Suzanne Lacasse Lecture
It Is All About Decisions
Distinguished Teaching Professor and chair of Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin
Abstract
The purpose of assessing risk is to help make decisions. This paper will describe geotechnical case histories to demonstrate how risk assessment can be used to inform decisions. The cases will include a project-specific decision, a design-code decision and a public-policy decision. The paper will conclude with lessons learned from risk-based decision making in practice and opportunities to improve its value in the future with big data, machine learning and climate change.
Biography
ROBERT B. GILBERT P.E., Ph.D., D.GE, NAE is Chair of the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He joined the faculty in 1993 after practicing as a geotechnical engineer for five years with Golder Associates Inc. His technical focus is the assessment, evaluation and management of risk for civil engineering systems. Dr. Gilbert has been awarded the Norman and Croes Medals from the American Society of Civil Engineers and an Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2020.
Distinguished Teaching Professor and chair of Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin
Abstract
The purpose of assessing risk is to help make decisions. This paper will describe geotechnical case histories to demonstrate how risk assessment can be used to inform decisions. The cases will include a project-specific decision, a design-code decision and a public-policy decision. The paper will conclude with lessons learned from risk-based decision making in practice and opportunities to improve its value in the future with big data, machine learning and climate change.
Biography
ROBERT B. GILBERT P.E., Ph.D., D.GE, NAE is Chair of the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He joined the faculty in 1993 after practicing as a geotechnical engineer for five years with Golder Associates Inc. His technical focus is the assessment, evaluation and management of risk for civil engineering systems. Dr. Gilbert has been awarded the Norman and Croes Medals from the American Society of Civil Engineers and an Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2020.
