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
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: [email protected]
www.GeoTechTools.org
www.diggsml.org