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Office of Geotechnical Engineering

Announcements

 

 

 

 Visual Classification for Geotechnical Logging of Soil and Rock Stratum

 
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Course Description:
The Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Visual Classification Course for Geotechnical Logging of Soil and Rock Stratum is being offered by the Office of Geotechnical Engineering on April 17 and on April 18, 2018. The focus of the course will be to provide a working knowledge of the current requirements for the classification of both soil and rock materials as related to geotechnical explorations for ODOT projects. Anticipated attendees for the course are individuals who will be involved in field or laboratory visual classification of samples, development of boring logs, or the QA/QC of the process as required by the ODOT Office of Consultant Services. The course is designed to be hands-on, involving both classroom and laboratory instruction and exercises. The course goal is to provide adequate instruction so that the Consulting community will be able to provide a standardized and uniform submission of boring logs and soil profiles.
Course Outline:
08:30 - 10:30: Soil Classification
10:30 - 10:45: Break
10:45 - 11:30: Soil Classification – Hands On
11:30 - 12:30: Lunch – On Own
12:30 - 14:30: Rock Classification
14:30 - 14:45: Break
14:45 - 16:00: Rock Classification – Hands On
16:00 - 16:15: Break
16:15 - 17:00: Practical Exam
For the April 17 course flyer, click HERE.  For on-line registration, click HERE.
For the April 18 course flyer, click HERE.  For on-line registration, click HERE.
Course Instructors:
The course will taught by Mr. P. Paul Painter and Mr. Adam Willis, Geologists with the ODOT, Office of Geotechnical Engineering. Mr. Painter has been with ODOT since 2005 and Mr. Willis has been with ODOT since 2009. Prior to working for ODOT, both were employed as consultants working on a wide range of transportation, heavy infrastructure and site development projects. Mr. Painter is a Licensed or Registered Geologist in three states.
 
 

 2018 Consultant Geotechnical Workshop

 
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On June 5, 2018, the ODOT Office of Geotechnical Engineering (OGE) will host a Geotechnical Consultant Workshop at the Central Office Hilltop Complex (1980 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio) in the auditorium from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The Workshop agenda is being developed.  If you have a geotechnical topic you would like us to address or if you have an ODOT project of geotechnical interest you would like to present, please send an e-mail to chris.merklin@dot.ohio.gov. 
 
Questions and comments are encouraged throughout the Workshop, however, please refrain from asking project specific questions.
 
There is no need to pre-register. There is no limit as to how many people attend from each company.  Attendance at the entire workshop is worth 4.75 continuing professional development hours.  If you have any questions, please call Chris Merklin at 614-275-1361 or send questions by e-mail to chris.merklin@dot.ohio.gov.
  
 

 Prefabricated Retaining Wall System (PRWS) Approval Process

 
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To our Consultants, Contractors, and Wall Suppliers,
 
Please note that ODOT had instituted a new approval process for Prefabricated Retaining Wall Systems (PRWS) as of April 01, 2016.  Prefabricated Retaining Wall suppliers seeking approval of their PRWS for use on ODOT projects must submit applications in accordance with the requirements of the PRWS Approval Process. The approval status of any wall system on the ODOT Approved Product List (Approved List) will expire five years from the date of placement on the list or when there are changes in the wall system as described in the Prefabricated Retaining Wall Systems Approval Process. The approval status of any wall system approved prior to April 1, 2016 will expire on June 30, 2017.  The deadline for submission of all the documents required for approval is May 31, 2017.
 
The PRWS Approval Process documentation can be located on the ODOT Approved Products List (Approved List) located here:
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ConstructionMgt/Materials/Approved-List/Pages/default.aspx.
A link to the PRWS Approval Process documentation is also available on the left-hand menu bar of the ODOT Office of Geotechnical Engineering (OGE) web site:
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Engineering/Geotechnical/Pages/default.aspx
 
The following types of Prefabricated Retaining Wall Systems are subject to approval by this process:
·         Precast Gravity Wall Systems
·         Precast Semi-Gravity Wall Systems
·         Bin Wall Systems
·         Crib Wall Systems
·         Gravity Modular Block Retaining Wall Systems (also known as Segmental Retaining Walls (SRW), Modular Segmental Retaining Walls, and Modular Concrete Block Retaining Walls)
·         Gravity Large Block Retaining Wall Systems (also known as Big Block Retaining Walls)
·         Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall Systems
 
Please note that Modular Block and Large Block Retaining Wall Systems that incorporate soil reinforcements, such as geogrids, are considered MSE Walls, and must meet the requirements of Supplemental Specification (SS) 840, and the Submittal Requirements for Approval of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall Systems as given in the PRWS Approval Process.  If a Modular Block or Large Block Retaining Wall System is to be used as either a gravity wall or an MSE wall, the supplier must make two submissions: one for the wall system to be used in each mode.
 

 Subsurface Investigation Qualification

 
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National Highway Institute Course Offered
Subsurface Investigation Qualification
This three-day course is normally offered 1-2 times per year at various locations. Taught by NHI-approved instructors, this course is part of a series to develop a training and qualification/certification program for geotechnical inspectors and field personnel. This course is intended for drillers, drilling inspectors, engineers, geologists, and technicians involved in field data collection and quality assurance of subsurface investigations. The course follows FHWA guidelines and practices for subsurface investigations.
 
The course is being offered by the National Drilling Association (NDA). ODOT Consultant Prequalification Requirements and Procedures, issued June 2010 state that after July 1, 2011, in addition to experience requirements, two prequalification categories require certification of personnel by the NDA. The course being offered is part of the certification process. For the category of Geotechnical Field Exploration (2.18), the field drill crew supervisor shall be certified. Only drill crew supervisors that meet these requirements are eligible to supervise geotechnical field explorations in the field. For the category of Geotechnical Drilling Inspection Services (2.19), at least one drilling inspector shall be certified. Only drilling inspectors that meet these requirements are eligible to perform these duties in the field.
 
Detailed course and registration information can be found at:
 
On-line registration for the course can be made at:
http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/course_search.aspx?sf=0&course_no=132079
 
Questions regarding the NHI Subsurface Investigation Qualification course may be addressed to the NDA office at 877-632-4748.
 

 gINT Download Files

 

The ODOT gINT Library, Data Template, and Example Project files are available HERE.  gINT version 8.2.004 or greater is required to use these files.  For those who do not have gINT version 8.2.004, or do not wish to use the ODOT gINT Library and Template, we are also making available the Official ODOT Symbols and Tiles for use in gINT Reports.