maximum benefits of proper collection, analysis and management of project information to meet ever-increasing project demands. Since its inception, the PIMS Com- mittee has undertaken a campaign to assist DFI members to explore and implement PIMS processes. The committee has been tracking new and changing technologies, acquiring and compiling owner PIMS specifications, and authoring documents to bring this information to the DFI member- ship. The committee also frequently coordinates activities and information with the U.K.-based BIM/Digitalisation Com- mittee (DFI Europe). This active team developed and has presented the following PIMS resources since 2018: • “The DFI ‘Digital-Visual-Virtual’ Data Revolution” — a Deep Foundations mag- azine article by Di Cicco (September- October 2018) that outlines the reasons the DFI PIMS Committee was started and challenges the deep foundations industry to be part of the digital revolution. The article may be viewed at http://dfi.dcatalog.com/v/September-October- 2018/?page=56. Committee leaders: Mark Petersen, P.E., G.E., Black & Veatch, secretary; Jamey Rosen, P.Geo., Geosyntec, vice chair; Massimo Mucci, Keller, chair; Vanessa Bateman, United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), technical leader; Gianfranco Di Cicco, Bauer Foundation Corp., trustee liaison • A session titled, “The Digital Future,” also held during the 44 Annual Conference, which included presentations and technical papers on all aspects of collecting and managing project data. The conference proceedings may be accessed from the MyDFI member portal at www.dfi.org for conference • “Project Information Management Systems in the Deep Foundations Industry” — a white paper that provides a general introduction to the concepts and applications of PIMS to the geotechnical foundations industry. The document provides definitions, an overview of benefits to the industry to adopt PIMS technologies, a brief review of existing technologies and procedures, and a discussion of the future of PIMS use for deep foundations. The white paper is free to download at www.dfi.org/viewpub.asp?tid=WP-PIMS-2018. • A panel presentation session titled, “DFI and Technology,” th presented by the PIMS Committee leadership at DFI’s 44 Annual Conference in Chicago in October 2019. This “Future Forward” themed event was aimed at promoting the development of forward-thinking plans in deep foundation practice and related areas through technical presentations and panel discussions. The panel session included presentations on big data, machine learning, user perspectives, blockchain, construction applications and PIMS for small and large projects. This discussion was presented as a live webinar, and the recording may be reviewed on DFI’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/CywR0LhHrd0. attendees, and can be purchased by non-attendees by visiting https://dfi2.org/publications.asp?cat=5. Current and ongoing PIMS Committee activities include: • Working closely with USACE to assist with development of specifications for information management at its applicable geofoundations projects, specifically, those associated with seepage barrier wall and grout curtain installations. The committee leadership met with USACE representatives in December 2019 to “deep dive” into specifications and update them to meet the needs of the industry. The diversity of the committee membership has been particularly helpful for providing this guidance to USACE, as it consists of representative project owners, contractors, consultants and service providers — each of whom fill a specific role in applying and developing technology addressed in the specifications. The committee is developing generic specifications that will be shared with DFI membership for potential use in a variety of projects. • Looking into developing a glossary of terminology used in infor- mation management technology. This document will serve as a companion to the white paper and will generally provide a com- mon vocabulary for DFI members to communicate on PIMS items. The committee welcomes new members to join and become involved. Please visit the committee’s webpage at ‘Groups’ at www.dfi.org frequently for recent news. th DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAY/JUNE 2020 • 71
