Editorial

Guidelines for Writing a Case Study Paper

W. Allen Marr, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE

c.

CEO, Geocomp Corp., 1145 Massachusetts Ave., Boxborough, MA 01719.

E-mail: wam@geocomp.com

2.

Charles C. Ladd, Sc.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE

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Edmund K. Turner Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering,

Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139.
E-mail: ccladd@mit.edu

Patrick J. Fox, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE

Chief Editor, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering;
and Professor, Dept. of Structural Engineering, Univ. of California, San
Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 (corresponding author). E-mail: pjfox@ucsd.edu

DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001076
Case study papers provide archival documentation of the investigation, analysis, design, and/or performance of a geotechnical project.
Clear, complete, and insightful case studies constitute essential information for the advancement of practice and, as such, are highly
valuable contributions to the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (JGGE). The instrumentation and monitoring of constructed facilities have experienced phenomenal
change and growth in recent years, giving engineers the ability to
identify and manage risk with a level of condence never before
possible (Marr 2013). Many excellent monitoring devices and systems are now available at relatively low cost to obtain eld measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution and superior accuracy.
Routine collection of high-resolution, high-quality eld data also provides opportunities for the publication of outstanding case studies for
the broader benet of the profession. As members of the Technical
Publications Committee (TPC) of the ASCE Geo-Institute, the writers
have prepared this JGGE editorial describing the essential elements of
a good case study paper as a guide to future authors.
The objective of a case study paper is to present information that
will advance geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering practice. The nature of the advancement can range from an improved
construction technique with limited impact on general practice to
identication of a serious aw in a widespread analysis or design procedure. Likewise, the scope can range from a modest change in
a ground-improvement method to a comprehensive performance evaluation of a megascale project involving many aspects of geotechnical
engineering. A case study paper can also provide validation of existing methods without recommending changes. Regardless, a simple
presentation of facts is not sufcient. Instead, a good case study paper
should present a clear message that describes the practical relevance of
the ndings and includes, where possible, specic recommendations.
A case study paper should also contain sufcient details that allow
readers to independently evaluate and fully understand the conclusions
and recommendations. Taken together, the message and supporting
documentation should have the potential to impact engineering practice, which is the primary goal of the JGGE.
As an example, a case study paper might consist of the following
sections:
1. An Introduction section that
a. Denes the problems/challenges addressed in the paper;
b. Describes the objectives of the paper and their relevance
to engineering practice;
ASCE

3.

4.

5.

Highlights how the new information can improve practice, which is the message; and
d. Outlines the scope and sequence of the paper.
A Project Description section that
a. Presents the nature and scope of the project, including
relevant plans and cross sections of the facility, general
construction methods and schedule, and performance
goals;
b. Provides soil proles and soil properties along with descriptions of site investigation and testing methods (soils should
be described using the Unied Soil Classication System);
and
c. Describes the problems/challenges encountered in the
project and explains the approach taken to address these
issues. Detailed information should be provided regarding analysis and design methods, special construction
techniques, and the eld performancemonitoring program. Rationale should also be provided for any additional laboratory and eld tests, revised analyses, or
changes in design and construction methods that were
needed for the project.
An Evaluation section that
a. Provides detailed information used to identify and characterize the problems/challenges;
b. Describes relevant visual observations and presents eld
measurements;
c. Presents the results of analyses conducted to explain eld
performance; and
d. Includes comparisons of expected and measured performance to indicate what worked or did not work, along
with associated explanations.
An Implications section that
a. Clearly presents the message developed from the case
study. For example, the message might address one or
more of the following questions:
(1) How did a critical soil layer remain undetected and
what should have been done to avoid the problems it
caused?
(2) What specic analysis or design method was decient and how can it be improved?
(3) Conversely, if a specic analysis or design method
was successful, was this the result of compensating
errors? Should the method continue to be used in the
future?
(4) What construction procedure was decient, how was
the problem resolved, and how can it be avoided?
(5) Conversely, if a construction procedure was successful, under what conditions is it recommended for future projects?
b. Explains the relevance and importance of the message for
improvement of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering practice; and
c. Provides specic recommendations where possible.
A Summary and Conclusions section that
a. Summarizes the nature and scope of the work;
b. Describes the problems/challenges addressed in the paper;

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Summarizes the message and the importance of this new

information; and
d. Discusses any unresolved issues and provides recommendations for future work.
This editorial was written to assist practitioners and academicians in the identication of good case study projects and the organization and presentation of the results. The most valuable case
study papers are well documented with visual observations,
eld-performance measurements, and analysis results that lead to
a clear message and associated recommendations. Such papers
are essential for the continued advancement of the geotechnical
and geoenvironmental engineering profession. The TPC and

JGGE editorial board strongly encourage submission of case study

papers to the JGGE, including those papers that have been previously published in ASCE conference proceedings. The editorial
board is also committed to assisting authors regarding the preparation and submission of such papers.

References
Marr, W. A. (2013). Instrumentation and monitoring of slope stability.
Proc., Geo-Congress 2013: Stability and Performance of Slopes and
Embankments III, GSP No. 231, ASCE, Reston, VA, 22312252.

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c.

ASCE

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