TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES New Risk and Contracts Committee DFI announces the formation of its 26 technical committee —the DFI Risk and Contracts Committee. The goal of the committee is to raise awareness of risk management through programs and promotion. Key objectives for the committee are to: th • Establish the fundamental requirements for geotechnical risk management for all entities involved in the geotechnical project’s life cycle. • Cooperate with all DFI technical committees in establishing risk management standards and providing suggested guidance for all types of geotechnical products and techniques. • Harmonize the risk management knowledge of DFI with the knowledge of other deep foundation organizations. The committee’s first project is to research and produce The Book of Risks for Geotechnical Projects. The book is being organized to reflect the four major categories of risks of geotechnical projects: 1. Internal Risks 2. Legal Risks 3. External Risks 4. Geotechnical-Exploration Risks Risk identification will cover all geotechnical products of interest to DFI members, all types of project delivery (e.g., design-bid-build, design-build, PPP, etc.) and all types of owners (private and public). The chair of the committee is Alexander Filotti, M.B.A., P.E., risk con- troller of Underpinning and Foundation Skanska. Filotti has 19 years of experi- ence with engineering work and tech- nical development related to deep foun- dation projects as well as development of computer 3D modeling applications for deep foundation projects. His current activity focuses on risk management and ethics. He teaches the Design of Foundations course at Hofstra University School of Engineering and Applied Science, and starting in the spring Mary Ellen Bruce Large, P.E., D.GE Director of Technical Activities [email protected] semester of 2020, he will be teaching a Risk Management course for the Engineering Management Masters program. He is the chair of the PDCA Contracts and Risk Committee and serves as a member on the Geo-Industry Risk Working Group comprised of members from ADSC, DFI, Geo-Institute, Geoprofessional Business Association and PDCA. He is a frequent presenter of risk topics at DFI and PDCA conferences and seminars. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest (Diplomat Engineer) and an Executive M.B.A. from Hofstra University. The vice chair of the committee is Richard D. Kalson, Esq., partner in the Construction Law Group of Benesch. Kalson is well versed in deep foundation construction projects and contracts as risk management tools. He provides counsel to subcontractors, suppliers and project owners in litigation and business consultation matters, including many ENR 400 contractors and ENR 600 specialty contractors, on all phases of the construction process on projects throughout the U.S. Kalson is a frequent speaker on risk at industry conferences including participating in DFI’s Invited Panel on Risk: A Rational Discussion in both 2017 and 2018. He is a member of the ADSC- IAFD Board of Directors and holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota. Industry professionals involved in risk management are encouraged to join the committee. To learn more about the committee visit: www.dfi.org/commhome.asp?DRSK. CO-CHAIRS: DAVID R. KLUG AND JIM MORRISON, P.E. Tunneling and Underground Committee DFI’s recently established Tunneling and Underground Committee has formed eight Technical Groups to address specific areas of interest associated with the tunnel industry. Each Technical Group will collaborate and share information on specific topics related to tunneling design and construction. The chairs welcome everyone with an interest in the tunneling industry to join the DFI Tunneling and Underground Committee and become a member of a Technical Group. The committee will provide a professional forum to identify current industry needs and facilitate the advancement of new methods and technologies for design, construction, inspection, maintenance and operation of tunnels and underground systems. The committee will foster technology transfer among owners, designers, contractors, material and equipment suppliers, researchers/ academics and other global tunneling associations involved in the use and construction of tunnels and underground structures. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAY/JUNE 2019 • 67
