ASCEGEOINSTITUTE

SOILIMPROVEMENTCOMMITTEE

MEETINGMINUTES
13March2013

Location:

Town&CountryHotel
SanDiego,California

CommitteeChairman: KyleRollins,BrighamYoungUniversity
Recordedby: Antonio(Tony)Marinucci,ADSC(committeesecretary)

ThismeetingwascalledtoorderbyK.Rollins,committeechairman,at8.05pm(localtime)

MinutesoftheMeeting
1. MeetingwasstartedwithawelcomebyK.Rollins,followedbyaselfintroductionofmeetingattendees

Theofficersofthiscommitteeareasfollows:
CommitteeChairman: KyleRollins,BrighamYoungUniversity
ViceChairman: KordWissman,GeoPierFoundationCo.
Secretary: Antonio(Tony)Marinucci,ADSC

Othernonofficerpositionsforthiscommitteeareasfollows:
Webmaster: ArminStuedlein,OregonStateUniversity
AwardsSubcommitteeChairman: JieHuang,UniversityofTexasSanAntonio

2. UpdatefromGeoInstitute(andTechnicalCommitteeCouncil,TCC)VernSchaefer
TriAnnualReport
Reportwassubmittedandontime
CommitteereceivedaGOODratingfromtheTCC.TheTCCreportedthatthecommittee
hasgoodenergy,andwouldliketoseeitcontinue
Thecommitteeisgoodforanother3years
ChangesinGIAnnualMeetings
Thereisanewprocessinplace,andwillbeimplementedcommencingin2017
There will be a standing committee (with rotating membership) for upcoming
conferences.Amemberofthecommitteewillservefor3years(forConferenceChairs
1yearpriortotheirconference,conferenceyear,1yearpostconference)
Theremaybeachangeintheconferenceschedulingandagendaformat;possiblyoccur
fromSaturdaytoWednesday
For2013conference(attimeofthismeeting)1,014registrants;300students
3. UpdateonUpcomingGeoInstituteConferencesKyleRollins
2014Sustainability/SiteCharacterizationFeb.2326Atlanta
2015IFCEEJointADSC/GI/PDCA/DFIEXPOtypeconferenceinMarch1721inSanAntonio
2015Intl.DeepMixingConf.May/JuneSanFrancisco
2016JointGI/SEICongressFebMarch
2016SustainabilityandtheGeoenvironmentalSpecialtyConference

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4. LiaisonwithInternationalBuildingCode(IBC)MaryEllenBruce
The Code Committee is comprised of members from DFI (each chapter), PDCA (deep
foundations),GI(shallowfoundations,andADSC(deepfoundationsandearthretention)
Thereviewandproposedchangesgotovotein2015,andacceptedchangesareincorporatedin
the2018edition
Thecommitteeholdsteleconferencesevery3orsoweeks
TomGurtowskiandDaleBiggersareleadingtheeffort
The committee is proposing to add sections into the code covering soil improvement,
foundationtesting,expansivesoils,andcollapsiblesoils
FredMasseistheleadforthesoilimprovementsection
KyleRollinsexpressedinterestinthecollapsiblesoilssection
ItwasmentionedthatArtPengelly(CraigOlden,Inc.)mayhaveinterestintheexpansive
soilssection
5. Update/CorrelationwithDFIGroundImprovementEffortsRobertoLopez
Roberto Lopez stated that the DFI committee is interested in working with this committee on
activitiesandeventsnottoduplicateefforts
SomeoftheactivitiesfromtheDFIcommittee
GroundImprovementWhitePaperinfinalreview
Specificationsininitialstages(RayFranzandDominicParmantierareleads)
LiquefactionSeminar,St.Louiscompleted,80attendees,goodseminarandfeedback
WickDrainSpecificationsinfinalreview
LiquefactionPracticeSurveyDFIProjectFundAwardTimSiegelwilldevelopreport
(150respondents),whichwillbepublishedinDFIJournal
Discussionofhostingajointseminar/trackbetweenDFIandGIcommittees
Discussiontopicshow couldthisbe done?Whattopics wouldbebeneficialtoboth
groups and members? Short courses or standalone seminars? Possibly sponsor
multipletracks/sessionsatIFCEE2015?
OtherideasResearchneedsstudy,trainingtools,webinartopics
Seminar/trackideasDesign/Buildaspects,QA/QC,anindustryreport
M.E. Bruce provided an update on DFI activities and passed out a handout to attendees
(attachedtominutes)
6. ReportonSessionsfrom2013GeoCongressGeorgeFilz
Therewere300studentsatthisconference(12%fromVirginiaTech)
25abstractsweresubmitted.
Sessionorganizers(Filz,Rollins)werenotgivenchargeofselectingtheabstractsfortheir
ownsessions.Organizersshouldbegivenchancetoreviewandaccept/rejectabstracts
Whywasthis?
15paperswereeventuallysubmittedandweaccepted13papers
2additionalsessionsmovedin(byGIConferencefolks),butnottoobad
GroundImprovementI,II,IIIWednesday1011:30,1:303,and3:305pm
Reviewers:G.Filz,K.Rollins,A.Stuedlein,R.Lopez,T.Siegel
Moderators:R.Lopez,T.Siegel,K.Rollins
7. GroundImprovementSessionProposalsforGeoCongress2014AliMaher
(CoSponsoredwithGeoenvironmentalEngineering)
AliMaheristheleadonthesessionproposals(attachedtominutes)
Abstractsaredue15March2013

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Session25SustainableStabilization/SolidificationofContaminatedSoilandWaste
Sessioncochairs:
Emphasisoncasehistories,QA/QC
Session42ElementsofSustainabilityinGeotechnicalEngineering
(Reuse/RehaboffoundationsandGeosystems,RecycledReengineeredmaterialUse,
CarbonFootprintAnalysesandPollutionControl,BalancedDesignandManagementof
Risk)
Paperswhichdefinewhatwearetalkingaboutwouldbeverygood.Reviewedapaper
onsustainabilityfromEngland.
Mary Ellen Bruce will circulate the session proposal through DFI Sustainability
committeeandthroughDFIEurope
SessionCoChairs:
8. UpdateontheSHRP2GroundImprovementPlatformVernSchaefer
Attemptingtorebrandtheproduct>www.GeotechTools.org
Users will need to register to access the system (FAQ available. Feedback from users is
requested,andareasforfeedbackareavailablewithintheprogram)
Looking for a final host for the website. Updating of the system (and information) will be
dependentuponfundingand/orrevenuegeneration.
TheintentoftheToolisthatitwouldbealivingsystem,tobeupdatedastheneedarises.
FHWA&SHRP2arelookingintohowtheproductwillcontinuetolookmovingforward,howto
sustain,andhowtomaintain,etc.
Short courses are being developed to change the culture about using this toolfrom
informationusagetoincorporatingintothedesignprocess
9. UpdateonWebSiteDevelopmentArminStuedlein
Sendanyinformation,links,requestsforupload/inclusiontoArmin
10. SessionProposalsIdeasforupcomingconferencesKyleRollins
2015IFCEEJointExpotypeconferencewithADSC/GI/PDCA/DFIMarch1721,2015
InternationalFoundationsCongressandEquipmentExpo
TechnicalProgramCommitteeBrianAnderson,MaryEllen,MikeJustason,andTony
Marinucci
CallforShortCoursesandTechnicalSessionswassentouttoeachorganizationatend
ofFebruarydeadlineforproposalsisinJune2013
Thetechnicalprogramwillincludepanelsessions,typicaltechnicalSessions,poster
sessions,andshortcourses
Other conference features Exhibition/field demos and Joint committee meetings
(possibly)
Possiblesoilimprovementsessions(fromthiscommittee)
Groundimprovementforstructuralfoundationandembankmenttreatment
JuanBaezwilltakethelead
GroundimprovementforexpansivesoilsAnandPupala(needtoinformhim)
Panel discussion on deep foundations/ground improvement Roberto Lopez
andKordWissmanwilltakethelead
2015Intl.DeepMixingConf.May/June,20153daysSanFranciscoGeorgeFilz,Chair(DFIwill
bethemanagingparty)
DFIDeepMixingCommitteeandGISoilImprovementCommitteewillbeinvolvedand
stronglysupportthisconference

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Prior conferences: Sweden 2005 200 attendees, Okinawa 2009 about 100
attendees
SanFrancisco2015:
Tryingtoachieve200250attendees(moreopenenrollment).
Not jet grouting or stone columnsmechanical mixing can be jet assisted
mechanicalmixing.Seismicfocusalrightbutnotexclusive.
Singletrackprogram,3dayslong
Expectalargeinternationalparticipation
Roleofthiscommitteeassistthroughouttheentireprocess,fromorganization
toreviewofpaperstomoderating,asneeded,etc
Needslocalcommitteetoassist
Willbelookingforsponsorships
Floodprotectionlevees.Levees,shoring,etc.
2016JointGI/SEICongressFebMarch
11. CooperationwithDFIMaryEllenBruce
Carboncalculatorisalmostreadyforreleaseinfinalreview
TherewillberegionaltraininginIndia
ThereisaPanelReinforcementAdvisoryBoardinplace
Additional information is found on handout M.E. Bruce provided containing update on DFI
activitiesandinitiatives(attachedtominutes)
12. RegionalGroundImprovementSeminarsKordWissman,AliMaher
In2011,seminarwasheldatOregonState;approx.95attendees
In2012,seminarwasheldatBYU;approx.120attendees
Upcomingseminar
1dayseminar,October2013
Needtogetinformationtolocallevel
LocalASCEinterestedinparticipatingDFIinterested?
MainfocusBridgerehabilitationwork
TopicsMSEforbridgeabutments,DMMforstabilizationandfoundations,etc
AlimeetingwithlocalASCEandPortAuthorityofNY/NJ
13. InternationalCollaborationsBudimaInduratna
Noreport
14. AwardsforGroundImprovementJieHuang
JimCollinreceivedtheWallaceHaywardBakerAward
NonominationsweremadefortechnicalpapersforGeoCongress2013
K.Wissman,A.Stuedlein,J.Clemente,andD.DailervolunteeredtoassistJ.Huangwitheffort
15. SustainabilityinSoilImprovementAhmedElgamel
Noreport
NeedtoprovideAhmedsemailinformationtoM.E.Bruce
16. GroundImprovementWebinarCommitments
Needtodevelopwebinarstopromotegeneraloraseriesoftopics
FundsfromtheTCCcanbeusedtodevelopwebinars
PeerReviewedinadvanceforapproval
$1000/hrofpresentationtime
17. GeostrataarticlesonSoilImprovementJimWithiam

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Noreport,butneedtoprovidearticlesayearinadvance

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18. MidYearMeeting
Holdinconjunction(orat)theDFIAnnualMeetinginPhoenixinSeptember2528??
19. Othernewbusinessortopicstodiscuss?
Noothernewbusinesswasbroughtup.

Meetingwasadjournedat10.15pm(localtime).

MeetingAttendees
Name
JieHuang
JoseClemente
RobinCheng
JuanBaez
RobertoLopez
DennisBoehm
TrishGallagher
KyleRollins
AntonioMarinucci
SilasNichols
KordWissman
AdrianaPaucean
MaryEllenBruce
VernSchaefer
AliMaher
DavidSYang
EmreBiringen
GeorgeFilz
JohnMiller
JieHan
ArminStuedlein

Affiliation
UnivTexasSanAntonio
Bechtel
Layne
AGI
MalcolmDrilling
HaywardBaker
DrexelUniv
BrighamYoungUniv.
ADSC
FHWA
GeopierFoundationCo.
HCMatcon
DFI
IowaStateUniversity
RutgersUniversity
JAFECUSA,Inc.
Bechtel
VirginiaTech
ADSC
UniversityofKansas
OregonStateUniversity

Email
jie.huang@utsa.edu
jlclemente@bechtel.com
robin.cheng@layne.com
jbaez@advgeosolutions.com
rlopez@malcolmdrilling.com
dwboehm@haywardbaker.com
Pmg24@drexel.edu
rollins@byu.edu
antmarinucci@gmail.com
Silas.nichols@dot.gov
kwissman@geopier.com
adrianap@hcgroup.ca
mebruce@dfi.org
vern@iastate.edu
mmaher@rci.rutgers.edu
davidyang@jafecusa.com
ebiringe@bechtel.com
filz@vt.edu
jmiller@adsciafd.com
jiehan@ku.edu
armin.stuedlein@oregonstate.edu