speakers

You’ve Lost that Sinking Feeling: Nicholson Looks Back at Mandalay Bay Project

About
Tom Richards is retired chief engineer now consultant at Nicholson Construction Company, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.  For over 30 years at Nicholson, Tom led technical aspects of countless specialized geotechnical projects using micropiles, anchors, soil nails, diaphragm walls, and all types of grouting techniques.  Tom’s responsibilities included design, quality control, research, testing, and instrumentation.  His strength lies in his mastery and focus of the details, addressing each project challenge with patience and perseverance.

Tom has been an active member of numerous committees for Deep Foundations Institute, ADSC: the International Association of Foundation Drilling, Post Tensioning Institute, and American Society of Civil Engineers.  He has contributed his significant technical knowledge to the advancement of guidance produced by federal agencies and industry groups.  Tom is a member of The Moles, a U.S.-based fraternal organization for the heavy construction industry.  In 2019, Tom was awarded DFI’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest individual honor the association presents, and he served as DFI’s 2021 Traveling Lecturer, presenting case histories to students and engineering societies around the U.S.

Tom Richards Lizzi Lecturer Bio 2025

The Lizzi Lecture is delivered by an invited speaker who is recognized by ISM as making distinguished contributions to the micropile industry. The lecture honors the spirit and memory of Dr. Fernando Lizzi, the visionary leader of ISM and the inventor of the “pali radice” or original “root pile” foundation system.

Proposed Modified Davisson Criteria to Evaluate the Ultimate and Safe Service Loads for Micropiles

Originally published in the early 1970s, the Davisson Offset Limit criteria presented a rational procedure to identify the ultimate load observed for driven piles during a compression load test (Davisson 1972). This lecture presents a method to interpret the load test results from micropiles tested either in compression or tension. Micropiles differ from the driven piles originally analyzed by Davisson. He mainly studied the test results from steel H or pipe piles that were driven using steam or diesel hammers.  Micropiles are typically a drilled foundation type that vary significantly in cross-section from these driven pile types. Transformed area and development length calculations are used to derive this modified method.  

About
John R. Wolosick, P.E., S.E., BC.GE, F.ASCE, Life Member ASCE, is senior advisor for Keller North America, Atlanta, Georgia. From this home base, he works on projects across the U.S. He has almost 45 years of experience in geotechnical engineering and contracting and is the author of more than 35 technical papers.

Wolosick is a past president of DFI (2014-2016). He was the DFI Traveling Lecturer in 2018-2019 and the trustee liaison to DFI’s Micropile Committee. He is the recipient of the 2008 ASCE Geo-Institute Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering Award. In addition, he was named the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers ‘Engineer of the Year – Industry’ in 2017 and awarded the George F. Sowers Piedmont Award by the Georgia Geo-Institute in 2019. In 2013, he was the recipient of DFI’s highest award bestowed to an individual, the Distinguished Service Award (DSA). This award recognizes individuals who have made exceptionally valuable contributions to the advancement of the deep foundations industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  

State of the Art of Micropile execution in Spain About Pablo Ruiz-Terán holds a PhD and is a Civil Engineer from the University of Cantabria, a Master's in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering from the Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX), a Master's in Tunnels and Underground Works from the Spanish Association of Tunnels and Underground Works (AETOS), and an Executive MBA in Business Management and Marketing from the Higher School of Commercial Management and Marketing (ESIC). He specializes in the design and execution of special foundations and ground improvement techniques: in-situ piles, prefabricated piles, micropiles, retaining walls, anchors, injections, jet grouting, gravel columns, vibroflotation, dynamic compaction, rigid inclusions, soil-mixing, etc. He began his professional career over 20 years ago at Rodio Cimentaciones Especiales (Soletanche-Bachy group). For more than 10 years, he has been working at Ferrovial Construcción, the construction division of FERROVIAL, a leading global infrastructure group. He currently holds the position of Head of Geotechnics for Iberia, Latam, and other markets. He is a Professor in the Master of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering at CEDEX (Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of the Government of Spain). He is the author of numerous articles and presentations at both national and international conferences.

“Differing Site Conditions Claims on Micropile Projects in the Americas and Europe" 

This lecture will focus on key judicial decisions that apply to micropile projects throughout the Americas and Europe.  Real life examples of differing site condition claims on micropile projects will be discussed along with key legal concepts that are of value to all project participants.  Rick Kalson, Esq. of Cozen O’Connor in New York and Alberto Fortun, Esq. of Cuatrecasas in Madrid will utilize their more than half a century in combined experience to make this seminar very valuable for all attendees.”

About
Richard Kalson, Esq., is an attorney with with Cozen O'Connor. With 25 years of experience in construction law, Richard is highly sought after by contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and project owners in litigation and business consultation matters on all phases of the construction process on projects throughout the United States. From vital infrastructure like bridges and airports to complex undertakings such as petrochemical plants and medical centers, Richard has successfully handled disputes involving highways, schools, retail complexes, warehouses, commercial buildings, hotels, residential developments, ice skating rinks, prisons, government buildings, and beyond. He is also a frequent speaker and author on construction law topics such as construction contracts, construction safety, risk management and mitigation, recent developments in construction law, issues surrounding employment and subcontracting, and more. Before joining Cozen O'Connor, Richard was a partner in the construction and infrastructure groups of an Am Law 200 business law firm. Before that, he was partner and head of the Construction and Land Use practice group of a regional law firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Richard earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and his B.A., with honors, from the University of Wisconsin.

Full bio

“Differing Site Conditions Claims on Micropile Projects in the Americas and Europe" 

This lecture will focus on key judicial decisions that apply to micropile projects throughout the Americas and Europe.  Real life examples of differing site condition claims on micropile projects will be discussed along with key legal concepts that are of value to all project participants.  Rick Kalson, Esq. of Cozen O’Connor in New York and Alberto Fortun, Esq. of Cuatrecasas in Madrid will utilize their more than half a century in combined experience to make this seminar very valuable for all attendees.”

About
Partner, International Arbitration, Litigation in Cuatrecasas.
Alberto Fortún is Specialist in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, particularly involving international energy and construction projects. He is recognized nationally and internationally as a promoter of arbitration in Spain, and is an expert in resolving commercial disputes relating to energy projects, joint ventures, engineering and construction. He has participated in over 100 arbitrations and alternative dispute resolutions (including mediation, adjudication and dispute resolution boards). He is a fellow and an approved trainer of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has acted as arbitrator at the ICC International Court of Arbitration, the LCIA, the Court of Arbitration of Madrid and the European Arbitration Association. He is a listed arbitrator in the ICDR roster of the AAA, in the Hispanic-Moroccan Court and the Dubai International Arbitration Center. He is a member of the LCIA, AIPN, ABA (International Law Section, international litigation and arbitration committees) and an affiliate member of the Inter–American Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar. He was foreign counsel to the US firm Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston (Texas) from 1999 to 2000. He is also a member of Georgetown University's European Law Advisory Board. He is an associate lecturer in the Master in International Law and Sports Law at the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE), and he lectures on international conflicts management in the Corporate Diplomacy & Public Affairs Program at Schiller International University. He also lectures and organizes courses on international construction disputes. He regularly contributes to publications and collective works on arbitration.

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Leveraging AI for the Integration of Field Data into Numerical Models in Geotechnical Engineering

In this presentation, we will introduce DAARWIN, an AI-powered geotechnical software designed to bridge the gap between field observations and numerical modelling. By leveraging machine learning and data assimilation techniques, DAARWIN enables engineers to calibrate and update numerical models in real time using actual site data.

We will showcase a case study focused on pile load tests, demonstrating how DAARWIN integrates field measurements to refine soil parameters and improve the accuracy and reliability of geotechnical simulations. This approach not only enhances model performance but also supports more confident and data-driven design decisions.

About

Dr. de Santos holds a Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Soil Mechanics from the Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC). He currently serves as the CEO and Co-founder of SAALG Geomechanics. Prior to establishing SAALG Geomechanics, he dedicated over 8 years to research and consultancy at the same university. His research interests lie in advanced numerical solutions, numerical model calibrations, and the characterization of soil and rock parameters through backanalysis.
During his doctoral studies, Dr. de Santos furthered his expertise as a visiting researcher at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the USA. He is renowned for his proficiency in Finite Elements software and geotechnical backanalysis.
Over the course of his career, he has made significant contributions to a multitude of global projects, including Metro Lines, High-Speed Trains, Deep Shafts, Hydraulic Tunnels, Land Reclamation initiatives, and the construction of Large Buildings with subterranean levels, among others. His wealth of experience underscores his standing as a distinguished figure in the field of geomechanics.

Hollow Precast Driven Pile Extended by a Micropile. Technique and structural aspects.

The scholarship is named for  Fernando Lizzi(1913-2003), the visionary leader of ISM and the inventor of the “pali radice” or original “root pile” foundation system. Read more abot Lizzi Scholarship.

About

Álvaro Villarino Redondo is a design engineer at RODIO KRONSA S.L.U. (Grupo Soletanche Bachy) in Spain, where he specializes in the design, calculation, and technical support of geotechnical works involving piles, micropiles, diaphragm walls, and ground improvement techniques. He has international experience as a site and design engineer with CIMESA (Grupo Soletanche Bachy) in Mexico.

Álvaro holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Civil Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), a Master’s in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering from CEDEX/UNED, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Structural Engineering, Foundations, and Materials at UPM. Alongside his professional activities, he regularly contributes at geotechnical conferences, professional forums, and academic courses.

Alvaro Villarino Redondo Bio