TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES MARY ELLEN BRUCE LARGE, P.E., D.GE, DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES Technical Activities Update DFI Technical Committees and Working Groups – Always Something New Happening committee meetings in October at the DFI 42 Annual Conference on Deep Foundations in New Orleans. A new industry-wide Working Group on Working Platforms also held its first meeting, and DFI hosted an exploratory meeting for a potential new group on Project Information Management Systems. Hundreds of DFI committee and DFI’s 18 technical committees and 3 working groups held their annual nd working group members gathered to discuss the many and varied projects aimed at furthering the advancement and understanding of deep foundations. Successes were praised and new challenges proposed to meet the needs of the industry. Please review the summary lists below of ongoing and completed committee projects, and join a committee or working group to become more involved. • Developing a joint study regarding state of practice of ACIP piles in North America, Europe and Australia/New Zealand, to be presented at DFI-EFFC International Conference in Rome, June 2018. Augered Cast-in-Place Pile Committee Chair: Morgan NeSmith, P.E. Berkel and Company Contractors [email protected] Trustee Liaison: Matthew Meyer, P.E. Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, [email protected] • Organized an ACIP and drilled displacement (DD) pile seminar in April 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pa. • Conducted a research project in con- junction with Florida DOT and Dr. Grey Mullins from the University of South Florida regarding the installa- tion, monitoring and performance of ACIP piles for inclusion in Florida DOT specifications. Fieldwork is com- plete and the report is being finalized. • Reviewed and commented on ACIP pile specifications for NAVFAC and Florida DOT (ongoing). • Developing proposed specification for ACIP piles to submit to AASHTO. • Conducting a research project in con- junction with Drs. Antonio Marinucci and Anne Lemnitzer at UC Irvine regarding the lateral forces generated during DD pile installation (i.e., effects of installation on existing foundations, tunnels, retaining walls, utilities, etc.). attended the Public Comment hearings in October 2016 to speak in favor of the resubmittals. Codes and Standards Committee Chair: Daniel Stevenson, P.E., Berkel and Company Contractors [email protected] Trustee Liaison: Lori Simpson, P.E., G.E. Langan Treadwell Rollo, [email protected] • Continued efforts to rewrite Chapter 18 on Foundations of the International Building Code (2018 version) through the GeoCoalition Code Council (including active members from ASCE, Geo-Institute, GBA, ADSC, and strong involvement by PDCA on Chapter 18.10). • Submitted revisions January 2016. Several committee members attended the public code hearings in April 2016 to speak in favor of the changes. • Resubmitted some of the changes that were not approved through the public comment process. Dale Biggers, representative from PDCA, and Dan Stevenson, chair of the committee, • Reviewed requirements in some jurisdictions that require structural engineers to design earth retaining systems. The committee supported the Oak Brook Accords, between the ASCE Geo-Institute and the Structural Engineering Institute, which indicated agreement that design of geo-structures may involve structural, geotechnical and/or civil engineers and should not be subject to designated thresholds contemplated for S.E. licensure. Deep Foundations for Landslides and Slope Stabilization Committee Chair: Chris Ramsey, P.E., Amec Foster Wheeler Environmental & Infrastructure [email protected] Trustee Liaison: Erik Loehr, Ph.D., P.E., University of Missouri, Columbia [email protected] • Hosted the two-day SSI: Stabilize, Support and Improve seminar in conjunction with six other DFI technical committees in Washington, D.C., in August. The next SSI seminar is being planned for 2020. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • NOV/DEC 2017 • 109
