My team work closely with industry to ensure our research is tailored for real-world implementation and impact. Our work has included machine learning, bespoke sensor development, digital twins and more fundamental soil-structure mechanics.

Dr Brian Sheil

The Crampton Prize

Dr Sheil, has won the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) prestigious Crampton Prize for his paper ‘Monitoring the construction of a large-diameter caisson in sand’, co-authored with industry partner Ward and Burke.

The paper appeared in ICE Journal Geotechnical Engineering (Volume 175 Issue 3) in June 2022 and described the instrumentation and monitoring of a large-diameter caisson on a UK construction site. The caisson was instrumented to measure settlement and tilt, soil–structure interaction contact stresses and structural performance. The monitored data revealed the occurrence of complex soil–structure interactions during sinking that are not readily captured by existing prescriptive design approaches. This case history provides valuable information for developing an improved basis for design and an important frame of reference for future monitoring projects.

The paper is free-to-all to read on the ICE Virtual Library as part of the organisation’s commitment to furthering knowledge and best practice in civil engineering.

The Crampton Prize is awarded annually to papers of exceptional quality and benefit to civil engineering, construction and materials science. This year, the award ceremony will be held in October at the Institution of Civil Engineers, in London.

Photo caption: The paper authors' team at the bottom of one of the shafts during the project.

Europe Bright Spark Lecture Award

Dr Sheil has also been selected to receive the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) Europe Bright Spark Lecture Award. The award will be presented during the 4th International Symposium Machine Learning & Big Data in Geoscience at University College Cork, 29 August – 1 September 2023, where Brian will give a special lecture session about machine learning for underground construction.

The ISSMGE is the pre-eminent professional body representing the interests and activities of engineers, academics and contractors worldwide that actively participate in geotechnical engineering. The ISSMGE provides a focus for professional leadership to some 90 Member Societies and around 20,000 individual members.

The Bright Spark Lecture award was created to promote young geotechnical researchers of ISSMGE to play a significant role in various international and regional conferences, with the opportunity to deliver keynote lectures.

An interview with Dr Sheil 

Dr Sheil took up his current position as the Laing O'Rourke Associate Professor in Construction Engineering in September 2022, joining us from the University of Oxford, where he was a Departmental Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering and a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow. He holds a BA in Civil Engineering from the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG), where he is also an Honorary Research Senior Lecturer. His PhD was a collaboration between NUIG and the University of California, Berkeley, on the behaviour of deep foundation systems.

What encouraged you to pursue a career in the field of engineering?

I grew up on a small farm in rural Ireland – there was always something that needed fixing!

What would you say is your proudest achievement?

I am fortunate to lead a world-class research group – their work ethic, enthusiasm and ingenuity keep me motivated. It is by far my proudest achievement.

What piece of advice would you have liked to receive at the beginning of your career? 

I probably have two:

(1) I have learned that "too busy" is not a good excuse!

(2) much of the advice I have received in my career has been about learning to say "no". I have mainly done the opposite and it has served me well! Looking back,  many of the most fruitful opportunities that have come my way were originally disguised as a lot of hard work.

Could you tell us a little about your research path and interests?

Our research aims to optimise the efficiency and sustainability of underground construction using cutting-edge science and new technologies. My team work closely with industry to ensure our research is tailored for real-world implementation and impact. Our work has included machine learning, bespoke sensor development, digital twins and more fundamental soil-structure mechanics.

What attracted you to this role, and what are your key goals for the coming years? 

I was impressed by the strength of the Laing O'Rourke team and their excellent connections with industry. The Construction Engineering Masters Programme is unique and is a fantastic opportunity to influence modern construction practice. I am looking forward to taking the Masters programme forward with the team and accelerating our research into industry.