EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE A Technical Committees — the Backbone of DFI s I continue to delve into DFI’s 40-year upcoming 40 Annual Conference in Oakland, I find that the mission has remained unwavering: “To bring together mul t i -di s c ipl ined individual s and organizations to find common ground and create a shared vision and a consensus voice for continual advancement in the deep foundations industry.” Our primary means for fulfilling that history in preparation for our th mission also remains constant — DFI’s Technical Committees. From the outset, DFI ensured its success by enlisting the efforts of members to serve on various Technical Committees to create industry consensus between all disciplines — contractors, consultants, manufacturers/ suppliers, academicians and owners — and provide guidance documents and industry outreach efforts to facilitate economy and quality in deep foundation construction. The original committees were as follows: • Environmental Problems • Equipment Applications • Code Modifications • Construction Innovations • Geotechnical Research • Inspection and Testing • Subsurface Investigation and Reports These efforts continue through DFI’s current 18 Technical Committees and 3 Working Groups, each of which focuses on the unique issues of major methods and technologies within deep foundation design and construction: • Augered Cast-in-Place Pile • Codes and Standards • Deep Foundations for Landslides and Slope Stabilization • Drilled Shaft • Driven Pile • Ground Improvement • Helical Piles and Tiebacks • Manufacturers, Suppliers and Service Providers • Marine Foundations • Micropile • Seismic and Lateral Loads • Slurry Wall • Soil Mixing • Subsurface Characterization • Testing and Evaluation • Tiebacks and Soil Nailing • Women in Deep Foundations • Energy Foundations Working Group • Seepage Control Working Group • Electric Power Systems Foundations Working Group Many of the guidelines and model specification documents created by the early committees continue to be used today or have been updated in the last decade to include new relevant information and inno- vations. DFI offers many of these publications at n o c h a r g e v i a www.onemine.org to our members and elec- t roni c or pr int ed versions for sale to non- members. Additionally, DFI Technical Com- mittees and Working Groups develop the programs of our many educational events across the country and the world, providing state-of-the-practice information where it is needed by the deep foundations community, either to those just starting out or those with many years of experience who want to stay on the cutting edge of technological advancements. If not for the committees and the dedication of the committee members, I do not believe DFI would be the well-known, respected organization it is today. The Theresa Engler Executive Director [email protected] committees are the backbone of DFI. In recognition of that fact and to further their efforts, DFI’s leadership began a Committee Project Fund that has awarded over $400,000 since its inception in 2011 towards research projects pro- posed by Technical Committees. Deliver- ables include analytical tools, design guides, journal articles, project reports, databases and surveys. It is clear that mem- bers and the industry as a whole benefit from the activities of our committees. To make your own mark in DFI and If not for the committees and the dedication of the committee members, I do not believe DFI would be the well-known, respected organization it is today. industry history books, I encourage all members to take advantage of the benefit of serving on one of these Technical Committees or Working Groups and have your voice heard. You can learn more about the activities each group is currently engaged in by visiting the Groups page of the DFI website, www.dfi.org, or by reading about their efforts on page 101 in this issue. I also invite anyone, member or nonmember, to attend Group meetings at the 40 Annual Conference in Oakland, October 12-15. To sign up to attend the meetings, go to www.deepfoundations2015.org and choose the Committee Meeting Day Registration option or attend the full conference, which includes attendance of the committee meetings. Come to learn more about DFI’s history, see what our committees are working on and contribute your knowledge and expertise. our Technical Committee and Working th DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2015 • 9
