Forensic Geotechnical Engineering Studies of Detection and Mitigation of Karst Sinkholes

Forensic geotechnical engineering deals with the geotechnical investigation of soil-interaction related failures of geotechnical origin not only from a technical viewpoint but also the possibility of legal proceedings. Typically, forensic investigations differ from conventional geotechnical investigation in that they are retrospective. They seek to explain "What happened?" and "Why did it happen?", rather than to predict future performance. Of course, these are often followed by, "How can it be fixed?", and all to often, "Whose fault is it?" and "Who is going to pay?". Two forensic case studies are presented where updated and current methods were used to detect, mitigate, and repair Karst sinkhole conditions prior to and after construction of a structure. Consulting services were provided to assist the retained counsel in resolution of one of the cases. The project owner was able to recover a major portion of the loss and litigation cost from the insurer.