Archive for the Category » Miscellaneous «

February 22nd, 2010 | Author: Robert Thompson

Those of you that know Dan know that he is into motorcycles, especially trials riding.  Some of you may thing that the headline means this post is about one of his latest riding exploits.  Surprisingly, it is not.

Recently, I (Robert) and my family went to a World of Wheels car show in Birmingham, Alabama.  This is not our normal family activity, but we went to watch Alex Bedly, an instructor at the Trials Training Center, perform as part of the On The Edge bike stunt team.  Alex is an instructor at the TTC and is the son of Catherine Bedley, our administrative assistant.  My family and I had a great time.  I was even part of the show, unknown to me until the show had started and I was called out to “volunteer”.  Check out the 35-second video below.  No engineers were harmed in the making of this clip.

Cross posted at the Trials Training Center blog.

January 26th, 2010 | Author: Robert Thompson

loess map

 

I have added a recent paper that Dan and Steve contributed to concerning loess that is in the November, 2009 issue of the DFI Journal.  The paper describes the results of site investigation and laboratory tests at a site in Kansas with loess deposits.  The effectiveness of various correlations between field and laboratory tests and design properties are evaluated.  Steve is currently working on the follow-up paper that evaluates lateral load tests of drilled shafts at the site.

Parson, R.L., Johnson, R.M., Brown, D.A., Dapp, S.D., and Brennan, J.J., 2009. “Characterization of Loess for Deep Foundations”, DFI Journal Volume 3, No. 2, November 2009, Deep Foundations Institute, pp14-24.

January 11th, 2010 | Author: Robert Thompson

The kcICON project in Kansas City, Missouri is using Facebook and YouTube as a public relations tool.  They have recently posted new videos and pictures.  The latest video is of demolition of one of the existing approach structures.   It is all done for public relations, so the photos and videos are oriented for the general public, showing how the project is moving along, how their tax dollars are being spent, and providing information on lane closures, etc.

The kcICON Facebook page is here.  The project website with more photos and a web cam is here.  You can also follow the project on Twitter here.

I expect we’ll see more use of Facebook, Twitter, etc. on projects in the future.  It appears to be effective, at least for the techno-savy crowd!

December 18th, 2009 | Author: Robert Thompson

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a great year in 2010!

 

contractor-christmas-card

 

Comments are welcome on which of the elves are Aaron, Paul, Robert, and Steve.

(Image form our Christmas Holiday card purchased from www.KerstenCards.com)

December 18th, 2009 | Author: Robert Thompson

 

I have updated our calendar for 2010 to include many events in the geotechnical and foundation engineering world that may be of interest, plus known speaking/teaching appearances by Dan.  I’ll put in a plug for the events calendars and listings for ADSC, DFI, Geo-Institute, and PDCA.  I get most of my information from them.

 

Some, but not all events,(in addition to my previous post) are:

 

DFI Helical Foundations & Tiebacks Specialty Seminar – Feb 1

 

geo_header_2009    Geo-Florida 2010 – Feb 20-24

 

DFI and PDCA – A Joint Conference on Driven Pile – Mar 12

 

adsc_logo_color_small1 ADSC Drilled Shaft Foundations Seminar – Mar 19

 

PDCALogo PDCA 14th Annual International Conference and Expo – May 6-8

 

2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing – May 9-11

 

bridge-home-template_r1_c6_sm International Bridge Conference 2010 – June 6-10

 

DFI Super Pile – June 10-11

 

er2010_header_002 Earth Retention 2010 – Aug 1-4

 

DFILogo DFI 34th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations – Oct 12-15 

 

5c24ff58c9bf4a5f988f0f34e0266ffc TRB 7th International Bridge Conference – Dec 1-2

December 16th, 2009 | Author: Robert Thompson

Some items of note from the geo-industry….

First, Tony Marinucci, P.E. joins the staff at ADSC. Here is the release from ADSC highlighting Tony’s career and his new position.

 

Marinucci Joins ADSC Staff

We are pleased to report that Antonio Marinucci, P.E., MSCE, MBA, is joining the ADSC headquarters staff in a full-time capacity as he completes his Ph.D. studies in geotechnical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Tony comes to this new post with many years of experience working for geo-construction specialty contractors, a major general contractor, and geotechnical engineering firms in a variety of capacities including project management and deep foundation and anchored earth retention design. His credits include participating in many geo-engineering and construction research projects. Somehow, while working full and part-time in the industry, he managed to complete graduate degrees in engineering and business. He is the current Secretary of the Geo-Institute’s Deep Foundations Committee, as well as holding the same position for the G-I’s Soil Improvement Committee. He has been an active volunteer and committee member for many ADSC, ASCE, and DFI initiatives. Among his many volunteer service achievements was serving as the President of the ASCE Student Chapter while attending the University of Rhode Island. In addition to all of his volunteer service, he has authored or co-authored twelve published technical papers, and several feature articles that have appeared in Foundation Drilling magazine. One of his most interesting and challenging geo-construction experiences was working as a staff engineer for Modern Continental Construction in a variety of capacities on Boston’s “Big Dig” project. A member of four leading National Honor Societies, he was also the recipient of an ADSC Civil Engineering Graduate Study Scholarship.

You can see by this abbreviated description of Tony’s stellar career that he will be an excellent addition to the ADSC’s professional staff. His responsibilities will include serving as an in-house technical resource, coordinating ADSC’s eight regional chapters, assisting in the associations technical education and field training programs, working with the association’s 18 technical and organizational committees and task forces, overseeing the association’s membership recruitment and retention programs, and assisting ADSC CEO Mike Moore in a number of related endeavors.

 

 

Second, the PDCA is soliciting nominees for the 2010 Project of the Year award.  There are several categories based on project location and size.  Projects must have been completed in 2009.  Deadline for entries is February 26, 2010.

 

PDCALogo

The PDCA would like to inform you about the 2010 "Project of the Year" Award competition.

The PDCA is dedicated to acknowledging the hard work, ingenuity and commitment that goes into each project where driven pile are used i a deep foundation or earth retention system, or utilized to solve foundation problems.  This PDCA tradition recognizes excellence in driven pile projects completed by PDCA members in good standing.

Through the "Project of the Year" award, the PDCA has the distinguished opportunity to continue its long-standing and consistent commitment t recognize those PDCA members who demonstrate excellence in the process of providing solutions, services and products to the needs of the deep foundation and earth retention environment.

Project entries must feature projects completed in 2009.  Projects entries will be awarded in two entry categories and three dollar volume categories.  The two entry categories are distinguished by either "Land-based" or "Marine-based" projects.  The dollar volume categories are Less than $500,000.00, $500,000.00 – $2 Million, and Greater than $2 Million.  Price ranges are based solely on the dollar volume of the piling contract associated with the project.

The PDCA is asking each of its members to consider submitting a project worthy of this prestigious PDCA award.  Entry Forms will be made available on the PDCA website by Monday, December 7, 2009.

The "2010 Project of the Year" entry deadline is Friday, February 26, 2010.  Late entries will not be considered.

Winning entries will be announced during the 2010 PDCA Annual International Conference and Expo, Coeur d’Alene Golf and Spa Resort, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho during the PDCA Business Luncheon on Saturday, May 8, 2010.  PDCA will NOT reveal the winning entries prior to the luncheon.

Winning entries will also be featured in the following editions of Pile Driver magazine and on the PDCA website.

PDCA looks forward to receiving your entry – GOOD LUCK!

 

 

Third, registration is open for the Geo-Institute GeoFlorida 2010 conference in West Palm Beach, Florida.  There will be short courses, a technical program, student competitions, exhibits, honoring our heroes, and all the usual events at the annual G-I meeting.  Click on the logo to go to the conference website.

geoflorida2010 logo

 

 

Lastly, abstracts are now being accepted for consideration of the 2011 Geo-Institute meeting Geo-Frontiers 2011 in Dallas, Texas.  Abstracts are due March 8, 2010.  Click the logo to get to the conference website for submission information.

 

November 30th, 2009 | Author: Robert Thompson

I am slowly learning and working on getting DBA involved in using some of the social media tools that are very quickly becoming popular means of communicating.  DBA has a Facebook Page where you can become a Fan of DBA and see what we are doing.  You can also follow us on Twitter.  This blog will feed to both of those locations.

twitter_logo_header Facebook

And as I previously posted, we also have all our photos on picasa20x20  Picassa Web Albums and have videos on youtube20x20  YouTube.

 

And as always, you can also subscribe to our RSS feed.

November 30th, 2009 | Author: Robert Thompson

An article on the kcICON bridge project was published in the November 2009 issue of Roads and Bridges magazine.  The article was written by Pat Cassity, P.E. of Parsons Transportation Group, Brian Kidwell, P.E. of MoDOT, and Pat Byrne, P.E. of Massman.  The on-line version is here.  I have also posted a PDF on the kcICON page our Consulting Projects page you can access by clicking the image below.

September 16th, 2009 | Author: Robert Thompson

I wanted to make a quick post on the passing of Dr. Lymon Reese – Dan’s mentor, Ph.D. advisor, and a great engineer.  I’ll post more later as it becomes available. (and catch up posts on our normal activities that I am way behind on).  Below is from an e-mail sent by the ADSC.

 

Drilled Shaft Foundation Industry Giant

Dr. Lymon C. Reese Passes

       Drilled Shaft Foundation Industry Giant  Dr. Lymon C. Reese Passes

We are sad to report that Dr. Lymon C. Reese, Professor Emeritus, University of Texas, Austin, and one of the world’s leading drilled foundation experts, passed away on Monday, September 13, 2009. Dr. Reese was an ADSC Honorary Technical Affiliate Member and a great friend to the ADSC and to the drilled foundation industry. His seminal drilled shaft foundation research conducted for the Texas Department of Transportation and his subsequent writings are among the most important work ever conducted in the field. His graduate students have achieved international acclaim in their own right, and include: Dr. Michael W. O’Neill (deceased), Dr. Dan A. Brown, Larry Olson, Dr. Magued Iskander, Dr. James Long, and many others, all of whom have had a major impact on the advancement of the drilled shaft foundation industry. Dr. Reese was one of the last surviving early “giants” of our industry. At age 92, he remained a vibrant contributor to the profession. To say he will be sorely missed is an understatement. We have lost a most beloved friend.

Further details regarding a Memorial Service will be posted on the ADSC website as they become available.

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August 17th, 2009 | Author: Robert Thompson

Robert’s paper with Lloyd Held (retired from Eustis Engineering) and Steve Saye of Kiewit Engineering Company on the Biloxi Bay Bridge test pile program has been published in the latest issue of the DFI Journal, published by the Deep Foundations Institute.  A total of 22 indicator piles were installed on the project using the pile driving analyzer to monitor the pile behavior. Five load tests were performed: two axial Statnamic, two lateral Statnamic, and one static axial. The results of the test pile program established driving criteria for production piles that included end of drive blow counts and pile tip elevations with an appropriate allowance for setup.

 

Click on the image below or go to our Publications page.

Test Pile Program to Determine Axial Capacity and Pile Setup for the Biloxi Bay Bridge_ThompsonHeldSaye - DFI Journal Vol3-May09

 

The bridge was recently featured on the cover of Civil Engineering Magazine along with a feature article by Pat Cassity, P.E., S.E. of Parsons Transportation Group.  Source: ASCE

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