Venetia, Pennsylvania

Specialty geotechnical consulting for over three decades.

An independent consultancy led by Dr. Donald A. Bruce, serving grouting, anchoring, micropiling, deep mixing, and dam & levee remediation projects for owners, contractors, and agencies worldwide.

1996
Founded
350+
Technical papers published
4
Textbooks authored
30+
Years in specialty ground engineering
The practice

About Geosystems

Geosystems LP is an independent consultancy offering technical, advisory, and managerial services in the specialty geotechnical construction aspects of dam, civil, mining, and tunneling engineering.

Geosystems LP was until July 1, 2000 known as ECO Geosystems, which was formed by its President, Dr. Bruce, in May 1996. It has worked on projects throughout the United States and Canada, and also in Europe, Central and South America, South Africa, the Middle East, New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

Since formation, Geosystems LP has successfully completed over 2,000 projects and assignments, the majority of which have dealt with dam and levee remediation, deep foundations, quarries, mines, and tunnels. The clients for these projects include Owners (and in particular Federal agencies), Contractors, Consultants, and Attorneys.

Recognition

  • ASCE Karl Terzaghi Award2015
  • ASCE Wallace Hayward Baker Award2004
  • ASCE Martin S. Kapp Award1998
  • ASDSO Danny McCook Medal2024
  • USSD Legacy Lecturer2019
  • FHWA Principal InvestigatorMicropiles / Deep Mixing
  • CEATI Co-Principal InvestigatorRock Anchors
Focus areas

Where the practice works.

Geosystems advises across the full range of specialty ground engineering, from urban infrastructure to remote dam and mine sites.

Urban infrastructure development & rehabilitation

Mines & quarries

Tunnels

Structural rehabilitation

Excavation & slope stabilization

Case histories

Selected project involvements.

Dr. Bruce has worked on projects throughout the world for over 46 years. The projects below were selected to illustrate his technical and advisory roles and focus on more recent work. They are neither comprehensive nor all inclusive, and further details can be provided by Geosystems on request. For reasons of confidentiality, no details of cases in which Dr. Bruce served as an Expert Witness are shown.

Dams, levees, navigation & marine structures

Wolf Creek DamKentucky · USACE Nashville District

Project overview

Major seepage remediation of a DSAC-1 dam on a karstic foundation, carried out with the reservoir only partially drawn down. The work included intense remedial grouting and a 1-million-square-foot concrete cutoff wall, with a total value of over $500 million.

Role & responsibilities

Member of the Independent Peer Review Group that reviewed the USACE risk evaluation and endorsed immediate remediation. Later coordinated the Specialty Contractor's Internal Advisory Panel during diaphragm wall construction, liaised with the USACE Board of Consultants, audited quality and compliance, and took part in the PFMA process.

Herbert Hoover DikeLake Okeechobee, Florida · USACE Jacksonville District

Project overview

Seepage and internal erosion remediation of a DSAC-1 embankment founded on carbonate sediments. Construction ran in two phases: 25 miles of cutoff wall from 2008 to 2012, and over 30 more miles from 2017 to 2022.

Role & responsibilities

Advised on the initial cutoff wall attempts, served on the Independent Peer Review Group, then chaired the USACE External Review Panel through both construction phases. Duties included record reviews, risk analyses, site visits and QC review of specifications. Continues to provide technical guidance on construction issues as needed.

Tennessee Valley Authority Independent Review BoardTennessee Valley · TVA

Project overview

Ongoing oversight of the safety of all 49 TVA dams, spanning geotechnical, geological, civil and structural engineering, with a heavy emphasis on instrumentation and monitoring.

Role & responsibilities

Standing member of the Board (formerly the Hydro Board of Consultants). Recent involvement includes the clean-up and stabilization of the Kingston Fossil Plant ash fill after its December 2008 failure, emergency remediation at Blue Ridge Dam (GA) and Boone Dam (TN), and post-tensioned anchor projects at Cherokee and Douglas Dams (TN).

Mosul DamTigris River, Iraq

Project overview

Massive remedial grouting of a 370-foot-high embankment dam founded on karstic limestone and soluble gypsum beds.

Role & responsibilities

Served on the Board of Consultants for the initial USACE safety assessment after liberation, reviewed historic information and prepared reports, and took part in the PFMA process at ERDC. Later consulted to the State Department on new means, methods and equipment, with long-term support.

Tuttle Creek DamManhattan, Kansas · USACE Kansas City District

Project overview

A full-scale field test program of jet grouting, deep mixing and slurry walls to treat fills and alluvium upstream and downstream of the 115-foot-high embankment dam, at a cost of well over $10 million.

Role & responsibilities

Member of the Contractor's Technical Advisory Panel, planning and analyzing the test program and coordinating technical meetings with the USACE.

Logan Martin DamPell City, Alabama · Alabama Power

Project overview

An embankment dam founded on karstic limestone that has needed continuous seepage remediation by grouting since first filling about 50 years ago.

Role & responsibilities

Member of the Board of Consultants since 2008. Ongoing analysis of grouting plans, grouting data and instrumentation records; participation in PFMA and risk analysis with FERC; advice on grouting means, methods and equipment.

East Branch DamPennsylvania · USACE Pittsburgh District

Project overview

Classified by the USACE in 2006 due to its susceptibility to internal erosion. A contract of over $132 million was let in 2014 for a composite seepage barrier: intensive pre-grouting followed by a full-length, full-depth cutoff wall of over 400,000 square feet, built under full reservoir conditions.

Role & responsibilities

One of four members of the Independent External Peer Review panel, with prime responsibility for the cutoff wall construction and performance, including field visits at critical stages of construction.

Buckeye Lake and Portage LakesOhio

Project overview

Two major dam remediations that used deep mixing for ground improvement, the first such use in Ohio. The Buckeye Lake project was recognized at the annual conference of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.

Role & responsibilities

Advisor to the Owner during design and construction of both projects, focused on the deep mixing work.

Upper and Lower Baker DamsWashington · Puget Sound Energy

Project overview

Lower Baker involved an extremely complex curtain grouting program installed from a platform on the upstream face of the 285-foot-high arch dam. It reduced foundation seepage from over 200 cfs to practically zero.

Role & responsibilities

Member of the Board of Consultants through project assessment, risk analyses, exploration, design, construction and performance evaluation.

Concrete-Faced Rockfill DamHigh Sierra

Project overview

Remediation of a concrete-faced rockfill dam where site work is strictly seasonal because of the project's remote, high-elevation location.

Role & responsibilities

Member of the Board of Consultants covering assessment, risk analyses, exploration, design and construction, with particular focus on the geological evaluation and the design and construction of the extensive grout curtain.

Nenggiri Hydroelectric ComplexKelantan, Malaysia

Project overview

A new dams, tunnels and powerhouse complex under construction in central Malaysia, with consolidation and curtain grouting to depths of over 100 m in heavily karstified limestone beneath one of its three major dams.

Role & responsibilities

Grouting specialist on the Project Review Panel, advising the Designer, attending technical meetings with the Contractors, and briefing the Owner during periodic site visits.

Services

Engaged across the full project lifecycle.

Geosystems typically joins a project at one of four stages, each with a distinct scope, shown here in sequence.

Stage 1: Before award

Prebid

  • Prebid feasibility studies
  • Design of schemes and alternates
  • Preparation & pricing of bills of quantity
  • Specifications & tender documents
  • Method statements & contract conditions
  • Advice on bidding strategy
Stage 2: During construction

Post-Award

  • Establishing reporting systems
  • Preliminary test programs
  • On-site supervision, management & QC
  • Hands-on training
  • Troubleshooting & ongoing advice
  • Emergency response
Stage 3: After completion

Post-Contract

  • Analysis of technical, production & contractual matters
  • Preparation of final reports & final accounts
  • Preparation of claims; defense of counterclaims
  • Expert witness services
  • Ongoing technical monitoring & assessment
  • Ongoing participation on Boards of Consultants throughout the entire project
  • Preparation & vetting of technical papers
Ongoing: Industry-facing

Technical Information Brokerage

  • Facilitation of the partnering process
  • Technical papers, articles & reports
  • Conference, workshop & seminar organization
  • Market surveys and analyses
  • Short courses, external and in-house
  • Strategic business planning
Dr. Donald A. Bruce, President of Geosystems, L.P.
President

Dr. Donald A. Bruce

Ph.D. · BC.GE · C.Eng. · F.I.C.E. · P.G. · L.G. · L.E.G. · F.ASCE

Donald holds degrees in Geology and Geotechnical Engineering from Aberdeen University, Scotland. He worked for specialty geotechnical contractor, Colcrete Ltd, for almost 10 years in the U.K., Pakistan, Hong Kong, Egypt and the Middle East. He then joined Pittsburgh-based Nicholson Construction Company as Technical Director, working on projects throughout the US and Canada. In 1996, he established ECO Geosystems, a consultancy specializing in the practical aspects of cut-off walls, micropiles, drilling, grouting, anchoring, and deep mixing. Donald works throughout the world, principally as a member of Boards of Consultants, as litigation support, and as a peer reviewer.

He has published over 350 technical papers, and coauthored 4 textbooks, including “Dam Foundation Grouting” and “Specialty Techniques for Dam and Levee Remediation”. He is an active member of many professional societies, including ASCE, USSD, ASDSO, AEG and ISM. Dr. Bruce has received the Kapp, Baker and Terzaghi Awards from ASCE. He was the ISM’s 2009 Lizzi Lecturer, USSD’s 2019 Legacy Lecturer, and the recipient of ASDSO’s McCook Medal in 2024. He has given numerous webinars for USSD, ASDSO, CADWR, and FERC.

View full resume (PDF) →

350+
Published papers
4
Textbooks
4
National ASCE / dam-safety awards
~300
Courses taught
Selected Courses Taught:
  • Annual Short Course on Grouting at the University of Missouri, Rolla; University of Florida; Colorado School of Mines; and University of Texas, Austin
  • FHWA Short Courses on Ground Improvement, and Micropiles for Departments of Transportation
  • Short Courses on Grouting and Anchoring for trade and professional associations (e.g., USSD, ASDSO) and government agencies (e.g., FERC, California Department of Water Resources)
Publications

Papers, books and lectures.

Dr. Bruce’s publications are listed in chronological order and grouped by period. Open a period to browse, or search by title, co-author, topic, or year. Titles marked PDF open the full paper.

368 entries
2020 to 202630 entries
2010 to 201977 entries
2000 to 2009111 entries
1990 to 1999106 entries
1975 to 198944 entries
Professional affiliations

Standing in the field.

A member of the Geo-Trust Network.

Contact

Get in touch

P.O. Box 237
Venetia, PA 15367
United States
Phone: (724) 942-0570
Cell: (412) 997-1784
Fax: (724) 942-1911
Email: dabruce@geosystemsbruce.com

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