DFI Lectures
DFI selects prominent members of the industry to deliver lectures at various events. These lectures honor notable DFI members and serve to honor them and DFI’s mission and goals to disseminate information on deep foundations.
DFI also instituted a traveling lecture for which the annual lecturer is nominated by DFI members and selected by committee.
Hal Hunt Lecture
The Hal Hunt Lecture was established in 1989. The lecture was named in honor of Hal W. Hunt, one of the initial organizers of DFI. From inception to 2014 notable communicators in the deep foundations industry were awarded this honor to provide presentations at DFI’s conference each year. Beginning with DFI’s 40th Anniversary Conference in 2015, celebrities with inspirational and motivating stories have been invited to deliver the lecture.
Sponsored Lecturers
Year | Location | Lecturer | Lecture Title |
|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Seattle, WA | Ken Jennings | |
2022 | National Harbor, MD | Steph Davis | Embracing Change |
2021 | Las Vegas, NV | Jim Abbott | Adapting to Challenge and Overcoming Adversity |
2020 | DFI 45 Online Conference | Michael Sherman | An Overview of the Federal Commemorative Works Process in Washington, D.C. |
2019 | Chicago, IL | Linda Alvarado | Embracing Change: It is Brains, Not Just Brawn |
2018 | Anaheim, CA | Carl Lewis | Taking Command: You Can Do That |
2017 | New Orleans, LA | Archie Manning | The Manning Playbook for Communication and Leadership |
2016 | New York, NY | Dr. Mae Jemison | Exploring the Frontiers of Science and Human Potential |
2015 | Oakland, CA | Billy Beane | Moneyball: Lessons for Life and Business from Baseball’s Best General Manager |
Notable Communicators in the Deep Foundations Industry
Year | Location | Lecturer | Lecture Title |
|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Atlanta, GA | Paul W. Mayne | Geotechnical Site Characterization: Communicating Between Planet Earth and the Pile Designer |
2013 | Phoenix, AZ | Grady Gammage, Jr. | Sustaining Phoenix |
2012 | Houston, TX | James Pappas | Different Challenges with Changing Technologies |
2011 | Boston, MA | Craig Olmsted | Foundation Challenges for America’s First Offshore Wind Project |
2010 | Hollywood, CA | James (Jim) Davis | Leadership, Opportunities and Life |
2009 | Kansas City, MO | Jean-Louis Briaud | Technical Communications – Humor and Philosophy |
2008 | New York, NY | Peter E. Mac Kenna | Innovations in Methods and Equipment |
2007 | Colorado Springs, CO | Fred H. Kulhawy | Communicating Technical Issues with Levity and Panache |
2006 | Washington, D.C. | Peter Cali | Communicating Risk – Post Katrina: How did we get into this mess and what do we do about it? |
2005 | Chicago, IL | Stan Kaderbek | Engineers in Government |
2004 | Vancouver, BC | Wayne Savigny | Communicating the Impact of Lower Mainland Geology on Foundation Design |
2003 | Miami Beach, FL | Al DiMillio | Communications: The Right Way, The Wrong Way and the Government Way |
2002 | San Diego, CA | Scot Litke | Leadership, Management, and Implementation: Communication, the Uncommon Thread |
2001 | St. Louis, MO | Bengt H. Fellenius | Pitfalls of Communication |
2000 | New York, NY | Bengt B. Broms | Lessons from the Collapse of the New World Hotel in Singapore |
1999 | Dearborn, MI | Howard B. Stussman | Construction Trends, Issues and Answers |
1998 | Seattle, WA | Ron A. Lewis | Communication: The Key to Successful Construction |
1997 | Toronto, Ontario | C. William Bermingham | Communications |
1996 | San Francisco, CA | Melvin Febesh | Communication-The Key to Good Relations |
1995 | Charleston, SC | Peter J. Nicholson | The Information Age: Innovation in Construction?? |
1994 | Boston, MA | Jorj O. Osterberg | Contractors, Suppliers, Engineers and Professors |
1993 | Pittsburgh, PA | Clyde N. Baker Jr. | Deep Foundations for the World’s Tallest Building Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur |
1992 | New Orleans, LA | George G. Goble | Communication of Technical Innovation |
1991 | Chicago, IL | Robert G. Lenz | Replacement Mississippi River Lock & Dam 26 |
1990 | Seattle, WA | Joseph S. Ward | Investigation of Deep Foundations Failures |
1989 | Baltimore, MD | John Dunnicliff | Geotechnical Communication-Let’s Make it Better |
John Mitchell Lecture
The John Mitchell Lecture was established at the 1991 4th International Conference on Piling and Deep Foundations in Stresa Italy. The Lecture was named in Honor of John Michael Mitchell, one of the earliest organizers of the DFI International Conferences and a pioneering supporter of DFI’s role as a leader in the global industry. John was killed on September 14, 1990, while observing piling works at a site in Central London.
John Mitchell Lecturers
Year | Location | Lecturer | Lecture Title |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Berlin, Germany | Maurice Bottiau | The Engineer, Lawyer and Contractor: A Philosophical Questioning About the Future of Geotechnical Engineering |
2018 | Rome, Italy | Prof. Michele Jamiolkowski | Geophysical to Geotechnical Design |
2014 | Stockholm, Sweden | Bengt H. Fellenius | Design of Piled Foundations as Reflected in Codes and Standards |
2010 | London, UK | Thomas O’Rourke | Geotechnical Practices in Urban Regeneration |
2008 | New York, NY | David Sherwood | Review of Major Developments in Geotechnical Engineering over the Last 20 Years and Current Trends |
2006 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Harry G. Poulos | Ground Movements – A hidden source of loading on deep foundations |
2002 | Nice, France | William Van Impe | Communication and the Professional Geotechnical Practice |
2000 | New York, USA | Michele Jamiolkowski & Carlo Viggiani | The Leaning Tower of Pisa |
1998 | Vienna, Austria | Heinz Brandl | The Civil and Geotechnical Engineer in Society Ethical and Philosophical Thoughts; Challenges and Recommendations |
1996 | Bombay, India | William F. Loftus | Communication is a Wonderful Thing |
1994 | Bruges, Belgium | Trevor J Poskitt | Promoting Engineering – The Role of Effective Communication |
1991 | Stresa, Italy | Elio D’Appalonia | untitled |
Osterberg Memorial Lecture
The annual Osterberg Memorial Lecture and Award was established by DFI Corporate Member Loadtest, in conjunction with the DFI Educational Trust, in honor of Dr. Jorj O. Osterberg, one of the true pioneers of geotechnical engineering. The Lecture and Award recognize innovations in the deep foundations construction related to engineering design, testing or education – all aspects of Dr. Osterberg’s lifelong contributions.
Dr. Osterberg has long been recognized for his innovations in soil sampling and testing (including his inventions: the Osterberg Sampler and the Osterberg Cell). Dr. Osterberg enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a teacher and consultant; he was Professor Emeritus of civil engineering, at Northwestern University.
The Memorial Lecture and Award are presented annually as the opening lecture of the DFI SuperPile conference. DFI will provide an annual donation to the DFI Educational Trust Scholarship Fund from the proceeds of the SuperPile Conference.
Osterberg Lecturers and Award Recipients
Year | Lecturer | Lecture Title |
|---|---|---|
2024 | John Wolosick, P.E., BC.GE | Proposed Modified Davisson Criteria to Evaluate the Ultimate and Safe Service Loads for Micropiles |
2023 | Paul W. Mayne, Ph.D., P.E. | Application of Seismic Piezocone Soundings to Bi-directional Load Test Response |
2022 | Harry Poulos | |
2020 - 2021 | Erik Loehr, Ph.D., P.E. | |
2019 | Samuel Paikowsky, Ph.D. | Capacity Testing of Deep Foundations: Successes and Pitfalls |
2018 | John A. (Jack) Hayes, P. Eng., D.I.C. | |
2017 | Richard J. Finno, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE | |
2016 | David K. Crapps, Ph.D., P.E. | Lessons Learned from Dr. Jorj O. Osterberg and His Inventions |
2015 | Frank Rausche | Load Testing of Deep Foundations: Developments, Applications, Results |
2014 | Dr. Kyle Rollins | Deep Foundation Behavior in Liquefied Sands From Blast Liquefaction Testing |
2013 | Jean-Louis Briaud | Impact Load Tests for Embassy Protection Against Terrorists |
2012 | Dr. Dan Brown | Experiences with the Osterberg Cell Load Testing Method |
2011 | Dr. John H. Schmertmann | The “TROM” Method for the Most Economical Design and Construction of Non-Redundant Pile Foundations |
2010 | Dr. Bengt H. Fellenius | Redesign Tests Save Costs and Time: A Case History |
2009 | Hammamet, Tunisia | Experiences with Jorj Osterberg and How He Revolutionized the Deep Foundations Industry |