K.G. Higgins BSc MSc DIC CEng FICE FCIHT Senior Partner

K.G. Higgins
BSc MSc DIC CEng FICE FCIHT
Senior Partner
Visiting Professor, Imperial College London
Areas of expertise
Numerical methods applied to deep excavations, earth retaining structures,
embankments, dams, foundations, tunnels and, slopes. Design of earth retaining
structures and tunnels.
Experience with GCG
Since joining GCG in 1986 Kelvin Higgins has worked on the application of numerical
methods to engineering problems and has extensive experience of soil-structure
interaction analyses and the assessment of the effects of underground construction on
adjacent structures. He has addressed a wide variety of problems including earth
retaining structures, tunnels (NATM, segmental, brick lined and cut and cover), highways,
dams, embankments, cuttings, and foundations for nuclear power stations (Sizewell and
Oldbury) and offshore structures. He has provided advice to a wide range of clients on
the implications of various methods of construction on permanent and temporary works.
He has extensive experience of the design of deep excavations, foundations, retaining
structures and tunnels. His work has involved consideration of alternative construction
techniques, sequencing of works and the effects of construction on adjacent structures
and services including existing operational tunnels and installations within them (e.g.
escalators, permanent way, buildings etc.). These schemes have included the
construction of new excavations, shafts and tunnels in close proximity to existing
infrastructure. His work has extended to the design of monitoring systems and the
interpretation of results throughout construction and beyond. He has been responsible for
investigating the causes of slope failures and the design of suitable mitigation measures.
Mr Higgins has undertaken and directed a number of research projects for the EEC, HA,
TRL and LUL, covering earth retaining structures, sheet piling, monitoring, soil behaviour,
design of tunnel linings, deep repositories for nuclear waste, and the effects of rising
groundwater on structures. He has provided advice to LUL on the nature of monitoring
required to assess the rate of groundwater rise and managed GCG’s framework research
contract with the HA which covered monitoring using fibre optic technology and the
stability of slopes. Published work includes the performance and analysis of earth
retaining structures, tunnels, embankment dams, slope stability, monitoring and soil
behaviour. He has undertaken technical reviews for a number of journals.
He was formally GCG’s Managing Partner and is currently a Visiting Professor at Imperial
College, London.
Areas worked
UK, Argentina, Belgium, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Iran, Ireland, Mexico, Papua New Guinea,
Russia, Serbia, Sultanate of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, West Africa and the USA
GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTING GROUP
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52A Cromwell Road London SW7 5BE United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20-7581-8348 Fax: +44 (0)20-7584-0157 Email:[email protected]
Previous experience
After graduation in 1977, Mr Higgins joined Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners (SAGP) to
work on the design of foundations and embankment dams. Between 1979 and 1981 he
worked on a series of road schemes in the Middle East as an Assistant Resident
Engineer, principally involved in earthworks and drainage measures. In 1981 Mr Higgins
returned to the design office and continued his involvement in the development of
computer programs relating to geotechnical problems. Between 1982 and 1983 he
completed a post-graduate course in Soil Mechanics at Imperial College, undertaking
research into ground movements associated with diaphragm wall construction.
Mr Higgins rejoined SAGP as Project Geotechnical Engineer for the foundation design of
a Sizewell “B” new nuclear power station. During this period he was also responsible for
the geotechnical design work relating to the Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falkland
Islands (ground investigations and preparation of designs associated with roads,
structures, embankments, water supply, marine works, and oil storage facilities). In 1985
Mr Higgins was appointed as the Resident Engineer (RE) for all roads and services
relating to the Mount Pleasant Airport development in the Falklands which involved in
excess of 100km of construction to DpT standards suitable for heavily loaded vehicles.
He was also RE for the construction of earth retaining structures and Design Liaison
Engineer for other aspects of the development.
Education/Research
MSc & DIC, Imperial College, London, 1983
BSc, Birmingham University, 1977
Scholarships/Awards
Visiting Professor, Imperial College, London, 2012 - present
Institution of Civil Engineers R&D Enabling Fund: Pile-Tunnel Interaction Problems, 1999
Professional Qualifications & Memberships
Fellow: Institution of Civil Engineers, 2000 - present (Member 1981-2000)
Fellow: Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, 2000 - present (Member
1982-2000)
Member: British Geotechnical Association, British Tunnelling Society and the Railway
Civil Engineers Association
Service on Technical/Professional Bodies
CIRIA Geotechnical Engineering Advisory Panel: Member 2010 - present
Institution of Civil Engineers Awards for Papers Panel: Member 2003 - present
Geotechnique Advisory Panel: Member 2001 - 2004
British Geotechnical Association: Executive Committee Member 2000 – 2003
Other Professional Activities
Imperial College CPD courses: Lecturer for “Numerical Analysis in Geotechnical
Engineering” and “Earth Retaining Structures: Recent developments in design and
analysis”.
Imperial College: Supervision of MSc Soil Mechanics research projects.
Imperial College, Nottingham University, Midlands Geotechnical Soc.: Invited Lectures.
Basements & Underground Construction. 2010, London: Conference Chairman.
Imperial College Peter Vaughan Memorial Symp. 2009: Member organising committee.
1st Int. Conf. on Transportation Geotechnics, 2008: Member of International Advisory
Committee and Chairman Session (7).
Institution of Civil Engineers Skempton Conf. 2004: Member of organising committee.
International Conference “Response of Buildings to Excavation: Induced Ground
Movements”. Imperial College, London, 2001: Discussion Leader.
Institution of Civil Engineers’ conference “Retaining Structures”, 1992: Panel Member
Second International Symposium on Pre-failure Deformation Characteristics of
Geomaterials, IS Torino ‘99: Discussion Leader

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