NHI-DFI PARTNERSHIP DFI Hosting Two NHI Micropile Courses in Florida This Fall DFI is hosting two NHI Micropile Design and Construction Courses (NHI #132078) in Florida this fall. Allen Cadden, P.E., D.GE, Schnabel Engineering, Donald Bruce, Ph.D., D.GE, Geosystems and Jesus Gomez, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, GEI Consultants — recognized leaders in micropile technology and certified NHI instructors — will present the courses. Cadden and Bruce will co- instruct the two-day course on September 28-29, 2015, at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 4 office in Fort Lauderdale. Cadden and Gomez will present the course on October 1-2, 2015, at the FDOT Operations Auditorium in Gainesville. See www.dfi.org for more information on location and times. The course provides guidance on when and where it is appropriate to use micropiles, and educates engineers about feasibility and state of the practice in the design and construction of these elements. It includes step-by-step micropile design procedures for structural support and slope stability applications, and includes instruction on construction, inspection and integrity testing. Classroom exercises lead participants through technical and cost-feasibility analyses. Each participant receives a workbook and reference manual containing detailed micropile design examples for various applications. FHWA- NHI-132012 Soils and Foundations course is a recommended prerequisite. Please attend to network with colleagues from FDOT and the Florida geotechnical and foundation engineering community. DFI-NHI Partnership In 2010, FHWA and DFI entered a partnering agreement to combine resources to further NHI’s mission of quickly and effectively training the current and future transportation workforce to address the full life cycle of the highway transportation system. The DFI-NHI partnership is intended to offer increased training and education opportunities that build the technical capacity of practitioners designing, constructing and inspecting 50 • DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2015 foundations and geotechnical features for roadways, bridges and other transportation structures. NHI expects an increase in requests for “just-in-time” training of practitioners to meet the needs of specific projects and/or markets, and DFI stands prepared to assist member companies to access training opportunities. Geotechnical Course Offerings DFI offers access to all of NHI’s geotechnical courses. These courses are delivered in an instructor-led format (in- person delivery) and are taught by NHI- certified instructors who are subject matter specialists. The courses may be tailored to specific needs as discussed in advance with instructors. • Drilled Shafts (NHI #132014) • Drilled Shaft Foundation Inspection (NHI #132070) • Driven Pile Foundations – Design and Construction (NHI #132021) • Driven Pile Foundation Inspection (NHI #132069) • Earth Retaining Structures (NHI #132036) • Ground Improvement Techniques (NHI #132034) • LRFD Seismic Analysis and Design of Transportation Structures, Features, and Foundations (NHI #130094) • Micropile Design and Construction (NHI #132078) • Soils and Foundations Workshop (NHI #132012) These courses are particularly attractive to companies servicing state DOTs that want to enhance their transportation expertise, although the training is applicable to all deep foundations practice. Members may wish to group together courses on one technology to demonstrate “mastery” in a subject matter (e.g., drilled shaft inspection, design and construction). Courses may also be grouped together as “professional starter” training (e.g., introductory soil mechanics, driven piles and drilled shafts) to train entry level employees. Benefits to DFI Member Companies • DFI provides ready access to high- quality, FHWA-approved training for member companies. • Courses have increased availability of course seats (up to 35 attendees may be registered per course, compared to the typical NHI limit of 20 attendees). • NHI courses have typically lower costs than other industry-based educational courses. • DFI provides administrative services for course ordering, coordination and execution, and venue and course materials procurement. • DFI provides opportunities to support DOTs that require training, but are unable to afford training within limited state operating budgets. • Member companies host local DOT representatives for training, thereby providing opportunities to build relationships and contribute technically and financially to the local engineering community. • Member companies can hold network- ing receptions or exhibits at courses, which would allow interaction between DOTs and members. Interested parties are encouraged to con- tact Mary Ellen Large at [email protected] for more information.
