Best Use of AI & Machine Learning

This category celebrates the innovative application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies within the ground engineering sector, focusing on their impact on project planning, design or delivery.

Finalists:

• Geprode Consultants - AI-driven geological risk management for tunnel excavation: Real-time prediction and monitoring with geoRISCO
• Mott MacDonald Bentley - Dearne Reach integrated constructed wetland
• Purple Transform -  Chipping Sodbury flood monitoring
• Ternan Energy -  AI-based seabed boulder detection for offshore wind site assessment
  

Best Use of Data

This category recognises innovative use of data within a project to improve decision-making, design, risk management, maintenance, sustainability or project outcomes.

Finalists:

• AtkinsRéalis -  Lower Thames Crossing - Roads north of the Thames ground characterisation
• AtkinsRéalis with the Environment Agency, British Geological Survey, and Kier -  Powderham Banks Improvement Project: non-intrusive condition assessment and monitoring
• Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial, and Bam JV with Arcadis, Setec, and COWI JV -  Risk-based mitigation for periglacial relict shears during construction
• Mott MacDonald Bentley & United Utilities - Improving river quality in the Upper Tame Valley - Mossley WwTW
• Southern Renewals Enterprise: VolkerFitzpatrick & Network Rail -Stonehall Cutting
• VSL Systems UK - TIO - Tablet Input Output

Best Use of Design Software

This award recognises outstanding application of design software in ground engineering projects. Candidates must demonstrate how design software has enhanced project efficiency and productivity, improved modelling accuracy, enhanced real time monitoring, optimised engineering decisions, or contributed to safety and sustainability.

Finalists:

• Mott MacDonald -  Digital lifecycle management tools
• Mott MacDonald Bentley - Llyn Celyn - Flood conveyance remedial works
• Whitby Wood -  Royal Mint Development – Integrated digital design for complex urban foundations
  

Best Use of Geospatial & UAV Technology

This award recognises outstanding use of geospatial and UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technology in a ground engineering project. Candidates must demonstrate how these technologies have enhanced project efficiency, improved data accuracy, optimised decision-making or contributed to safety and sustainability.

Finalists:

• Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial, and Bam JV -  Digital Geo-Data: Collection, reporting and visualisation
• Mott MacDonald - Pylon route GIS landslide assessment
  

Best Use of Instrumentation & Monitoring

This category recognises the innovative application of instrumentation and monitoring (I&M) technologies to enhance the design, construction and performance of ground engineering projects.

Finalists:

• AKT II with Epsimon, Mace, and fibrisTerre Systems - Edge London Bridge real-time fibre optic monitoring of hybrid pile raft foundation
• AtkinsRéalis with the Environment Agency, British Geological Survey, and Kier - Powderham Banks Improvement Project: non-intrusive condition assessment and monitoring
• Bachy Soletanche -  The Jean Lutz Simulator Board
• EDF -  Hinkley Point C deep excavation monitoring
• National Taiwan University of Science and Technology -  A smart ground anchor with the inherent capability to detect load changes
  

Best Use of Instrumentation & Monitoring: Transport Project

This category recognises the innovative application of instrumentation and monitoring (I&M) technologies to enhance the design, construction and performance of transport ground engineering projects.

Finalists:

• AtkinsRéalis with Ringway Island Roads, Isle of Wight Council, Socotec and Soil Engineering Geoservices -  The Landslip, Leeson Road, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight
• CGL -  Combined L-Band InSAR and remote tilt sensor monitoring of large-scale slope instability
• fibrisTerre Systems -  Enabling early detection and location of rockfall in railway cuttings
• Geprode Consultants -  AI-driven geological risk management for tunnel excavation: Real-time prediction and monitoring with geoRISCO
• Mott MacDonald for Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design JV with Maxwell Geosystems -  Delivering added value through efficient and effective used of field monitoring data
• Senceive -  InfraGuard slope stability monitoring solution
  

Best Use of Subsurface Modelling

This category recognises outstanding implementation of subsurface modelling within a project or pilot scheme in geotechnical engineering to better understand ground conditions, manage risk, improve design efficiency or enable more sustainable construction.

Finalists:

• Arup -  Nederwiek Site 1 - Offshore Wind Ground Model
• AtkinsRéalis with CCGI and St William Homes, part of the Berkeley Group -  Beckton Riverside phase 1 ground modelling
• Laing O'Rourke -  Wimbledon substation asset replacement
• Mott MacDonald Bentley & United Utilities -  Bolton WwTW, risk reduction through detailed 3D ground modelling
  

Best Use of Sustainable Solutions

This award recognises outstanding implementation of sustainable solutions in geotechnical and ground engineering projects. Candidates must demonstrate how sustainability has been integrated into their work – whether through innovative techniques, material choices, technology, carbon reduction strategies or process improvements.

Finalists:

• AtkinsRéalis with the Environment Agency, British Geological Survey, and Kier -  Powderham Banks Improvement Project: non-intrusive condition assessment and monitoring
• Medusoil -  Erosion Defense
• Mott MacDonald Bentley -  Dearne Reach Integrated Constructed Wetland
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology -  Driven energy pile foundation: An innovative heating/cooling solution
• NS Nordics -  WXT1A
• SoilSafe -  Validated independent base design approach
  

Emerging Technology Award

This category celebrates cutting-edge geotechnical technologies that are in the early stages of adoption and show clear potential to transform the way ground engineering challenges are addressed.

Finalists:

• Bachy Soletanche -  Jean Lutz Simulator Board
• CGL -  Horizontal to vertical spectral ratio geophysics to identify dissolution hazards in UK ground engineering
• CGL with TerraDat -  OhmMapper and Loupe electrical resistivity surveys in UK ground engineering
• GeoEnviro Solutions -  Unlocking sonic drilling in UK ground investigations
• Laing O Rourke -  Underground scanning
• Macquarie Geotechnical -  Digital Drill Diary
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology -  Driven energy pile
• Tom Hardman -  Low-cost open-source geophysics for smarter ground modelling
• University of Birmingham -  Empowering tunnel inspection with digital twins and AI