The Terzaghi Lecture, Holtz Style

February 24, 2010 | By Ron Bygness, editor of Geosynthetics magazine

7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

Delivered with his usual wit, style, and substance, Dr. Robert Holtz presented the Terzaghi Lecture Tuesday evening before an SRO crowd at GeoFlorida in West Palm Beach.

"Reinforced Soil Technology: From Experimental to the Familiar" was the title and Bob used the topic to recognize heroes and teachers, students and colleagues, from his rich history; and to ask his always provocative questions for the present and the future.

Bob Holtz became the third "geosynthetics pioneer" recognized as a Terzaghi lecturer, following Robert Koerner (1996) and J.P. Giroud (2008). And Bob used the opportunity today in his introduction to quote Giroud's 2008 lecture, where he described geosynthetic materials as "the most important civil engineering practice of the 20th century," then adding: "Can you think of one that is more important?"

Bob's lecture travelled back into ancient history (Mesopotamia and China), back into geosynthetics history (with the earliest projects in Sweden, France, and the U.S.), and his voice sparkled as he described the advantages, design, and properties of geosynthetics.

But a lecture from Bob Holtz is not all history, platitudes, and equations. His final topic: "Things we still need to do." The top two:

* Too many failures.
* The disconnects among the wall designer, the geotechnical engineer, and the civil engineer on wall and slope projects.

When the Terzaghi Lecture is delivered by another great contributor from the geosynthetics community, perhaps in 2020 or 2030 or 2040, the history section of the lecture should always include Bob Koerner and J.P.Giroud ... and Bob Holtz.

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