Eucentre is a non-profit private law foundation whose mission is to conduct research and provide training and services in earthquake and safety engineering 
Eucentre promotes science, research and innovation for the benefit of the community, offering targeted methodologies and concrete solutions for prevention, safety and resilience. It collaborates with institutions and companies to disseminate competencies for the common good.
Eucentre conducts earthquake engineering research and risk reduction studies via laboratory testing and numerical analysis to enhance seismic performance and develop innovative solutions 
Eucentre carries out research activities in earthquake engineering and risk reduction through laboratory testing and numerical analysis, aiming to improve the seismic performance of structures and soils and to develop innovative seismic retrofitting techniques.
The Foundation promotes diverse and high-quality training activities aimed at academic and professional contexts, with constantly updated and innovative programs and initiatives designed to meet the evolving needs of the sector and society 
Eucentre ensures communication aimed at informing institutions, professionals, and citizens about ongoing activities and projects, with the goal of disseminating useful and accessible content and knowledge. It contributes to promoting a shared and informed culture of prevention and resilience.
The Eucentre Foundation and the Order of Engineers of the Province of Pavia are pleased to announce the Seminar:
‘Non-Destructive Testing for Deep Foundations’.
February 10th, 2026
Coordinator:
Prof. C.G. Lai, University of Pavia
Lecturers:
Dr. A. Sellountou-Rausche, Pile Dynamics Inc.
Eng. M. Saavedra, Pile Dynamics Inc.
Who it is aimed at:
The study day is part of Eucentre’s Continuing Professional Development programme, dedicated to exploring specialist topics related to the characterisation and diagnostics of deep foundations. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between general geotechnical courses and the most advanced developments in non-destructive testing (NDT) applied to foundation piles, both during construction and during operational monitoring.
The event is aimed at engineers, technicians, public officials, and professionals in the construction and infrastructure sector who are interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of the investigation methodologies, underlying physical principles, and interpretation methods of non-destructive testing for assessing the integrity and bearing capacity of deep foundations.
Particular attention will be paid to the correct choice and combination of testing methods – sonic, ultrasonic, thermal, and dynamic – the evaluation of results in terms of design and applications in the field of structural safety and monitoring of existing works, with the aim of providing operational tools for the planning, maintenance, and adaptation of pile-based infrastructure.
Seminar objectives and content
The Seminar aims to provide participants with a comprehensive, integrated overview of non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques applied to deep foundations, illustrating the most advanced operational methodologies and applications for diagnosing and controlling the quality of foundation piles.
The first part of the seminar will focus on the dynamic design aspects of driven piles. This will be followed by an illustration of the main non-destructive methodologies currently used for the diagnosis of deep foundations:
- thermal integrity profiling;
- cross-hole sonic logging;
- low-strain integrity testing.
The second part will deal with design optimisation through dynamic load testing on bored and driven piles, with examples of interpretation and correlation with static tests.
Finally, SHAPE® and SQUID technologies will be presented for the assessment of bored piles prior to casting, innovative tools for reducing the risk of construction defects and ensuring high standards of quality and safety in deep foundation works.
The Seminar will award 3 CFP credits.
Participation in the Seminar is free of charge. Places are limited.
The Seminar will be held in English.
The seminar will take place in Teaching Room 1 at the Eucentre Foundation.
Registration must be confirmed by February 8th, 2026.
To participate, please complete the following Registration form.
