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Dr David Giles

David Giles

Dr David Giles is a graduate of the University of Portsmouth Engineering Geology and Geotechnics degree with over 40 years’ experience in academia and industry. His experience includes 28 years lecturing and researching in Engineering Geology at the University of Portsmouth. His principal areas of expertise and experience include glacial and periglacial engineering geology, engineering geomorphology, landslides, remote sensing and digital image analysis.

Dr Giles is an active member of the Engineering Group of the Geological Society, contributing to the Geological Society Working Parties on UK Geological Hazards, which he chairs and the Engineering Geology and Geomorphology of Glaciated and Periglaciated Terrains. He will be the 25th Glossop Medal recipient.

He has published over 70 papers and supervised 7 PhD theses.

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  1. Griffiths, J.S., Giles, D.P., Davis, J. & Dunlop. J. (Eds.) (2025) The Peter Fookes Engineering Geological Legacy in Geomodels, Geomaterials and Geomorphology. Engineering Geology Special Publication 30. https://doi.org/10.1144/egsp30-000
  2. Giles, D.P. (2024) LiDAR for rapid geomorphological assessment in relict periglacial landsystems. In The Peter Fookes Engineering Geological Legacy in Geomodels, Geomaterials and Geomorphology. Engineering Geology Special Publication 30. https://doi.org/10.1144/egsp30-2024-46
  3. Giles, D.P. & Murton, J.B. (2023). Bedrock disturbances. In Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, 3rd Edition, Volume 5, 356-376, Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99931-1.00086-6
  4. Ball, R.J., Langdon, N.J. & Giles, D.P. (2021). Impact of the Calder’s Wharf Development on Docklands Light Railway Tunnels, London, UK. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers Geotechnical Engineering, 174(4), 419-429. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeen.20.00053
  5. Langdon, N.J., Ball, R.J. & Giles, D.P. (2021). Ground movement prediction for a piled basement: A case study from Garlickhythe, City of London, UK. Ground Engineering. https://www.geplus.co.uk/technical-paper/ground-movement-prediction-for-a-piled-basement-a-case-study-from-garlickhythe-city-of-london-uk-30-07-2021/
  6. Groves, M.R., Birnie, J.S., Creighton, M.P. & Giles, D.P. (2021). Development of a geological ground model in an area of complex faulting and periglacial legacy: Case study from the Calverley Square development, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2020-076
  7. Jeffery, Z.E., Penn, S., Giles, D.P. & Hastewell, L. (2020). Identification and classification of dissolution and anthropogenic features within the chalk of the Hampshire Basin using integrated LiDAR and ground based geophysical methods. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 53(4), 620-644. https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2019-098
  8. Giles, D.P. & Griffiths, J.S. (Eds.) (2020). Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, monitoring and mitigation. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication 29. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP29
  9. Giles, D.P. (2020). Introduction to Geological Hazards in the U.K.: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation. In Giles, D.P. & Griffiths, J.S. (Eds.) Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication 29(1), 1-41. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP29.1
  10. Giles, D.P. (2020). Quick Clay behaviour in sensitive Quaternary marine clays – A UK Perspective. In Giles, D.P. & Griffiths, J.S. (Eds.) Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication 29(1), 205-221. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP29.7
  11. Giles, D.P. (2020). Tsunami hazard with reference to the UK. In Giles, D.P. & Griffiths, J.S. (Eds.) Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication 29(1), 61-80. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP29.3
  12. Lee, E.M. & Giles, D.P. (2020). Landslide and slope stability hazard in the UK. In Giles, D.P. & Griffiths, J.S. (Eds.) Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication 29(1), 81-162. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP29.4
  13. Renforth, P., Flynn, A., Hall, T., Perry, J. & Giles, D.P. (2019). An introduction to keeping lessons alive in engineering geology. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 52(4), 399-400. https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2019-128
  14. Penn, S. & Giles, D.P. (2018). The development of a Chalk terrain ground model using an integrated approach with high resolution LiDAR and SAR with geophysical data sets. A case study from South Hampshire. Proceedings from the International Conference on Engineering in Chalk, 263-268. Thomas Telford, London. https://doi.org/10.1680/eiccf.64072.263
  15. Giles, D.P. (2017). The Chabrières Tunnel, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 51(1), 17-22. https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2017-124
  16. Giles, D.P., Martin, C. & Williams, R.E. (2017). Engineering geology of the Quaternary. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 50(4), 369-378. https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2017-104
  17. Giles, D.P., Griffiths, J.S., Evans, D.J.A. & Murton, J.B. (2017). Geomorphological framework: Glacial and periglacial sediments, structures and landforms. In Griffiths, J. S. & Martin, C. J. (Eds). Engineering Geology and Geomorphology of Glaciated and Periglaciated Terrains – Engineering Group Working Party Report. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication, 28, 59–368. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP28.3
  18. Culshaw, M.G., Entwisle, D.C., Giles, D.P., Berry, T., Collings, A., Banks, V.J. & Donnelly, L.J. (2017). Material properties and geohazards. In Griffiths, J. S. & Martin, C. J. (Eds). Engineering Geology and Geomorphology of Glaciated and Periglaciated Terrains – Engineering Group Working Party Report. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication, 28, 599–740. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP28.6
  19. Griffiths, J. S. & Giles, D.P. (2017). Conclusions and illustrative case studies. In Griffiths, J. S. & Martin, C. J. (Eds). Engineering Geology and Geomorphology of Glaciated and Periglaciated Terrains – Engineering Group Working Party Report. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication, 28, 891–936. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP28.9
  20. Giles, D.P. (2017). Case History 1.6: A51 Grenoble to Sisteron Autoroute through former glacial Lac de Trièves. In Martin, C.J., Morley A.L. & Griffiths, J.S. Introduction to engineering geology and geomorphology of glaciated and periglaciated terrains. In Griffiths, J. S. & Martin, C. J. (Eds). Engineering Geology and Geomorphology of Glaciated and Periglaciated Terrains – Engineering Group Working Party Report. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication, 28, 13-16. https://doi.org/10.1144/EGSP28.1
  21. Murton, J.B. & Giles, D.P. (2016). The Quaternary Periglaciation of Kent. Field Guide. Quaternary Research Association, London.
  22. Giles, D., Culshaw, M., Evans, D., De Freitas, M., Griffiths, J., Lukas, S., Martin, C., Morley, A., Murton, J., Norbury, D. & Winter, M. (2015). The Geological Society of London Engineering Group Working Party on periglacial and glacial engineering geology. In Proceedings of the XVI ECSMGE Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and Development, ICE Publishing, 4265-4270.
  23. Al-Daihani, H.H.Z., Watson, P.D. & Giles, D.P. (2014) A Geotechnical and Geochemical Characterisation of Oil Fire Contaminated Soils in Kuwait. In G. Lollino et al. (Eds.) Engineering Geology for Society and Territory, Vol. 6. Applied Geology for Major Engineering Projects, 249-253. Springer. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-09060-3_40
  24. Giles, D., Culshaw, M., Donnelly, L., Evans, D., De Freitas, M., Griffiths, J., Lukas, S., Martin, C., Morley, A., Murton, J., Norbury, D. & Winter, M. (2014). The Geological Society of London Engineering Group Working Party on periglacial and glacial engineering geology. In G. Lollino et al. (Eds.) Engineering Geology for Society and Territory, Vol. 6. Applied Geology for Major Engineering Projects, 31-35. Springer.
  25. Giles, D. (2013). Intensity Scales. In Bobrowsky, P. (Ed.), The Encyclopaedia of Natural Hazards, (pp 544-552). Encyclopaedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer. Elsevier.
  26. Giles, D. (2013). Magnitude Measures. In Bobrowsky, P. (Ed.), The Encyclopaedia of Natural Hazards, (pp. 640-651). Encyclopaedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer. Elsevier.
  27. Giles, D.P. (2012). A Field Guide to the Engineering Geology of the French Alps, Grenoble. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, February, 45(1), 7-18. https://10.1144/1470-9236/09-065
  28. Griffiths, J.S., Stokes, M., Stead, D. & Giles, D. (2012). Landscape Evolution and Engineering Geology: Results from IAEG Commission 22. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 71 (4), 605-636. https://10.1007/s10064-012-0434-7
  29. Tudes, S. & Giles, D.P. (2010). Development of Land Use Planning Models Using GIS Based on Multi Criteria Spatial Analysis Decision Support Systems with Portsmouth as a case study. Final Report International Post Doctoral Research Fellowship Programme with Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
  30. Griffiths, J.S., Stokes, M., Stead, D. & Giles, D. (2010). Report on IAEG Commission 22: Landscape evolution and engineering geology. In A.L. Williams, G.M. Pinches, C.Y. Chin, T.J. McMorran, C.I. Massey (Eds.), Proceedings of the 11th IAEG Congress: Geologically Active, Auckland, New Zealand, (pp.1885-1893). Taylor & Francis.
  31. Whitworth, M.C.Z., Giles, D.P. & Anderson, I. (2009). Landslide imaging techniques for urban geoscience reconnaissance. In M. G. Culshaw, H. J. Reeves, I. Jefferson & T. W. Spink, (Eds.), Engineering Geology for Tomorrow’s Cities. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications, 22, CD Paper No. 245.
  32. Whitworth, M.C.Z., Giles, D.P., Anderson, I. & Clewett, M. (2009). Terrestrial laser scanning for applied geoscience and landslide studies in the urban environment. In M.G. Culshaw, H.J. Reeves, I. Jefferson & T.W. Spink, (Eds.), Engineering Geology for Tomorrow’s Cities. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications, 22, CD Paper No. 252.
  33. Giles, D.P. & Whitworth, M.C.Z. (2009). Training and education of engineering geologists for the new urban challenges in applied geosciences. In M. G. Culshaw, H. J. Reeves, I. Jefferson & T. W. Spink, (Eds.), Engineering Geology for Tomorrow’s Cities. Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications, 22, CD Paper No. 244.
  34. Giles, D.P., Whitworth, M.C.Z. & Poulsom, A.J. (2008). The development of fieldwork problem-based exercises in the Applied Geosciences. Planet, 20, 37-40.
  35. Wheeler, S., Chilton, S., Hodgson, I., Giles, D. & Whitworth, M. (2008). The Geological Society training guide for engineering geologists. Retrieved from the Engineering Group of the Geological Society London http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/site/GSL/lang/en/cgeol
  36. Giles, D.P. (2008). Digimap Case Study: The Engineering Geology and Geological Hazards of Ironbridge Gorge. http://edina.ac.uk/digimap/casestudies/ironbridge/
  37. Poulsom, A.J., Browning, G.R.J. and Giles, D.P. (Eds.) (2007). Engineering Geology and Geotechnics at Portsmouth – The First 40 Years. Proceedings of the First Alumni Conference, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
  38. Whitworth, M.C.Z., Giles, D.P. & Murphy, W. (2005). Airborne remote sensing for landslide hazard assessment: a case study on the Jurassic escarpment slopes of Worcestershire, United Kingdom. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 38(3), 285-300. https://doi.org/10.1144/1470-9236/04-057
  39. Mwiya, S., Hughes, D.J. & Giles, D. (2004). Strategies for identifying and designing safe, economic municipal solid waste disposal sites in the arid zones of Southern Africa. In Proceedings of Waste 2004: Integrated Waste Management and Pollution Control: Policy and Practice, Research and Solutions (pp. 253-264). Warwick, UK.
  40. Mwiya, S. & Giles, D. (2004). A knowledge-based approach to municipal solid waste disposal site development in the Kartsified Dolomitic terrain around the town of Tsumeb in North Central Namibia. Communications Geological Survey of Namibia, 13, 9-21.
  41. Giles, D.P. (2004). Geotechnical Engineering. In R.C. Selley, L.R.M. Cocks & I.R. Plimer, (Eds.), The Encyclopaedia of Geology, (Vol. 3, pp. 100-105). Elsevier.
  42. Whitworth, M., Giles, D., & Murphy, W. (2002). Landslides of the Cotswolds escarpment, Broadway, Worcestershire, UK. Proceedings of the Cotteswold Naturalists’ Field Club, XLII(2), 118-127.
  43. Mrabet, Z. & Giles, D. (2002). Probabilistic risk assessment: The tool for uncertainty reduction in geotechnical engineering. In C.A. Brebbia (Ed.), Risk Analysis III, Transactions of the Wessex Institute of Technology, Ecology and the Environment, (Vol 100, pp. 3-13). Wessex Institute of Technology Press, Ashurst, UK.
  44. Mrabet, Z. & Giles, D. (2002). Reliability analysis of earth fills using stochastic methods. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Mathematical Methods in Reliability: Methodology and Practice (pp. 469-472). Trondheim, Norway.
  45. Mrabet, Z. & Giles, D. (2001). Modelling uncertainties in the stationary seepage problem. In C.A. Brebbia, P. Anagnostopoulos & K.L. Katsifarakis (Eds.), Water Resources Management, Progress in Water Resources, (Vol 4, pp. 311-320). Wessex Institute of Technology Press, Ashurst, UK.
  46. Whitworth, M.C.Z., Giles, D. P., & Murphy, W. (2001). Identification of landslides in clay terrains using Airborne Thematic Mapper (ATM) multispectral imagery. Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Remote Sensing, 4545 (pp. 216-224). SPIE, Toulouse, France.
  47. Whitworth, M.C.Z., Giles, D.P., Murphy, W, & Petley, D.N. (2000). Spectral properties of active, suspended and relict landslides derived from Airborne Thematic Mapper imagery. In E. Bromhead, N. Dixon & M-L. Ibsen, (Eds.), Landslides in Research, Theory and Practice, Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Landslides, (pp. 1569-1574). Thomas Telford, London, UK.
  48. Whitworth, M., Murphy, W., Giles, D.P. & Petley D.N. (2000). Historical constraints on slope movement age: a case study at Broadway, United Kingdom. The Geographical Journal, 166(2), 139-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4959.2000.tb00014.x
  49. Plunkett, J.S., Walton, N., Giles, D.P. & Langdon, N. (1999). Risk assessment revisited: A review of contaminated land risk assessment using data from a known contaminated site in Portsmouth, UK. In Goossens, L.H.J. (Ed.) Proceedings of the 9th Annual Conference on Risk Analysis: Facing the New Millennium, Rotterdam. (pp. 227-230). Delft University Press, Netherlands.
  50. Mankelow, J., Giles, D.P. & Murphy, W. (1998). Probability density function modelling for earthquake-triggered landslide hazard assessments. In A. Buccianti, G. Nardi & R. Potenza (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference of the International Association for Mathematical Geology, (pp. 241-246). Ischia, Italy.
  51. Plunkett, J.S., Giles, D.P. & Langdon, N.J. (1998). A brief review of the use of risk assessment software for the characterization of contaminated land. Proceedings of the 6th International TNO/BMFT Conference on Contaminated Soil: Consoil 98, (pp. 1027-1028). Thomas Telford, London, UK.
  52. Giles, D.P. (1998). A digital data standard for the interchange of geotechnical and geoenvironmental data. In A. Buccianti, G. Nardi & R. Potenza (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference of the International Association for Mathematical Geology, (pp. 683-687). Ischia, Italy.
  53. Moran, J.A., Langdon, N.J. & Giles, D.P. (1997). Can Site Investigation be taught? Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Civil Engineering, 120, (Paper 11118), 111-118. https://doi.org/10.1680/icien.1997.29789
  54. Moran, J.A., Langdon, N.J. & Giles, D.P. (1997, November). Can Site Investigation be taught? New Civil Engineer International, 29-36.
  55. Moran, J.A., Langdon, N.J. & Giles, D.P. (1997). Computer Aided Learning for realistic undergraduate professional experience in site investigation. Proceedings of the 2nd Working Conference on Engineering Education: Professional Standards and Quality in Engineering Education, (pp. 257-262), Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
  56. Moran, J., Langdon, N.J., Giles, D.P. (1996). Geotechnical Computer Assisted Learning, Strand 3, Site Investigation. Teaching and Learning Technology Programme. Higher Education Funding Council.
  57. Whalley, J.S. & Giles, D.P. (1996). A spreadsheet-based, problem-orientated approach to computing for earth scientists. In D.A.V. Stow & G.J.H. McCall (Eds.). Geoscience education and training in schools and universities, for industry and public awareness. Joint Special Publication of the Commission on Geoscience Education and Training of the International Union of Geological Sciences and the Association of Geoscientists for International Development, AGID Special Publication Series, 19, (pp. 537-542).
  58. Fall, D., Giles, D.P. & Langdon, N.J. (1996). GIS for the modelling and analysis of domestic property insurance risk associated with potentially collapsible soils of southern Britain. Proceedings of the 2nd Joint European Conference on Geographical Information, JEC, (pp. 338-341). IOS Press, Netherlands.
  59. Giles, D.P., Morgan, A. & Darlow, P. (1996, December). On Contaminated Ground. GIS Europe, 20-22.
  60. Morgan, A., Giles, D.P. & Walton, N.R.G. (1995). Topsoil thickness modelling using GIS for the purpose of assessing risks from underlying contaminated material on Hope Cottage Allotments, Portsmouth. Euroconference GIS, University of Karlsruhe, Union Europeenne, Projet Capital Humain et Mobilite, DG XII, ENSG, St. Mande, France.
  61. Barnes, R.C., Giles, D.P., Johnson, P.B. & Langdon, N.J. (1995). Geographical Information Systems as Data Integrators for Pre-Ground Investigation Studies in the Urban Environment. Euroconference GIS, University of Karlsruhe, Union Europeenne, Projet Capital Humain et Mobilite, DG XII, ENSG, St. Mande, France.
  62. Giles, D.P. (1995). The integration of GIS and geostatistical modelling for a tunnelling geohazard study. In Proceedings of the 1st Joint European Conference on Geographical Information, JEC-GI, Vol. 1. (pp. 421-426). Basel, Switzerland.
  63. Drake, J.J., Giles, D.P., Murphy, W. & Walton, N.R.G. (1994). Rising groundwater levels at Fawley, Hants. In R. Oliveira, L.F. Rodrigues, A.G. Coelho & A.P. Cunha, A.P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th Congress of the International Association of Engineering Geology, IV, (pp. 2895-2903). Lisbon, Portugal.
  64. Duncumb, R., Giles, D., Holehouse, R., Hutchinson, R., Perry, J., Swales, J., Threadgold, L., Walthall, S. & Zytynski, M. (1994). Electronic transfer of geotechnical data from ground investigations, (2nd Edition). Association of Geotechnical Specialists, London, UK.
  65. Giles, D.P. (1994). Geological surface modelling utilising geostatistical algorithms for tunnelling window delineation – a case study from the London Water Ring Main. In R. Oliveira, L.F. Rodrigues, A.G. Coelho & A.P. Cunha, A.P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th Congress of the International Association of Engineering Geology, VI, (pp. 4581-4589). Lisbon, Portugal.
  66. Giles, D.P. (1994). A digital data standard for the electronic transfer of geotechnical data from ground investigations. In R. Oliveira, L.F. Rodrigues, A.G. Coelho & A.P. Cunha, A.P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th Congress of the International Association of Engineering Geology, VI, (pp. 4563-4568). Lisbon, Portugal
  67. Giles, D.P. & Whalley, J.S. (1994). Computer-based activities in engineering geology training. In R. Oliveira, L.F. Rodrigues, A.G. Coelho & A.P. Cunha, A.P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th Congress of the International Association of Engineering Geology, VI, (pp. 4845-4851). Lisbon, Portugal.
  68. Giles, D.P. (1994). A geographical information system for geotechnical and ground investigation data management and analysis. In Proceedings of the Fifth European Conference and Exhibition on Geographical Information Systems, EGIS, (pp. 766-778). Paris, France.
  69. Giles, D.P. (1993). Geostatistical interpolation techniques for geotechnical data modelling and ground condition risk and reliability assessment. In B.O. Skipp (Ed.), Risk and Reliability in Ground Engineering (pp. 202-214). Thomas Telford, London, UK.
  70. Duncumb, R., Giles, D., Holehouse, R., Hutchinson, R., Perry, J., Threadgold, L., Walthall, S. & Zytynski, M. (1992). Electronic transfer of geotechnical data from ground investigations, (1st Edition). Association of Geotechnical Specialists, London, UK.
  71. Giles, D.P. (1992). The geotechnical computer workstation: The link between the geotechnical database and the geographical information system. In Proceedings of the Colloque International: Géotechnique et Infomatique (pp. 685-690). Presses de l’école nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris, France.

Areas of expertise

  • Glacial and periglacial engineering geology
  • Engineering geomorphology
  • Landslides
  • Remote sensing and digital image analysis
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