The use of satellite PolSAR subsurface moisture maps

14 July, 12:30–13:15

This presentation will detail the latest remote sensing technology and will provide real-world examples of how soil moisture data has been acquired and analysed to benefit projects and clients. With the growing need to address asset resilience to climate change and for organisations to meet Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) requirements, assessing ground-related risk and proactive prioritisation have never been so important. GroundSat uses soil moisture data and other datasets to analyse climate-related risk to geotechnical assets and drainage infrastructure.

The value at risk to manageable assets as a result of climate change by 2100 is up to $4.2 trillion (The Economist Intelligence Unit, 2015).

The talk is aimed at clients, asset owners and consulting engineers in the areas of linear infrastructure, mining, dams and reservoirs, earthworks and flood risk.

Speaker: Richard Pidcock, Joint Managing Director of Central Alliance, part of the RSK group

Richard is an engineering geologist and company director with 25 years’ experience in engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, site investigation and surveying.

He founded the business in 2006 and has overseen its growth to become a team of over 100 skilled people delivering ground engineering technical services to clients across all sectors. Central Alliance became part of the RSK group in 2018. Research and development and technology-led solutions are a key focus for the business and together with Eddy Segal, Richard conceived and developed the concept of using high resolution soil moisture mapping for various applications, including geotechnical and drainage assessments for asset management.

Richard holds a BSc in geology from the University of Leicester and an MSc in engineering geology from the University of Leeds.

Moderator: Sean Blaney

Sean is technical director at Central Alliance and leads the applied technologies department. He is responsible for innovation in the business and has led projects to introduce new surveying and monitoring techniques into the industry, including muon tomography and GroundSat. Sean is responsible for applying and advising on novel techniques throughout the business with regard to geotechnical and geoenvironmental instrumentation applications. His duties include the coordination of site and monitoring equipment, including calibration, maintenance, ensuring compliance and quality assurance. He is also routinely involved in the delivery and processing of Central Alliance’s continuous surface wave (CSW) testing, a market-leading non-intrusive ground stiffness profiling method. Sean holds a BSc in computing and is currently completing an MSc in geographical information systems. He also holds an HNC in mechanical engineering.