People

Key Personnel

Darrell McLean

BDS Contracting was established by Darrell McLean.

Darrell has over forty years hands-on experience managing the construction of civil, building & energy projects. He has an extensive background in foundations, having worked for a number of major piling contractors throughout Australia.

More recently Darrell has undertaken a number of Surveillance & Construction Supervision roles throughout Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region.

Darrell is supported by a core group of staff who are well experienced within the construction industry with a wealth of experience in geotechnical engineering and the construction industry in general.

 

 
Dr Khader Rammah

Dr Rammah is a senior geotechnical engineer with 20 years of experience, including a comprehensive Master of Science degree from Israel Institute of Technology, a PhD degree from the University of Western Australia (UWA) and a Post-Doc from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Khader has broad experience that covers geotechnical investigation, analysis and design, and reporting for infrastructure, mining projects, geotechnical design of low-rise and high-rise buildings, land development and transport, numerical modelling, ground improvement, modelling of soil/structure interaction problems, foundation analysis and construction issues. Khader’s technical skills are summarised below:

  • Numerical modelling of a wide range of geotechnical problems for both infrastructure and mining projects using Plaxis 2D and 3D.
  • Earth and slope stability analysis for mining projects.
  • Analysis of geotechnical problem involving soft and very soft soils.
  • Managing a wide range of geotechnical engineering project (both industry and research levels).
  • Analysis and design of shallow, deep foundations and retaining structures.
  • Interpretation of pile load tests.
  • Interpretation of a wide range of field tests, including SPT and CPT.
  • Interpretation of a wide range of sophisticated laboratory tests, including those related to shear wave velocity and small-strain stiffness measurement.
  • Interpretation and inversion of seismic-tomographic data.
  • Interpretation of field testing carried out on rocks.
  • Soil/rock logging and classification.
  • Ground improvement techniques, including design of soil reinforcement, soil nails and anchors.
  • Evaluation and strengthening of existing foundation systems (foundations underpinning).
  • Preparing interpretive geotechnical reports on soil investigation and foundation design.
  • Preparing technical proposal and plans for site investigation and geotechnical consulting.
  • Organising project data and information and quality control of test data.
  • Project management and budget control.

Dr Rammah’s Key Areas:

    • NDT on piles and concrete structures
    • Physical modelling
    • Numerical modelling
    • Soil characterisation
    • Shear-wave velocity and small-strain stiffness measurement
    • Field & laboratory soil testing
    • Shallow & deep foundations
    • Geophysical methods in geotechnical engineering
    • Soil improvement