A Discipline Team Lead - Geotechnical Engineer - Who Has Walked Your Path

This section is meant to show you how competent your professor is — so yes, you’ll see plenty of accomplishments here. But this course wasn’t built to impress; it was built to help.

I created this course because I was once exactly where you are — looking for clarity in a field full of complexity. I know the questions you're asking, because I’ve asked them myself. And I promised myself that when I figured it out, I’d help others do the same.

This course took over half a year to build — not because the content was hard to gather, but because I wanted to make sure it speaks to your level, your pace, and your goals. I hope you feel that in every chapter.

Your Instructor at a Glance

• Discipline Team Lead – Arcadis Canada

• Previously was Senior Geotechnical Engineer, WSP Canada Inc.

• Sessional Instructor, University of British Columbia (UBC) — ranked among the top 50 universities worldwide

• 13+ Years of Experience in geotechnical engineering, including major projects across 3 continents

• PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, UBC – Specialized in soil stabilization and soft ground behavior

• 10 peer-reviewed papers on tunnel engineering, soft soils, and numerical modelling

• Award-winning educator, trained in learning design and teaching methods

• Fluent in advanced geotechnical software, including PLAXIS 2D/3D, RS Pile, Settle3, Slide2, and more

A Global Perspective with Local Precision

Dr. ElMouchi’s project portfolio includes landmark international infrastructure such as:

• Kudai Tunnels, Saudi Arabia – NATM tunneling in hard rock

• Cairo Metro, Egypt – Soft ground tunneling under urban zones

• Hodgson Slide Mitigation, BC, Canada – Complex slope stabilization for highway infrastructure

• Selkirk Mountain Bridge Piles, Highway 1, BC – Axial and lateral pile design in mountainous terrain

He has also led geotechnical design for public buildings, slope stabilization works, highway projects, and foundation systems under seismic and challenging soil conditions throughout Canada.

Not Just a Practitioner — A Dedicated Educator

As a sessional instructor at UBC, Dr. ElMouchi has taught multiple geotechnical engineering courses to undergraduate and graduate students, focusing on bridging the gap between academic theory and field practice. He is formally trained in learning design and curriculum development, ensuring that this course is:

• Clear and digestible

• Purposefully paced

• Centered around practical outcomes

His teaching reflects the same attention to clarity and rigor that defines his consulting work.

 Research-Driven. Practice-Proven.

During his PhD, Dr. ElMouchi managed the Geotechnical Materials Laboratory at UBC Okanagan, supervising graduate students and conducting advanced soil testing and analysis. His research — funded by NSERC — focused on the geotechnical behavior and stabilization of peaty soils, producing a widely respected body of work on compressibility and settlement control.

 Recognitions and Professional Involvement

• University Graduate Fellowship, UBC (2018, 2019, 2020)

• NSERC PhD Scholarship Recipient (2018–2021)

• Volunteer with Engineers & Geoscientists BC (EGBC)

• Active member of VGS, CGS, and ISSMGE

• P.Eng. designation in British Columbia, and working toward PE licensure in the U.S.

 A Message From Dr. ElMouchi

“I’m not here to just teach you how to analysis piles subjected to lateral loads. I’m here to help you think like a designer — someone who understands the soil, not just the software. You’re building a skillset that the industry needs more than ever. I’m proud to help you build it.”