12-case histories
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[00:00:00] Tiffany: Hey listeners, we have a special year end series for you. Ryan and I are back and we are doing the 12 days of GBA. What does that mean? That means we are gonna count down 12 different types of GBA resources and how we picked them was very systematic. We went with our favorites. So Ryan, you wanna introduce yourself For those who haven't heard from us in a while.

[00:00:31] rYan: Sure. Ryan White. I'm the principal geotechnical engineer and geotechnical group manager at Apex in Portland, and also GBA's Multimedia Delivery Committee Chair.

[00:00:43] Tiffany: Whew, mouthful. Okay. I am Tiffany Vorhies. I work for SME Soil and Materials Engineers. Uh, I'll go with business unit leader there and director of project management [00:01:00] and former chair of the multimedia delivery committee.

[00:01:05] So, 

[00:01:06] rYan: current multimedia delivery participant.

[00:01:11] Tiffany: yeah.

[00:01:12] Uh, I'm officially a member now who just gets to have fun, is what that means.

[00:01:18] rYan: There you go.

[00:01:20] Tiffany: All right, Ryan. What are we gonna start with for day? Because we're gonna do this a little different. We're gonna start with 12 and countdown from there. So what is day 12 for them? The first day? What are we starting with?

[00:01:37] rYan: Yeah. Day 12. The first day of the series is the one, the only. Probably one of the, if not the most popular resource, GBA has to offer the famous case history.

[00:01:51] Tiffany: Of course, of course. We have to start with the case histories.

[00:01:56] You know, I, I find it very fun. People might wonder, okay, [00:02:00] how did you pick the, the resources right? We picked them because we're in charge and we picked our 12 favorite things that GBA offers out of like 800 million things that they offer. So these are just our favorites, right?

[00:02:16] rYan: These are everybody's favorites. I would, I would bet.

[00:02:21] Tiffany: All right. Alright, so for the specific case histories and since it's day 12, which is actually day one, we're gonna have fun with this throughout the series. So stick with us. We actually picked 12 case histories and we picked them. At random, and then because it's not fun enough to just pick them at random, we then didn't even read them. We literally put them into AI and asked AI to summarize them, and we're gonna read you the summaries so that you get a glimpse into 12 different case histories and can identify some that may be great resources for you to [00:03:00] use inside your company. whether it's a lunch and learn different trainings, whatever you wanna do.

[00:03:06] But as the bonus, what are we gonna do with the most downloaded one, Ryan?

[00:03:12] rYan: Yeah, whichever one of these gets downloaded the most, and we'll have to bound that by time. I don't know if we wanna say by the end of the year, end of January, end of February, but whichever one of these gets downloaded the most, then we'll do that as our next recorded podcast episode about a case history.

[00:03:30] Tiffany: February 1st, 2026.

[00:03:33] I'm making a decision whichever one of these gets downloaded the most between the time this episode airs and February 1st, 2026 will be the next one that we will put more energy into and record a case history. So whichever one is most intriguing to you, download it. Ask your coworkers to download it.

[00:03:55] Ask 'em to download it 20 times. Make sure you check it out and we [00:04:00] will record that one. So let's get started.

[00:04:03] I'm gonna get started. Oh. 

[00:04:05] rYan: Make sure you're on the winning team. Make sure this is a, this is a competition, so be on the winning team.

[00:04:12] Tiffany: I like it. We are always competing here. Okay, I'm gonna get started by reading AI's summary of case history number 44. So a developer was constructing industrial building and had already engaged A GBA member firm for geotechnical and CoMET services when the developer needed a rapid phase one environmental.

[00:04:37] Site assessment to secure their bank financing. The same firm performed the ESA confirming the site was a greenfield with no prior use. Later, a Fortune 500 company considered purchasing the property and requested a slightly more comprehensive environmental review. This [00:05:00] deeper investigation, uncovered groundwater contamination from a chlorinated solvent, raising questions about the source and responsibility, and prompting further analysis of neighboring properties. The case explores the complexities of environmental due diligence, the interplay between prior geotech and CoMET work and environmental findings. Also, the importance of clear documentation and conflict of interest management. It's a compelling look at how environmental discoveries can impact property transactions, legal outcomes, and the reputations of all parties involved. So that was case history 44.

[00:05:46] Yes. I'm intrigued already. 

[00:05:48] rYan: Yeah. Riveting, riveting stuff. Love it.

[00:05:53] All right. Case history number 54, a state university's [00:06:00] football stadium expansion project faced challenges when design changes were made without informing the geotechnical engineer, hate, when that happens after construction, unexpected movement and distress appeared leading to multiple investigations and costly remediation efforts.

[00:06:16] The case examines the consequences of poor communication, lack of documentation, and inadequate project management protocols. It highlights the importance of professional liability insurance, ongoing risk analysis, and crisis management for high profile projects. The story offers valuable insights for teams working on large institutional projects, or managing complex stakeholder relationships.

[00:06:43] If you wanna hear more about this one, download case history number 54, be on the winning team.

[00:06:51] Tiffany: I wanna learn more about that one already. I'm glad I already downloaded it, 'cause now I can read the whole thing.

[00:06:57] All right. Next I have [00:07:00] case history. 23. A bank required a geotechnical evaluation of a 40-year-old house. With a history of settlement before approving the mortgage, the engineer performed the assessment without a formal contract concluding the house was stable for future use. After the sale, the new homeowner sued multiple parties, included the engineer alleging negligence for not conducting a level survey. The case delves into the risks of informal agreements. The important of professional liability insurance and the challenges of working with residential clients, ugh, always scary. It highlights how disputes can escalate and the critical need for thorough documentation and clear scopes of service. This story is especially relevant for professionals working with homeowners or small projects. So if you wanna hear more about that one. [00:08:00] Download case History 23.

[00:08:04] rYan: Sounds good. Moving on case history number 73, A contractor's work on an electrical duct bank at a military facility was challenged by a Department of Defense inspector for not meeting concrete vibration requirements. The constructor retained a GBA member firm for forensic testing, which confirmed compliance with project specifications, but the dispute escalated to an administrative law hearing the case features a clash between expert witnesses, highlighting the importance of site visits, relevant standards, and

[00:08:40] professional demeanor and expert testimony. Ultimately, the judge sided with the constructor emphasizing the value of credible testing and the dangers of hired gun experts. Finger quotes. This case is ideal for teams involved in forensic engineering, dispute resolution, or expert witness [00:09:00] work, if that sounds interesting to you.

[00:09:03] Download case history 73.

[00:09:06] Tiffany: That one sounds pretty good to me

[00:09:08] rYan: Intense. Intense

[00:09:10] Tiffany: Yeah, I wanna read all of these. I might have to download them. Oh, I did download.

[00:09:15] I might have to read them all over the break. All right. Next I have case history. 36. A GBA member firm was hired to conduct a resource conservation and recovery act facility assessment at a manufacturing site. Initial findings triggered a sampling visit, which led to legal resistance from the manufacturer and a court order for site access. The assessment team faced numerous obstacles, including including deliberate delays and locked gates as the manufacturer sought to impede the process. This case examines the risks [00:10:00] associated with environmental assessments, especially on contentious sites and the importance of contract language. Insurance coverage and rapid response to project changes. It's a vivid example of how small projects can carry significant legal and financial risks, and I kind of wanna act that one out.

[00:10:21] I feel like this is gonna be a good one. So if you wanna know more on that one. Case history 36.

[00:10:29] rYan: Okay. I am seeing a trend here. I haven't read any of these before and I pride myself on knowing a lot about all these documents we have. So perfect example of why we need to bring these to the surface 'cause these are great.

[00:10:42] Tiffany: Mm-hmm.

[00:10:43] rYan: All right, case history number 29. A consortium of power companies commissioned a coal-fired power plant requiring installation of a large corrugated metal pipe, CMP culvert for drainage.

[00:10:56] The GBA member firm was tasked with testing compaction to fill around the [00:11:00] CMP, but was not responsible for design review or backfill observation. When pipe deflection was observed, new specifications were introduced in a costly reinstallation followed. The case explores issues of scope, definition, documentation, and conflicts of interest.

[00:11:16] When multiple clients are involved, it highlights the importance of clarifying responsibilities and the risks of assuming others' specifications are sufficient. This case is ideal for teams dealing with construction testing, construction management, or multi-party projects. So if that sounds interesting, download case history 29 be on the winning team.

[00:11:40] Tiffany: I love your winning stick there. That one. These all sound so interesting to me. You know what? This is a good time to pause real quick and remind everybody if. Anyone at your firm is A GBA member. You are A GBA member. Your firm pays for all of you to [00:12:00] have access, so every one of you can download these for free. If you are not at A GBA member firm and you found this awesome podcast on your own, you can still get these, I believe they're either 300 or $350 per case history, or you can just join GBA. You know, message us on, uh, LinkedIn or wherever if you wanna find out more about either of those options.

[00:12:28] rYan: Awesome.

[00:12:29] Tiffany: yeah.

[00:12:29] Next I have case history 25. So for case history 25, a school district faced subsidence at an elementary school built over abandoned coal mines, prompting debates about site reuse versus relocation. The GBA member firm was engaged to assess feasibility for new construction on the damaged site, but scope, limitations and cost concerns influenced the investigation. [00:13:00] Community opinions, funding challenges, and technical uncertainties. Complicated decision making. This case illustrates the risks of accommodating client preferences at the expense of thorough study and documentation. It's a rich narrative about balancing technical recommendations, public sentiment and financial realities in the public sector projects.

[00:13:27] Teams interested in risk management and stakeholder engagement will find valuable lessons here with case history 25.

[00:13:38] rYan: These are so good. You're gonna make your money back in everything you save by just reading one of these. I'm serious. Alright, moving on case history number 60, A husband and wife team hired the GBA member firm for environmental site assessments on a refrigerated warehouse with an attorney acting as intermediary.

[00:13:59] During phase [00:14:00] two, the firm located an old underground fuel tank and performed integrity testing, which revealed a leak. Likely caused by their own drilling. Oops. The firm admitted responsibility in managed remediation, but negotiations over indemnity and liability became protracted and costly. The case explores the pitfalls of taking shortcuts to please clients, the importance of contract terms and the risks of admitting fault prematurely.

[00:14:28] It's a cautionary tale about balancing technical diligence, client relationships, and legal protections in environmental consulting teams dealing with site assessments or client driven schedules. We'll find practical lessons here, so if that one sounds interesting to you, download case history number 60.

[00:14:48] Tiffany: I have a side question. I I love AI, you know, I do. Uh, would you ever, in normal conversation, use the term protracted and costly, [00:15:00] or is that completely AI?

[00:15:02] rYan: Yeah, I might use protractor if I was in my, you know, geometry class. But yeah, probably not protracted. It's a tongue twister too.

[00:15:11] Tiffany: Yeah, I had to, I had to chuckle when you said that. Still. I love it. I love it. These summaries are excellent and I love that they took literally seconds for me to get, I downloaded all the case histories, dropped 'em in a specific AI program, asked to summarize them all in. Six sentences or less. If you really wanna know my prompt, just comment on our LinkedIn post about this episode and I'll be happy to share the whole prompt and give you any tips on, uh, getting this type of summary very quickly out of AI.

[00:15:45] 'cause I kid you not, not even one minute to get all of these summaries and, and I think they're great.

[00:15:51] rYan: Hey Tiffany, before we move on, one other thing we should mention, we will put links to all these documents in the show notes, so you'll be able to go directly to the show notes [00:16:00] gba podcast.com. Download these directly. Well, not directly from there, but there will be links to download these directly so you don't have to search for them.

[00:16:09] Tiffany: Absolutely. Yeah. So after you listen to this and you're super fired up and you wanna download three different case histories, make sure you also forward it to a buddy of yours and say, Hey, I think this particular case history is for you. Listen to it. Share with all your friends. They can all link in down right from there.

[00:16:30] rYan: Yeah, be the cool kid. Bring this to your next group meeting. Share it with everybody. Save your company a lot of money and headache.

[00:16:37] Tiffany: The coolest. All right. Next we have GBA Case History 17. Oh man, this is an oil sands processing plant. Reminds me of the days that I worked at the Marathon refinery that oil sands are crazy. So, okay, let's hear about this one. An oil sands processing plant was [00:17:00] designed and constructed with limited knowledge of oil sand behavior under load .

[00:17:05] The GBA member firm recommended ongoing observation, but the client opted for sporadic monitoring. Leading to disputes over unexpected settlement, the case highlights the importance of relationship building, communication, and managing expectations. When working in uncharted technical territory, it raises questions about the value of continuous observation and the consequences of poor collaboration between engineers and clients. This story is especially relevant for teams tackling innovative or first of their kind projects. That is case history number 17, oil Sands.

[00:17:49] rYan: I didn't even know there was such a thing.

[00:17:51] Tiffany: Oh, yeah.

[00:17:52] rYan: Okay. Alright, moving along. Next in the series here, case history number 11, [00:18:00] A municipality constructed a major water treatment facility on soils containing volcanic ash, relying on limited geotechnical investigation. After operations began differential settlement rendered the plant inoperative.

[00:18:13] Prompting a forensic study by A GBA member firm. The investigation revealed soil collapse due to water leakage and inadequate consideration of soil structure interaction. The case underscores the dangers of cutting corners on geotechnical services and the need for comprehensive evaluation, especially for critical infrastructure.

[00:18:34] It's a cautionary tale about the long-term cost of short-term savings and the importance of educating clients about project risks. If that is up your alley download case history number 11, be on the winning team.

[00:18:49] Tiffany: I love it. We're down to the last three. All right. Next I have case history number seven, another geotech, one, [00:19:00] another residential. Oh man. Lessons we're surely learned. All right. A preliminary geotechnical report for a residential subdivision was used in a land sale, but its limitations were not clearly communicated Years later, poorly designed retaining walls failed after a heavy rain leading to litigation involving multiple parties. The case explores the risks of third party reliance on preliminary reports, the role of expert witnesses and the challenges of defending professional decisions in court. It's a compelling example of how documentation, disclaimers, and community involvement can influence outcomes in residential development disputes. Teams working on residential or Hillside project will find practical insights in GBA case history number seven.

[00:19:57] rYan: Wow. Historic case history number seven. [00:20:00] Alright, moving on, only two left case history. Number four, a large structure supported by drilled shafts face challenges when a constructor proposed a value engineered alternative to the original foundation design, the project team agreed to the new approach which introduced risks during casing removal and concrete placement.

[00:20:22] Subsequent testing revealed soil contaminated concrete in several shafts, prompting costly remedial work and disputes over responsibility. The case examines the pitfalls of relying solely on visual observation, the need for corroborating data, and the importance of compromise and resolving construction issues.

[00:20:41] It's a valuable resource for teams involved in foundation design, construction, observation, or risk management, if that sounds good to you. Download case history number four.

[00:20:53] Tiffany: Nice. All right. I get the final one that we picked for you [00:21:00] today. It's case history number 65. A coastal city launched a high profile Brownfields redevelopment project on the site of a former coal gasification plant involving multiple design and engineering firms. The GBA member firm was contracted for periodic bay water sampling, but a contract clause unexpectedly made them the city's environmental inspector with authority to.

[00:21:32] Stop construction for hazardous materials violations During construction, a containment wall designed to prevent contamination, migration began to move leading to delays, disputes, and costly redesigns. The member firm documented events but did not issue a strong. And the lack of proactive leadership prolonged the resolution. The case highlights the risk of [00:22:00] not thoroughly reviewing the contract boilerplate, the dangers of fragmented project responsibilities, and the importance of treating major issues with urgency. This story is especially relevant for teams working on complex. Multi-party public projects. That one sounds like a doozy, and if it's intriguing to you, case history, 65.

[00:22:29] rYan: And just to let you know, that was bonus case history number 13. So surprise.

[00:22:37] Tiffany: I had 13 and then I thought I deleted one. Are

[00:22:41] rYan: I was. Yeah, because you started and you ended. So I knew it had to be an an odd number 'cause I would've ended if we were alternating and it's got the little, 

[00:22:53] Tiffany: I love your math there, Ryan. Uh, I love how you deduced that so quickly.

[00:22:59] rYan: Well, and then I [00:23:00] went back and counted them.

[00:23:02] Tiffany: I love it and we're keeping all this in 'cause this is just Ryan and I every day you guys, but uh, you know, in this field we have to have fun. We have to laugh at ourselves. You just got bonus 13 on the 12 days of GBA. So I don't know what more we can do to feed you GBA awesomeness.

[00:23:25] rYan: But wait, there's more. No, just kidding. But there will be more.

[00:23:29] Tiffany: All right, and okay. Speaking of more, make sure you tune in tomorrow 'cause I am super, excited about the 11th day of GBA. We have some really awesome stuff for you On day 11.