General Meetings

Geosynthetic Stabilization for Paved and Unpaved Roadways

presented by 

Scott C. Romine 

on 

May 31, 2023

Topic Description:

This presentation describes the use of geosynthetic solutions to overcome unsuitable subgrade conditions under paved & unpaved surfaces. This meeting will also provide guidelines to optimize your current designs when used with suitable subgrades. Similar cross sections, designed with different products, will be reviewed to properly identify geosynthetic product differentiation. Attendees will leave this session with a clear understanding of the current geosynthetic marketplace, the ability to properly identify their geosynthetic applications, and understand how they can provide better solutions that offer additional value to owners, engineers, and contractors.

Speaker Biography:

Scott Romine is the Regional Sales Manager at Tensar. He graduated Millersville University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Engineering. He began his professional career as a Project Coordinator at a civil engineering firm, eventually working his way into Project Management.  Scott was responsible of preparation and approval of subdivision, zoning, land development, E&S, construction, and stormwater management plans as well as the creation and approval of DEP, Conservation District and PennDOT permits. Scott transitioned to an engineered civil sales roll with Hilti North America in 2012 before joining the Tensar in 2017. 

Geotechnical Challenges of Redeveloping a Closed Landfill

presented by 

Meena Viswanath, P.E.

on 

March 29, 2023

Topic Description:

Development of brownfields, including former landfills, into commercial, industrial, or mixed-use properties is increasing. However, design and construction of such redevelopment projects is complex and must consider a variety of geotechnical, structural, environmental, and regulatory hurdles. Please join us for this presentation describing the design and construction challenges associated with the Sierra Point redevelopment site in the San Francisco Bay Area, which included construction of a biotech campus over a former municipal solid waste and construction debris landfill overlying up to 200 feet of soft compressible clays.

Speaker Biography:

Meena Viswanath, P.E., is a senior geotechnical engineer with Geosyntec Consultants in Columbia, Maryland. Meena received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from MIT in 2011, followed by a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from Georgia Tech in 2012. She is Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in Georgia, California, and Maryland. Her geotechnical experience includes design and construction of waste containment facilities, design and implementation of geotechnical field investigations, and design and installation of geotechnical instrumentation systems.

Unlocking the Potential of Geotechnical Data Through Digitization and Machine Learning

presented by 

Ross Cutts, MSCE, PE

12:00 pm on February 22, 2023

Topic Description:

This presentation discusses the importance and available resources, from Geosetta, to obtain existing and digitized subsurface exploration data for geotechnical engineering projects. Geosetta is a non-profit with the goal of aggregating all publicly available geotechnical datasets into a single easy to use database. Students, consultants, owners, and regulators alike can access the publicly available data in a single location. In addition to accessing the geotechnical database, the presentation will highlight the Geosetta early capabilities in using Machine Learning (ML) based tool that allows users to obtain an estimated simplified subsurface profile for anywhere in the United States.

Speaker Biography:

Mr. Ross Cutts, MSCE, PE is the President and Lead Developer at Geosetta, a non-profit repository for geotechnical data. With 10 years of experience at the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Ross Cutts has extensive knowledge in applying innovations to geotechnical-related projects, including the development of MDOT's subsurface tracking tool. He is a founding board member of GeoVirginia and is a member of the DIGGS Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers Geo-Institute (ASCE GI). 

Two and A Half Years of Foundation Grouting and Rehabilitation - Mosul Dam 


presented by 

David Sawitzki, M. A. Sc., PE 

October 26, 2022

Topic Description:

Please join us for a presentation on challenges and activities accomplished during stabilization of the Mosul Dam foundation and rehabilitation of the Dam. The Mosul Dam was built in 1985 in a less than desirable geologic setting – underlain by hundreds of meters of formations that include soluble materials such as gypsum, anhydrite and limestone. Due to its challenging foundation conditions, has been called “the most dangerous dam in the world” and requires regular and continual grouting to maintain a grout curtain cutoff beneath the dam. It is the biggest dam in Iraq with a capacity of 12 billion cubic meters (10 million acre-feet); however, its storage also represents a significant risk.  Mr. David Sawitzki's will speak  about the unique challenges and stabilization techniques used for the dam. 

Speaker Biography:

Mr. David Sawitzki, PE is a Vice President and Principal Geotechnical Dam Safety Engineer at AECOM with over 3 decades of engineering consulting experience. He holds a Geological Engineering degree from Princeton University and a Master of Applied Science (M.A. Sc) from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada with a concentration in Civil/Geotechnical engineering. He has been involved with more than 50 dams and 20 major levees. 


Scanning of Bridge Decks and Pavements: Going Beyond the Surface to Make the Right Decisions

  

presented by 

Ken Maser, PhD, PE

5:30 pm on April 27, 2022

Topic Description:

Please join us for a presentation on the application of nondestructive scanning technologies including ground penetrating radar (GPR), infrared thermography (IR), traffic speed deflectometer (TSD), ultrasonic impact-echo (IE), and high-resolution video imaging (HRV) to transportation infrastructure. The initial part of the presentation will provide the fundamentals for each of these measurement methods, including descriptions of the equipment used for implementation and the types of results generated. The second part will describe specific applications in which the subsurface information generated with these types of surveys has been used to improve decisions and reduce costs. Applications will include network-level bridge deck and pavement management, project level bridge deck and pavement rehabilitation designs, and various failure investigations.

Speaker Biography:

Dr. Ken Maser is recognized authority in the field of nondestructive evaluation of structures and construction materials with over 40 years of experience. He has developed and implemented techniques for bridge and pavement evaluation and is the holder of two U.S. patents. He has served as a consultant to SHRP and a co-PI on the SHRP2 program. He has taught graduate-level courses in nondestructive evaluation at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Civil Engineering Department. Dr. Maser was selected as the winner of the 2019 ASCE Wilber S. Smith Award for his leadership and innovation in developing and providing highway agencies with non-destructive methods for subsurface condition evaluation of pavements and bridge decks.

Foundation Remediation using Micropiles and Low Mobility Grouting (LMG)  

presented by 

John R. Wolosick, PE, D. GE, F. ASCE

September 30, 2020

Topic Description:

This presentation discusses a case study of micropile underpinning and grouting works for foundation improvements carried out to remediate settlement distress of a new building located on the west coast of the Caribbean island of Barbados. The foundation remediation ultimately included the construction of a 280-foot-long sub-surface ‘sea-wall’, the installation of 174 micropiles (providing direct and indirect support to the building).  Low mobility grouting of voids and interconnected fissures/fractures in the weak, vuggy, uncemented coralline limestone strata underlying the building foundations was also performed. 

An investigation of the cause(s) of the settlement, a flexible remediation design, and close monitoring of the drilling and grouting operations during construction were essential to the success of the project. The repair was completed within the very tight schedule required by the Owner due to imminent move-in of new owners at this high-end condominium building.

Speaker Biography:

John R. Wolosick is Senior Advisor for Keller North America Inc., Atlanta, Georgia.  He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He has 40 years of experience in Geotechnical Engineering and contracting and is the author of more than 35 technical papers.  He is the Past-President of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI – 2014-2016).  Mr. Wolosick was named the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers ‘Engineer of the Year – Industry’ in 2017.

WSSC Water Pipe Forensics Program 

presented by 

Haile Yerdaw, PE 

 

Rosanna La Plante, PE


July 22, 2020

Topic Description:

This presentation discusses the forensics program initiated by WSSC to collect, evaluate and analyze pipe failure data to establish correlations and identify trends to minimize future failures through improved design standards, construction practices and replacement and rehabilitation planning. The program focuses on cast and ductile iron pipes which make up 85% of the WSSC water distribution system. Key components of the program include laboratory and field testing of samples, development of GIS database, failure analysis,  and evaluation to support condition assessment efforts and asset management initiatives as part of the WSSC Asset Management Program and water main replacement and rehabilitation planning.   Some parameters considered in the evaluation include soil conditions, groundwater table, material composition and age of pipe. Presentation will go through the process used for evaluation and walk though some of the preliminary results.

Speakers Biography:

Haile Yerdaw, P.E., PMP, is the Civil Engineering Section manager under the Engineering and Construction Department in WSSC. Haile has 18 years of experience in civil engineering design, construction and project management. In his capacity as a section manager, he oversees several programs including pipe forensics, corrosion management, dam inspection, Fiber Reinforced polymer  rehabs for large diameter pipes, and inhouse design & review of civil engineering projects. He has a bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in civil engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Maryland and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Prior to joining WSSC as a principal civil engineer in 2015,  he was a team leader with the Maryland SHA and worked for engineering consulting firms in Northern Virginia and Washington DC.  Haile is an avid supporter of Liverpool FC and enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his kids. 

Rosanna La Plante, PE, is a Division Manager for WSSC in Laurel, MD. Rosanna leads the Engineering and Environmental Services Division, overseeing land services, Civil engineering support, contract services, GIS and engineering records, mechanical and electrical engineering support, environmental programs, and environmental services. She has experience in Civil and Environmental Engineering, working for municipalities and both large and small engineering companies before starting employment in the public sector with the City of Baltimore. Rosanna is active in engineering organizations and has received multiple awards for her work with these organizations. She previously has served on the ASCE- MD board as a Director and Chair for the Chesapeake Bay Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) chapter, and on numerous committees for EWRI on a national level. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Society of Military Engineers and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Engineering Society of Baltimore.

Non-Destructive Technology & Innovative Approaches for Underground Substructures Detection 

presented by 

Charbel Khoury, PhD, PE 

Ron Dove


Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Topic Description:

This presentation discusses the use of innovative technologies and approaches undertaken by KCI to detect and capture underground anomalies including substructure, sinkholes and utilities. Such techniques included state-of-the-art geophysical AMG Gradiometer (AMG) and LiDAR scanning along with other traditional detection methods. AMG uses AM band frequency from radio station towers as free and abundant energy to effectively “illuminate” and identify underground features/anomalies up to 30 feet below ground. AMG can penetrate and collect data through surface reinforced concrete and is not limited by subsurface conditions such as soils with high clay or high moisture content.  We will also present how the stacking of these various technologies can be used to generate underground 3D Building Information Models (BIMs) and provide our clients with risk mitigation and cost benefit.  

Speakers Biography:

Charbel Khoury is a professional engineer, researcher, and instructor with more than 18 years of experience in geotechnical, geophysical, geo-technology and pavement engineering. He is currently the Practice Leader for the Geotechnical Engineering group at KCI Technologies, Inc. He has led the KCI’s AM Gradiometer (AMG) initiative, which is a geophysical and innovative technology revolutionizing the underground structure/utility detection market. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in six US states, and has more than thirty technical papers published in prominent nationally and internationally engineering journals and conferences. Dr. Khoury has been active in professional organizations including the ASCE and Transportation Research Board (TRB). 

Ron Dove is a Sr. Project Manager in KCI’s GeoEnvironmental regional practice.  He has more than 20 years of environmental and project management experience in both the private and public sectors.  Over the last two years, he has been directly involved with all facets of KCI’s AM Gradiometer (AMG) initiative, leading several projects and showing clients the value that AMG can bring when site conditions limit other traditional technologies.

Location:

The Engineer’s Club at 

11 W Mount Vernon Place 

 Baltimore, Maryland 


Schedule

5:30 - 6:30pm:  Registration and 

Social Hour with cash bar

6:30 - 7:00pm:  Dinner

Beg. 7pm:  Announcements and Presentation

Cost:

$45 per person/$0 for Full-time Students


Payment Procedure:

We accept registrations by credit card payments only. Please complete the two-step registration and payment process



Contact geo@ascemd.org if you have any questions or need assistance.

PAST EVENTS

Non-Destructive Technology & Innovative Approaches for Underground Substructures Detection 

presented by 

Charbel Khoury, PhD, PE 

Ron Dove


Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Topic Description:

This presentation discusses the use of innovative technologies and approaches undertaken by KCI to detect and capture underground anomalies including substructure, sinkholes and utilities. Such techniques included state-of-the-art geophysical AMG Gradiometer (AMG) and LiDAR scanning along with other traditional detection methods. AMG uses AM band frequency from radio station towers as free and abundant energy to effectively “illuminate” and identify underground features/anomalies up to 30 feet below ground. AMG can penetrate and collect data through surface reinforced concrete and is not limited by subsurface conditions such as soils with high clay or high moisture content.  We will also present how the stacking of these various technologies can be used to generate underground 3D Building Information Models (BIMs) and provide our clients with risk mitigation and cost benefit.  

Speakers Biography:

Charbel Khoury is a professional engineer, researcher, and instructor with more than 18 years of experience in geotechnical, geophysical, geo-technology and pavement engineering. He is currently the Practice Leader for the Geotechnical Engineering group at KCI Technologies, Inc. He has led the KCI’s AM Gradiometer (AMG) initiative, which is a geophysical and innovative technology revolutionizing the underground structure/utility detection market. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in six US states, and has more than thirty technical papers published in prominent nationally and internationally engineering journals and conferences. Dr. Khoury has been active in professional organizations including the ASCE and Transportation Research Board (TRB). 

Ron Dove is a Sr. Project Manager in KCI’s GeoEnvironmental regional practice.  He has more than 20 years of environmental and project management experience in both the private and public sectors.  Over the last two years, he has been directly involved with all facets of KCI’s AM Gradiometer (AMG) initiative, leading several projects and showing clients the value that AMG can bring when site conditions limit other traditional technologies.

GeoVirginia 2019 by Virginia Geo-Institute Chapter of ASCE


Monday, September 23, 11:00am through Wednesday, September 25, 2019, 12:00pm EDT

at the Smithfield Center (220 North Church Street, Smithfield, Virginia 23430)

Redi-Rock Plant Tour

July 24, 2019

About Redi-Rock | Redi-Rock® is one integrated system with many solutions that features the use of giant concrete blocks (1,500 - 4,900 lb/block) to create taller gravity and sea walls with multiple batter options. The company offers stronger connection strength with its Positive Connection/MSE walls up to 60 feet and beyond (18+ meters tall). It provides many engineered solutions that integrate within a single wall system including anchoring, barriers, cantilevered CIP, combination gravity/MSE, flood wall CIP, freestanding, and revetment options. Redi-Rock is a machine-placed system that speeds up the installation process. It uses a wet-cast, first purpose concrete with a minimum of 4,000 psi and a freeze-thaw rating for greater durability and a longer life span. 

Cole Field House support of excavation project 

presented by Eric Blue 


Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Topic Description:

Cole Field House was the University of Maryland’s basketball arena from 1995-2002. A little more than a decade after a new basketball arena was constructed, the University decided that [to best utilize the existing Cole Field House] it would transform the field house from a former basketball arena and student activities center into an indoor football facility. In 2016, Nicholson Construction Company was chosen as the design-build contractor for the support of excavation portion of the work. The unique constraints at the site provided an opportunity for the construction team to exercise creativity and to yield a cost effective solution to support the existing structure while widening the arena floor to support a full size football field. The presentation will discuss the initial review and determination of the best geotechnical solution, design of the permanent wall system, and construction challenges during the renovation. 

Speaker Biography:

Eric Blue is a project manager at Nicholson Construction Company. Over the past four years with the Nicholson team, he has worked on a variety of projects throughout the east region from Pittsburgh, PA to Norfolk, VA. Before joining Nicholson, Eric worked for a large bridge contractor along the west coast and in Texas. His passion to build things stems from his family of residential contractors and insprired Eric to complete his bachelors degree in civil engineering at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. When he’s not working, Eric is running long distances or spending time with his wife and three kids. 

"Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fender replacement design and FRP pile installation” 

with presenter Cameron Troxel, P.E.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019


Topic Description:

The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry (JSF) is a Virginia Department of Transportation-operated free vehicle ferry near Williamsburg, Virginia. Recently, the JSF has undergone two construction contracts to replace multiple timber-cluster dolphins with 48-inch diameter hollow fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) monopiles. This presentation will discuss the initial study to determine the best dolphin replacement option (spoiler:  hollow FRP monopiles won), design of the FRP monopiles, difficulties and successes in large FRP pile installation, and overall FRP monopile performance. 

Speaker Biography:

Cameron Troxel, P.E., is a senior project engineer at Whitman, Requardt and Associates (WRA) where he works on a variety of transportation-related projects. Before joining WRA in 2013, Mr. Troxel lived and worked in Atlanta, Georgia. He completed bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

"Not Your Typical Concrete Pavement” with presenter Robert Hackman, P.E.

Speaker Biography:

Mr. Hackman is a Senior Consultant with GeoMaterials Consulting, LLC and provides Pavement Consultant services for the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA). He has over 35 years of experience related to pavement design, geotechnical engineering, and construction materials evaluations. He was previously the responsible principal engineer-in-charge for a full service office of a national engineering firm and now has his own firm providing consulting services ranging from peer review of reports to forensic studies to litigation support for clients seeking unbiased opinions related to geotechnical and construction materials issues.

Mr. Hackman has been evaluating and designing concrete and asphalt pavements since the early 1980s and has experienced the pros and cons of pavement materials. His breadth of knowledge expands from feasibility studies to sampling methods to laboratory and field testing to design recommendations involving new pavement construction as well as forensic evaluations of existing conditions for remedial actions or rehabilitation of pavements.    

Steve Pennington, P.E., PLS on the recently completed instrumentation and monitoring program at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Geo-Instruments' work on this project was featured in the November/December issue of GeoStrata, the official magazine of the ASCE Geo-Institute. 

Seismic and Lateral Loads on Soil-Structure Interaction for Deep Foundation Design presented by Kwabena Ofori-Awuah, P.E., D.GE, ENV SP

Wednesday, January 16, 2019


Topic Description:

The design of deep foundations for seismic and lateral loads should consider both inertial and kinematic loads. Kinematic loads include loads due to ground shaking as well as resulting from seismic hazards such as liquefaction and lateral spreading. Pile foundations have been damaged by liquefied and laterally spreading ground in several past earthquakes. This loading condition typically controls the design of deep foundation elements in areas susceptible to liquefaction. 

This presentation will provide an overview of different kinds of inertial and kinematic load, the fundamentals of liquefaction and soil-structure interaction as applied in lateral load environment, and approaches to incorporate them in analyses.

Kwabena Ofori-Awuah, P.E., D.GE, ENV SP, is Practice Leader for Geotechnical Engineering at KCI Technologies, Inc.

"The Business of Geotech and Structural Engineers Working Together” with presenter Stephanie Slocum, P.E., LEED BD+C

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Joint meeting with SEI

Topic Description:

Structural engineers and geotechnical engineers often have competing priorities on project teams driven by differences in business practices and risk management. Many engineers on both sides do not understand these differences. This yields project team misunderstandings on all sides due to unclear expectations, resulting in poor project outcomes. This talk will demystify, from the consulting engineer’s perspective, how geotechnical and structural engineers work together to achieve project success. 

Learning goals:

1. Discuss common ways to contract geotechnical consultants and liabilities associated with each.

2. Learn the foundation design process from an engineer’s business perspective, including how to write an effective RFP and work with a soils report.

3. Learn how today’s documents address differing site conditions, including regional variations.

4. Understand liabilities associated with inspection vs. observations in the construction phase.

This talk will conclude a panel discussion with local geotechnical and structural engineers. Do you want to know what you can do to be a more effective partner with your geotechnical or structural engineer team member? Then you won’t want to miss this talk and discussion!

Special note: This talk is a compilation of research on best business practices completed by the SEI Business Practices Committee, and will be presented by the current chair of that committee. An earlier version of this talk was selected for presentation during the 2016 joint SEI-GI Congress.

Speaker Biography:

Stephanie Slocum is the founder of Engineers Rising, LLC, where she helps engineers learn the leadership and people skills they need to let their technical abilities shine. Prior to founding Engineers Rising in 2018, Stephanie worked as a structural engineer for 15 years, working her way up from EIT to Associate Principal. She has extensive experience in the design and structural engineering project management of large commercial building projects, totaling over $500 million dollars in overall construction costs to date. Her experience includes a number of Baltimore-area projects when she worked for Hope Furrer Associates.

Stephanie is the current chair of the Structural Engineering Institute’s Business Practices committee. She is also the author of She Engineers: Outsmart Bias, Unlock Your Potential, and Live the Engineering Career of your Dreams. She graduated with an integrated bachelors and masters in architectural engineering, structural option, from The Pennsylvania State University in 2002. 

"Modular Retaining Walls and their Potential to Fail" with presenter Raja El-Awar, P.E.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018


Learn about modular retaining walls, their design and construction requirements, inspection, permitting and certification, their failure modes, and how to avoid, inspect, and repair failures. Examples will be provided.

 Speaker Biography:

Raja S. El-Awar, P.E., has been a geotechnical consultant or contractor for over 30 years. He has represented owners, designers, and contractors. Mr. El-Awar is a licensed P.E. in 15 states or jurisdictions and a licensed contractor in three states or jurisdictions. He earned his bachelors and masters in civil engineering, focusing on geotechnical and transportation disciplines, from West Virginia University.

Mr. El-Awar is active with the Deep Foundations Institute as a Helical Piles & Tiebacks committee member and with the Transportation Research Board as a AFP30 Soil and Rock Properties committee member.