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Dr Tom Dijkstra
PhD (Utrecht, NL)

Network Manager (CLIFFS); University Teacher

Background

Tom Dijkstra studied Physical Geography at the University of Utrecht (the Netherlands) with a specialisation in Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology and additional subjects such as Soil Science. He did his PhD research on slope instability problems in Chinese loess. He has been involved in research and has taught at the Universities of Utrecht, Leicester, Sussex, Coventry and Loughborough.

He teaches on a variety of geotechnical modules and contributes to the WEDC MSc programme (integrated water resource management). He is also involved in research efforts focusing on the effects of climate change on slope stability. As the network manager for the EPSRC-funded CLIFFS (climate impact forecasting for slopes) network he is responsible for the day-to-day running of the network (including maintaining the web site - http://cliffs.lboro.ac.uk).

External Activities

Reviewer for 'Engineering Geology', 'Landslides', and 'Journal of Structural Geology\''

Broad Interests and Expertise

Slope stability and climate change, geotechnical aspects of loess deposits, landslides, loess, geomorphology, geotechnical engineering, thresholds, forecasting

Research Interests

My involvement in the EPSRC-funded CLIFFS network formed a logical extension of my earlier work on IGCP425 (Landslides and cultural heritage) for which project I was the UK secretary for a while. CLIFFS was set up by eighteen core members (BGA, BGS, British Waterways, CF Skanska, GCG, Halcrow, Highways Agency, Isle of Wight Council, Mott MacDonald, UKCIP, and Universities of: Birmingham, Bristol, Imperial College, Kingston, Loughborough, Newcastle, Nottingham Trent, and Queen's Belfast). In addition we now have more than 140 members on our database. We organise regular themed workshops that aim, among others to discuss the state-of-the art and define research agendas to further our knowledge of the responses of slopes to climate change.

Research Group

Geotechnics

Current Research Activities

Title(s): Climate impact forecasting for slopes (CLIFFS)

Summary: CLIFFS is an EPSRC-funded network based at Loughborough University aiming to bring together academics, R&D agencies, stakeholders, consultants and climate specialists to improve forecasting of slope instability in the context of progressive climate change. Project website address: http://cliffs.lboro.ac.uk.

Biological and engineering impacts of climate on slopes (BIONICS) - learning from full-scale; an EPSRC-funded to highlight the work done as part of the UK-based BIONICS project (the effects of climate change on constructed slopes) for a world-wide audience and to share best practice and ideas so that the work can be extended to a global scale.

Methods:

• Laboratory and in situ geotechnical testing of soils (including own design of large-scale in situ direct shear box for tests in Chinese loess)
• Computer-based analyses of slope stability (pc-based, including use of FLAC)
• Interactive thematic workshops that provide a communication forum for stakeholder and research communities
• Web-based information dissemination (cliffs.lboro.ac.uk)

Previous Research Projects

A selection of projects:
1988 - 1994: Loess slope instability, Lanzhou China (based at Leicester University, Royal Holloway and Utrecht University, and supported by laboratory facilities at Loughborough University)
1999 - 2001: £40k HEFCE funding to support FD analysis of loess slope instability, with particular reference to the design of high cut-slopes in loess
2000 - 2001: £75k DFID funding for the establishment of management and exploitation potential of volcanic deposits on Montserrat
2002 - 2006: self-employed - annual incomes of £10 to 19k on average through various short term projects

Other Information

Through my PhD research and activities during my previous employments I have gained experience in many aspects relevant to the analysis of the response of mass movements to climate change (geotechnical properties of soils; modelling of triggers and movement; philosophy of thresholds, equilibria and magnitude/frequency; risk assessment and management; climate change; environmental assessment; etc.). Having worked in both Geography and Civil Engineering environments I am also very aware of the special multi-disciplinary nature of this kind of research and the need to communicate effectively with academics/industry and other stakeholders.