Thanksgiving is often associated with family, meals, and football. Yet, for those of us immersed in critical state soil mechanics, seepage analysis, and TSF stability, it’s also an opportunity to appreciate the very ground we work with each day. For solo professionals managing mine tailings, this season lets us look past stressful deadlines and strict regulations to value what makes our jobs truly rewarding.
1. Appreciating a “Quiet” TSF
Safety is at the heart of every successful project. This year, I’m deeply thankful for:
Stable Slopes: Every Factor of Safety above 1.5 that withstands tough conditions, solid foundation shear strength, low pore pressures, and clay liners that stay impermeable means a lot.
Reliable Data: I value dependable monitoring—piezometers sending steady, low readings; inclinometers showing almost no movement; and trustworthy SCPTu data that boosts our confidence in designing resilient facilities. Reliable data truly underpins safe engineering.
Prevented Problems: We rarely receive recognition for the disasters we avert. Still, knowing each morning that a TSF I’ve contributed to is operating safely and as designed is the highest professional satisfaction.
2. Grateful for Standards and Scrutiny
New regulations can increase our workload, but they drive the industry to improve.
Global Standards (GISTM): The growing embrace of GISTM worldwide encourages better governance, independent reviews, and improved closure planning. It reminds us that safeguarding public trust is our primary duty.
Learning from Failures: Cases like Brumadinho and Mount Polley continue to teach us powerful lessons. I’m grateful this Thanksgiving for the hard truths these failures have provided, and for ongoing efforts to apply those lessons everywhere.
Importance of Peer Review: Peer reviewers and Engineers of Record who rigorously examine models and challenge assumptions play a pivotal role in upholding safety. Professional diligence truly saves lives.
3. Valuing the Solo Path
Working independently in this specialized area has its hurdles, yet it brings special rewards:
Mastery and Ownership: Guiding a project from initial investigation through final design provides unmatched fulfillment. Decisions—from setting SHANSEP parameters to shaping dam geometry—are directly ours.
Focus and Flexibility: I appreciate the ability to dive deep into complex issues, whether modeling internal erosion or perfecting a geochemical characterization plan, free from big office distractions.
Community Connections: Lastly, I’m grateful for the supportive network of geotechnical peers, researchers, and suppliers. Even when working solo, the community—through conferences, a cup of coffee and forums—offers constant encouragement and shared expertise.
As you celebrate this year, toast not only your loved ones, but also the effective stress that stabilizes our world, the filter criteria that keep water clean, and the essential, quiet work we do every day.
Happy Thanksgiving!