1. 78 GEOSTRATA JULY/AUG 2016
COREBITS CHAPTERS
Metropolitan Section G-I
Chapter Hosts 40th Annual
Seminar
On May 12, nearly 200 geotechnical
professionals and 20 exhibitors from the
New York metropolitan area attended the
40th Annual Metropolitan Section
Geotechnical Seminar in Manhattan. This
year's seminar was entitled “Geotechnical
Aspects of Safeguarding Infrastructure:
Applying Risk Management to Build
Resiliency.” The one-day seminar began
with “Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil: From
the Experimental to the Familiar,” a lecture
by G-I Past President and University of
Washington Professor Emeritus Robert D.
Holtz, PhD, PE, D.GE, Dist.M.ASCE.
Another highlight was the awarding of the
Chapter’s inaugural scholarship to Erin
Zeqja, BCE, EIT, A.M.ASCE, of Columbia
University. There were 10 papers presented
at the seminar — each focused on
practical lessons learned and innovative
engineering solutions for challenging
projects around the New York
metropolitan area. Over the past 40 years,
this meeting has become the “go-to” event
for the local geotechnical community.
East Central Florida G-I
Cosponsors Jim Jammal
Lecture Dinner
The East Central Florida Geo-Institute
cosponsored the fourth annual Jim
Jammal Lecture Dinner on April 6. The
keynote speaker was Kord Wissmann,
PhD, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, president of the
Geo-Institute. His presentation, “Finding
Love on the Dark Side,” described the
ups and downs of his profession and
encouraged students and established
engineers to “find the love in geotechnical
engineering.” More than 70 engineers,
including 15 University of Central Florida
engineering students, attended.
ASCE Wisconsin Section
Participates in 2016 Spring
Technical Conference
On March 24, the Wisconsin Geo-Institute
participated in the ASCE Wisconsin Section
2016 Spring Technical Conference in
Green Bay. This annual event includes
multiple general interest sections and
technical sessions. Tom Bucholz, PE, of the
Wisconsin Department of Transportation,
presented “Leo Frigo Bridge Corrosion
Monitoring.” Jim Botz, PE, M.ASCE, and
Marty Kemps, PE, M.ASCE, of Mead
& Hunt, presented “Improving Safety
and Recreation at Montello Dam.” Greg
Greenlee, PE, of Engineering Partners
International, presented “University
of Minnesota Northrop Auditorium
Renovation Underpinning and Micropile
Foundation Case Study.” Mark Meyers,
PhD, PE, F.ASCE, of the University of
Wisconsin, Platteville, presented “Slope
Stability Analysis Using Residual Shear
Strengths: The Development of a New
USACE Design Criterion.” Doug Bath,
PE, M.ASCE, of GESTRA Engineering,
presented “Wick Drains on the I-41 Project
in Brown County.”
Utah Geo-Institute Addresses
ASCE’s Southern Utah Branch
The Utah Geo-Institute gave a presen-
tation on April 21 to the Southern Utah
Branch of the Utah Section of ASCE. The
discussion, which focused on drilled
shaft technologies and elements of
construction, took place in St. George,
UT, and was part of an outreach of local
institutes to provide technical content and
training to branches of ASCE sections.
The presentation focused on such topics
as drilled shaft design considerations, an
overview of construction technologies
relative to subsurface conditions, con-
struction quality assurance methods, and
shaft quality control testing technologies.
Bacon Gives Update on US 181
Harbor Bridge Project
On May 3, the Region 6 Local Involvement
Committee representative Dexter Bacon,
PE, M.ASCE, spoke at the ASCE Corpus
Christi monthly luncheon. His talk was
entitled “Update on the US 181 Harbor
Bridge Project Geotechnical Study.” The
bridge is replacing the current Harbor
Bridge in Corpus Christi, TX. When
completed in 2020, the new bridge will
become the longest main span cable-
stayed bridge in the U.S. At 1,655 ft, it has
overtaken the current record holder, the
John James Audubon Bridge, that spans
the Mississippi River in St. Francisville, LA.
Compared to the current 138-ft clearance,
the new bridge will have a 205-ft vertical
clearance that will allow modern Panamax
container ships to access the inner harbor.
Geotechnical topics included large-
diameter drilled shafts for the main towers,
ground modification of soft soils in areas
of tall embankment fills, expansive soil
remediation, and statnamic pile loading.
The presentation attracted more than 50
attendees, including six new ASCE life
members, who were recognized.
Kord with the UCF students and faculty.
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