Decision Making and Data Management in Geotechnical Engineering

Silas NicholsPrincipal Bridge Engineer – Geotechnical

Federal Highway AdministrationOffice of Bridges and Structures

Influencing Trends and Opportunities

• Better Informed Decision Making in Project Delivery

• Effective Management and Communication of Geotechnical Data

Log-In Screen

Deep Mixing Methods

Aggregate Columns Light Weight Fill

Column Supported Embankments

Technologies Included• Aggregate Columns• Beneficial Reuse of Waste

Materials• Bio-Treatment for Subgrade

Stabilization• Blast Densification• Bulk-Infill Grouting• Chemical Grouting/ Injection

Systems• Chemical Stabilization of

Subgrades & Bases

• Column-Supported Embankments

• Combined Soil Stabilization with Vertical Columns

• Compaction Grouting• Continuous Flight Auger

Piles• Deep Dynamic Compaction• Deep Mixing Methods• Shallow Mass Mixing

Technologies Included (cont.)

• Intelligent Compaction• Jet Grouting• Light Weight Fills• Mechanical Stabilization of

Subgrades & Bases• MSE Walls• Micro-Piles• Onsite Use of Recycled

Pavement Materials• Partial Encapsulation• PVDs & Fill Preloading

• Rapid Impact Compaction• Reinforced Soil Slopes• Sand Compaction Piles• Screw-In Soil Nailing• Shoot-In Soil Nailing• Shored MSE Walls• Traditional Compaction• Vacuum Preloading w/ & w/o

PVDs• Vibrocompaction• Vibro-Concrete Columns

Technologies Included (cont.)• Drilled/Grouted & Hollow Bar

Soil Nailing• Electro-Osmosis• Excavation & Replacement• Fiber Reinforcement in

Pavement Systems• Geocell Confinement in

Pavement Systems• Geosynthetic Reinforced

Construction Platforms• Geosynthetic Reinforced

Embankments

• Geosynthetic Reinforce-ment in Pavement Systems

• Geosynthetic Separation in Pavement Systems

• Geosynthetics in Pavement Drainage

• Geotextile Encased Columns• High-Energy Impact Rollers• Hydraulic Fill + Vacuum

Consolidation + PVDs• Injected Lightweight Foam Fill

www.GeoTechTools.org

Technology Fact Sheets

TechnicalBibliography

DesignProcedures

Specifications CostEstimating

Tools

QC/QA Procedures

Photographs

Case Histories

>50Technologies

Research & Vetting Process1,000s pagesTech Docs

100s page Summaries

8 Tools – 2 to 40pages each

38 Post-Doc & Grad Students& 12 Principal Investigators& Advisory Board& Peer Reviewers

38 Post-Doc &Grad Students

Research&Develop

Value Added

The system collects, synthesizes, integrates, and organizes a vast amount of critically important information about geotechnical solutions on a readily accessible website

…That up to half of all construction claims in highway works are related

to geotechnical issues.

Did you know…

www.GeoTechTools.org

Construction over Unstable Soils

Geotechnical Pavement Components (Base, Subbase, and Subgrade)

Construction over Stable/Stabilized Soils

EMBANKMENT

SOLUTIONS ABOVE GRADE

STABLE SOILS

EMBANKMENT

UNSTABLE SOILS

SOLUTIONS ABOVE OR BELOW GRADE

Working Platforms

SUBGRADE SOILS

GEOTECHNICAL PAVEMENT COMPONENTS (SOLUTIONS FOR BASE, SUBBASE, AND SUBGRADE)

PAVEMENT SURFACE

BASE

SUBBASE

STABLESOILS

WORKING PLATFORM SOLUTIONS

UNSTABLE SOILS

GROUND SURFACE

UNSTABLESOILS

OR

Application Areas

Example Guide Illustration:

Project Management

After: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/ProjectMgmt/PMOG.htm

Initiate and

AlignPlan the

WorkEndorse the Plan

Work the

Plan

Transition and

Closure

Manage Change

Examples• Constraint: 3-inch Settlement Limit• Risk: Settlement exceeds 3 inches

• Constraint: 90% Settlement by 3 months• Risk: 90% Settlement takes more than 3

months

Constraints and Risks

General • Schedule/Time• Cost/Budget• ROW Limits• Traffic Flow• Weather• Environmental

Typical ConstraintsGeotech-Related

• Subsurface Conditions• Time of settlement• Vibrations• Noise• Proprietary

Integration of GeoTechTools

into Practice –

both program delivery

and project development

Implementation Goal

Target Audience• Public agency personnel at Local, State and

Federal levels– Geotechnical Engineers– Project Planners– Project Managers– Construction Resident Engineers– Maintenance

• Consultants, Contractors, A/Es• Academics/Students

What About Data Management and Communication?

www.diggsml.org

Geotechnical Asset

Physical Asset

Corridor and/or GAM

Section

ROW Feature

Independent Feature

Slope

Rock

Soil

Modified

Embankment

Rock

Soil

Modified

Subgrade

Rock

Soil

Modified

Earth Retaining Structure

Stabilized Earth

Steel or Reinforce

d Concrete

Element of other

Structure

Bridge ElementTunnel

ElementPavement Element

Outside-ROW

FeatureSlopes

Water bodies

Structures (walls,

etc.)

Non-Corridor

Material Sites

Stockpiles or other

Non-Physical

Asset

Data

Knowledge

Equipment

Proposed Geotechnical Asset Taxonomy

The adjective “Geotechnical” means the asset is comprised of earth, pertains to earth, or its performance is achieved through earth interaction with a structure or inclusion.

Inclusions are any and all non-earth modifications: pipes, anchors, grids, fabrics, grouts, etc.

Investigation and test results, lab and field equipment, key personnel

High slopes, shorelines, and structures typically owned by others outside the ROW that are sources of risk because they can impact performance

Established management systems for other structures that have (or should have) geotechnical elements. Others, could be added; for example – culverts.

Predominant distinction in how feature is managed. Features with inclusions are “modified”.

Physical Assets Along a Corridor

What Data?

What Data?

What Data?

What’s the Plan?• Development of Guidance for:

– Management of Geotechnical Information– Communication of Geotechnical Information

• Research on “Big Data” management

• Promotion of DiGGS as transfer protocol for communication of geotechnical data

Thank You!Silas Nichols, P.E.Principal Geotechnical EngineerU.S. Federal Highway AdministrationWashington, DCEmail: Silas.Nichols@dot.gov

www.GeoTechTools.org

www.diggsml.org