Decision Making and Data Management in Geotechnical Engineering Silas Nichols Principal Bridge Engineer – Geotechnical Federal Highway Administration Office of Bridges and Structures

Influencing Trends and Opportunities Better Informed Decision Making in Project Delivery Effective Management and Communication of Geotechnical Data

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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

Technology Fact Sheets www.GeoTechTools.org Case Histories Technology Fact Sheets Photographs Design Procedures QC/QA Procedures Specifications Cost Estimating Tools >50 Technologies Technical Bibliography 10

Research & Vetting Process 1,000s pages Tech Docs 38 Post-Doc & Grad Students Research & Develop 38 Post-Doc & Grad Students & 12 Principal Investigators & Advisory Board & Peer Reviewers 100s page Summaries 8 Tools – 2 to 40 pages each 11

Value Added The system collects, synthesizes, integrates, and organizes a vast amount of critically important information about geotechnical solutions on a readily accessible website 12

Did you know… www.GeoTechTools.org …That up to half of all construction claims in highway works are related to geotechnical issues. www.GeoTechTools.org

Application Areas Construction over Unstable Soils Construction over Stable/Stabilized Soils Working Platforms Geotechnical Pavement Components (Base, Subbase, and Subgrade)

Transition and Closure Project Management Example Guide Illustration: Manage Change Work the Plan Transition and Closure Initiate and Align Plan the Work Endorse the Plan After: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/ProjectMgmt/PMOG.htm

Constraints and Risks 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

Typical Constraints General Schedule/Time Cost/Budget ROW Limits Traffic Flow Weather Environmental Geotech-Related Subsurface Conditions Time of settlement Vibrations Noise Proprietary

Implementation Goal Integration of GeoTechTools into Practice – both program delivery and project development

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 19

What About Data Management and Communication? www.diggsml.org

Proposed Geotechnical Asset Taxonomy Physical Asset Corridor and/or GAM Section ROW Feature Independent Feature Slope Rock Soil Modified Embankment Subgrade Earth Retaining Structure Stabilized Earth Steel or Reinforced Concrete Element of other Structure Bridge Element Tunnel Element Pavement Element Outside-ROW Feature Slopes Water bodies Structures (walls, etc.) Non-Corridor Material Sites Stockpiles or other Non-Physical Asset Data Knowledge Equipment 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. Predominant distinction in how feature is managed. Features with inclusions are “modified”. Established management systems for other structures that have (or should have) geotechnical elements. Others, could be added; for example – culverts. High slopes, shorelines, and structures typically owned by others outside the ROW that are sources of risk because they can impact performance Investigation and test results, lab and field equipment, key personnel

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 Engineer U.S. Federal Highway Administration Washington, DC Email: Silas.Nichols@dot.gov www.GeoTechTools.org www.diggsml.org