From data to decision: combining Bayesian updating with a data-driven prior to forecast the settlement of embankments on soft soils

Applications of Bayesian updating commonly treat soil parameters as random variables. A significant issue with this is that soil parameters are highly subjective. Therefore, using traditional parameter-based models, Bayesian analysis starts from a subjective prior and it is unclear how this may influence the overall results of a study. In this paper, Bayesian updating is combined with a data-driven method, known as CRACA (i.e. CReep And Consolidation Analysis), for predicting the settlement of embankments on soft soil. Importantly, the method directly ingests measured oedometer data and therefore avoids the subjectivity involved in parameter selection. Because parameters are not used, scaling factors are introduced that account uncertainty associated with the laboratory measurements and the automated interpretation process. These factors have an initial value of unity (returning the prior) and are updated in a Bayesian framework as settlement monitoring data is revealed over time to improve future forecasts. The model was applied to an embankment case history and was shown to result in a rapid improvement in the accuracy and a narrowing of the 95% confidence interval as settlement monitoring data is revealed to the model.