy fills using micro-CT scanning
Both winners received a cash prize and a special statuette, honouring their contribution to the field.
Keynote speakers
Presentations/presentations
- Geotechnical engineering for a sustainable society - Lidija Zdravkovic (Imperial College London)
- Physics-Informed Machine Learning for Geotechnics: Integrating Theory, Data, and Computation - Brian Sheil (University of Cambridge)
- Herstel palenplan Prinses Margriettunnel, ontwerp en uitvoering - Duco Bergwerf (VSF)
Session Standards and guidelines/Standards and guidelines
Presentations/presentations
- Update Handboek Folieconstructies - Ivo Huiskes (RWS)
- Richtlijn ‘Bearing Capacity of open-ended steel pipe foundation piles’ - Maarten Profittlich (Fugro)
- Richtlijn ‘CUR166 Handboek Damwandconstructies’ - Rodriaan Spruit (Gemeente Rotterdam)
- Norm ‘Nationale Bijlage Eurocode 7’ - Jan van Dalen (DaeD Ingenieurs)
Session Foundations/Foundations
Presentations/presentations
- Proefbelastingen op zwakke leemgrond verbeterd met expansiehars - Robbert Melis (Uretek)
- Proefbelasting op 57 jaar oude trekpalen - Lennart Stelling (Witteveen+ Bos)
- Extraction of driven cast in-situ (DCIS) pile casings: comparison between theoretical and measured extraction forces - Matteo Ambrosi & Niels de Vos (IQIP)
- Innovatieve digitale onderwijsmethoden in de vernieuwde Master opleiding Geotechniek aan de TU Delft - Ronald Brinkgreve (TU Delft/Seequent)
Ground behaviour/Soil behaviour session
Presentations/presentations
- Key Design Lessons Learned of the Princess Elisabeth Island - Reza Shahbazi (Haskoning) & Marques Da Rocha José Miguel (DEME group)
- Real-time Data Integration and Analysis in Backward Erosion Piping Experiments Using a Digital Twin - Diana Portillo Arreguin (Deltares)
- Geotechniek en Duurzaamheid: Samen naar een slimmer ontwerp - Jeroen Beute (Fugro)
- Challenges and Solutions in Dredging and Reclamation with Cohesive Materials - Joris Bol (Boskalis)
Session Measurements and knowledge/Measurements and knowledge
Presentations/presentations
- Communicatiekabel als kilometerslange geotechnische sensor - Agnes van Uitert (ProRail)
- Hoe bepaal je de samendrukkingsconstante van een afgedankte koelkast - Nathan de Baat (Sweco)
- Unearthing the hidden potential in ground investigation data by converting to geospatial databases - Joost Gevaert (Bedrock)
- Overconsolidatie door kruip – casus Rijksweg 4 Delft-Schiedam - Herbert Polinder (Boskalis)
Photos/photos
Photo credit: Bob Doets