In the field is where Ahmad Zarei, Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics, feels most at home. The dynamic environments of fieldwork and project management are where he thrives, and his passion for problem-solving, especially in rock mechanics, has driven a career that has spanned the globe. In this article, Ahmad shares his experiences across academia and his profession. It’s a rich mix of travel, industry-leading research and expert project management spanning mines, dams, quarries, highways, shopping malls and more, often set against challenging backdrops, including economic constraints, geopolitical unrest and a global health crisis.

Looking skyward is solving safety and efficiency challenges for geotechnical engineers, with drone photogrammetry helping to photograph, generate 3D models, measure, and analyse site terrain faster than ever, informing critical decision-making while keeping personnel out of harm’s way. Senior Engineering Geologist Adam Kerr explains why this arguably underused tool is so powerful for data acquisition, and why the process should be rolled out as best practice across the industry.

Water is critical to the mining industry. Without water, mines don’t function. But it must be managed appropriately as water is also one of the primary drivers of slope failures and slope instability. In this article, Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics Director Tim Cartledge examines why groundwater and surface water management is imperative when it comes to the geotechnic performance of a mine site.

Advancing technology is elevating the industry’s systematic approach to rock wall analysis. In this article, Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics Associate Geotechnical Engineer Tom Lynch explores the steps to conducting crucial rock wall analysis and how ever-advancing technology is changing the face of this critical work, with safety at the core of it all.

Ensuring current guidelines for tailings dams are implemented and conformed to by clients is an important undertaking. In this article we hear from principal geotechnical engineer Keith Mandisodza at Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics on why developing new frameworks is essential to achieving better governance and management.

Slope stability radars have progressed to become integral, valuable and widely used pieces of diagnostic, decision-making equipment across mine sites. While expertise in technical application is essential, geotechnical engineers must also look beyond to consider the psychology around their use – from the perspective of all mine site stakeholders – to ensure safety of themselves and the operators on the ground.

David Lindsay’s passport reflects a well-travelled life and career to date. From a childhood spent in Kenya to working on Middle and Far East seismic field crews, to years spent in the opencast coal mines of the UK and US, David has gathered extensive global experience over the past 35 years.

David Lindsay’s passport reflects a well-travelled life and career to date. From a childhood spent in Kenya to working on Middle and Far East seismic field crews, to years spent in the opencast coal mines of the UK and US, David has gathered extensive global experience over the past 35 years.

Fernando Vieira is an accomplished Senior Principal Geotechnical-Rock Mechanics Engineer who holds a position in Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics, leading Innovation and Mass Mining functions. His experiences in technically diverse and culturally rich environments have given him knowledge and expertise in a wide range of geo-scientific, geomechanics and ground engineering matters across a multitude of mine sites, each with unique geotechnical environments. Here, in Part 1 of a two-part read, he shares his insights, experiences and calls to action.

Fernando Vieira is an accomplished Senior Principal Geotechnical-Rock Mechanics Engineer who holds a position in Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics, leading Innovation and Mass Mining functions. His experiences in technically diverse and culturally rich environments have given him knowledge and expertise in a wide range of geo-scientific, geomechanics and ground engineering matters across a multitude of mine sites, each with unique geotechnical environments. Here, in Part 1 of a two-part read, he shares his insights, experiences and calls to action.

Principal engineer Keith Mandisodza says that while Australia is well regarded for its approach to mine safety, it’s not leading the way across all aspects of the mining industry.

The Zimbabwean-born geotechnical professional has worked in various regional locations including southern Africa, South America, and Oceania Asian countries. He said one of the biggest shocks when he started to work in the mining industry in Australia was where it fell behind.

Tim Cartledge had a fascination for rocks and a mindset for maths long before he ever heard about geotechnical engineering. So when a school careers day introduced him to the profession that combined both his passions, the die was well and truly cast.

Geotechnical engineer Keith Mandisodza presentation on the experience of working for traditional landowners on a mine expansion amendment. Keith shares how the project actively engaged with communities of interest, and the objections raised against the project that had to be considered.

Tim Cartledge presents an overview of softwalls, their complexity, structural interpretation of the site and softwall development processes, while assessing learnings and outcomes from the project in Central Queensland’s coal mines.

It’s been a few months since we opened our Perth office. Paul Couto shared his experience with moving interstate and setting up the office.

Mine site geotechnical engineering is fraught with uncertainties, with risk management key to driving a balance between safety and production. One of the largest risks to personnel onsite is fall of ground. Whether this includes rock falls, subsidence, minor to major structural failures, all of these falls are rooted in geology.

Mines, like people, are prone to developing behaviours and practices that become routine overtime. The danger is that a mine site used to operating in favourable conditions can become complacent, operating to the expected, rather than the actual, geotechnical environment.

Geotechnical Engineer Kevin Li grew up in China but studied in Australia and has worked in both countries. In this article Kevin shares how misunderstood mining is in his homeland, and says it’s the people, not the equipment, that changes the most across borders.

Things don’t always go to plan on mine sites, but decisions made on the fly can cost operators a lot of time and money down the track. In this article, CM&G Director Tim Cartledge discusses the lasting implications of not sticking to a long-term geotechnical plan

Our new Senior Geotechnical Engineer Paul Couto recently migrated from South Africa with his family to take up a role with CM&G. While a change of this magnitude comes with the inevitable lifestyle culture shock – the professional variations came as a surprise. In this article, Paul delves into the differences of working in Australia and South Africa in mining and geotechnics.