Dave Morton

Dave Morton, Principal Geotech Engineer at CMW Geosciences, which he founded and grew to 200 people across New Zealand and Australia before selling, makes the case that the biggest risk on most high-rise buildings is in the ground, yet the industry chronically under-investigates. Geotechnical services are competitive at early stages, creating a race to the bottom that results in bare minimum investigation. Between detailed design and construction, only around 10% of vertical projects get additional geotech work. Andy confirms that the first delay claim is always ground conditions. Auckland's volcanic geology provides stark examples: 20-metre piles on one side of a site and 5-metre piles on the other. The conversation is a masterclass in why spending $7-8K per day on a CPT rig for 8-10 tests is obvious when compared against even one day of liquidated damages.

Key Topics Discussed

• Risk Management / Biggest risk is in the ground. On most high-rise buildings, the biggest risk sits below ground level. Yet geotechnical investigation is treated as a cost to minimise rather than a risk to manage.
• Race to the bottom in geotech. Geotechnical services are highly competitive at early project stages, driving a race to the bottom. The result is bare minimum investigation, the least amount of information at the point of greatest uncertainty.
• Investigation gap between design and construction. Only approximately 10% of vertical projects get additional geotechnical investigation between detailed design and construction. This gap is where programmes get blown.
• Controls and Planning / First claim is always ground. Andy confirms from his delay analysis experience that the first delay claim on projects is almost always ground conditions. The data supports Dave's argument for more investigation.
• CPT rig economics. A CPT rig costs $7-8K per day and can do 8-10 tests. Compare that against one day's liquidated damages on a major project, the math is obvious, yet clients resist the spend.
• Auckland's volcanic geology. Auckland's geology is highly variable. On a single site you can have 20-metre piles on one side and 5-metre piles on the other. This pile depth variability blows programmes when discovered during construction rather than investigation.
• Field time for geotech engineers. Dave advocates for geotech engineers spending time in the field, not just behind desks. Understanding ground conditions requires hands-on experience.
• Motto. "Great people, practical solutions."

Notable Quotes

• Dave Morton: "Great people, practical solutions."
• Andy: "The first delay claim is ALWAYS ground conditions."
• On CPT economics: $7-8K per day for 8-10 tests vs one day's liquidated damages, the math is obvious.
• On Auckland geology: 20-metre piles one side of the site, 5-metre the other.
• Only ~10% of vertical projects get additional geotech between detailed design and construction.

Guest Background

Dave Morton is Principal Geotech Engineer at CMW Geosciences. He founded the company and grew it to 200 people operating across New Zealand and Australia before selling. His motto is "Great people, practical solutions." He is a strong advocate for more geotechnical investigation between design and construction phases, and for geotech engineers spending time in the field rather than solely at their desks.