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

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

3. Log-In Screen

4. Deep Mixing Methods

5. Aggregate Columns
Light Weight Fill

6. Column Supported Embankments

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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:

16. 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

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

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

19. 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

20. What About Data Management and Communication?

21. 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

22. Physical Assets Along a Corridor

23. What Data?

24. What Data?

25. What Data?

26. 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

27. Thank You! Silas Nichols, P.E. Principal Geotechnical Engineer
U.S. Federal Highway Administration
Washington, DC