Geotechnical Solutions for Soil Improvement, Rapid Embankment Construction, and Stabilization of the Pavement Working Platform (2012)

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24 C h a p t e r 4 Introduction Task 8 of Phase 2 is to test the effectiveness of these mitigation methods approved or amended from Phase 1 and evaluate their effectiveness. The Task 8 work scope was derived from Tasks 4 and 5, reported and discussed in the Phase 1 Report. Task 4 of Phase 1 identified a collection of nongeotechnical constraints that interfere with more widespread use of soil improvement technologies. Task 5 of Phase 1 identified potential mitigation measures for these nongeotechnical constraints. In Phase 1, the research team and advisory board identified 15 primary obstacles. These are listed in Table 4.1. The research team organized the obstacles into two categories: general and project-specific. General obstacles are not tied to the character- istics of a particular project. For example, lack of knowledge about soil improvement technologies is a general obstacle; whereas, interference of existing utilities on technology imple- mentation is a project-specific obstacle. Overcoming many of the general obstacles can also help overcome project-specific obstacles. For example, improving knowledge about technolo- gies in general can promote selection of particular technologies to overcome project-specific constraints, such as existing utilities. Quantitative ratings of the average degree to which each obstacle interferes with the broader use of ground improve- ment technologies are provided in Table 4.1. The more encom- passing nature of some of the general obstacles likely resulted in their higher ratings than for some of the project-specific obstacles. Strategies that address nongeotechnical obstacles in both project-specific and general categories were identified. These strategies are as follows: • Education and training • Agency, industry, and academic collaborations • Policy development Qualitative estimates of the effectiveness of various strate- gies to help overcome the obstacles are presented in Table 4.1. Several mitigation measures that use these strategies to over- come the Task 4 obstacles were identified, and are listed in Table 4.2. Approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of each mitigation measure are also listed. Other R02 project tasks also address several obstacles. For example, Tasks 9 through 12 all contribute to the state of knowl- edge about geoconstruction/soil improvement technologies, so they contribute to overcoming Obstacle 4-1, which is lack of knowledge about technologies. More specifically, the catalog of technologies in Task 9 and the technology guidance in Task 10 are both useful in addressing the project-specific Obstacles 4-8, 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, and 4-13, because they will provide the needed information and methods to select technologies that are com- patible with or overcome project-specific constraints. It will be difficult to precisely measure the effectiveness of many of the measures listed in Table 4.2, and many of the proposed measures were not included in the Phase 2 work scope. Note that the information and guidance system web- site, which holds all of the primary products of this project, addresses Mitigation Method 8.g (see Table 4.2). A readily available method for evaluating the effectiveness of this miti- gation method will be tracking the number of hits on this website and website users’ surveys. task 8 Work Scope The following specific subtasks in Task 8 were completed in Phase 2. Each of these subtasks is summarized in the sections that follow. Some of the subtasks have individual reports, documents, and products; these are referenced as follows: 8.a. Conduct focused workshops to bring together key stake- holders for information exchange, including emerging opportunities for contractors. 8.b. Survey and interview DOTs to learn which characteristics of DOTs enable use of new technologies and use the results to develop recommended DOT policies to encour- age appropriate use of new technologies. Mitigation of Obstacles

25 8.c. Develop a promotional or marketing plan for soil improvement technologies within the transportation industry. 8.d. Develop one-page fact sheets on technologies with refer- ences to more detailed information. 8.e. Develop a methodology for identifying and evaluating information about new technologies and incorporating new technologies in the system described in Task 9. 8.f. Develop recommendations and a scope of work for a “teach the teachers” course for university professors. 8.g. Prepare recommendations for a soil improvement web- site, including considerations of financial support, techni- cal quality control, and continual updating of information for new and changing technologies. Stakeholder Workshops and DOt Interviews Subtasks 8.a and 8.b consisted of focused workshops with key stakeholders and the collection of information from transpor- tation personnel on policies to encourage appropriate use of new technologies. These two subtasks were accomplished through project team meetings with the advisory board, advi- sory board review comments, meetings with the FHWA resource center geotechnical engineers, and workshops. These meetings, correspondence, and workshops occurred during the course of Phase 2 work. A summary listing of activities is presented in Table 4.3. Detailed discussions of each activity are provided in another Table 4.1. Task 4 Obstacles and Effectiveness of Mitigation Strategies to Overcome Obstacles Obstaclea Type of Obstacle Average Degree of Interference with Technologiesb Effectiveness of Strategy to Overcome Obstacle Education and Training Agency, Industry, and Academic Collaborations Policy Development 4-1. Lack of knowledge about technologies General 1.85 High Medium Low 4-2. Lack of organizational structure and poli- cies to encourage use of new technologies General 1.85 Low Medium High 4-3. External pressures on agency inhibiting use of new technologies General 1.55 Low Medium Medium 4-4. Lack of qualified contractors, contractor strategies, personnel, materials, and spe- cialty equipment to implement technologies General 1.76 Medium Medium Low 4-5. Proprietary product/process limit com- petitive bidding General 1.59 Medium Medium Low 4-6. Liability exposure when applying technologies General 1.61 Low Low Medium 4-7. Absence of champion or technical leader- ship for new technologies General 1.79 Medium Medium Low 4-8. Project conditions (right-of-way, geome- try, scale, utilities, and sequence) interfering with application of technologies Project-specific 1.54 Medium Low Low 4-9. Existing market protection interferes with adoption of new technologies General 1.4 Medium Medium Low 4-10. Traffic management needs resulting from technologies Project-specific 1.49 Medium Low Low 4-11. Environmental impacts on technologies Project-specific 1.29 Medium Low Low 4-12. Weather impacts on technologies Project-specific 1.08 Medium Low Low 4-13. Impact of technologies on the public Project-specific 1.41 Medium Low Low 4-14. Lack of profit or return on investment for technologies General 1.29 Low Low Low 4-15. Requirements for waste disposal from technology implementation General 0.9 Medium Low Low a See the description of Task 4 in the Summary of Phase 1 for discussion of these obstacles. b Values obtained from detailed assessments, which are described in the Summary of Phase 1. The higher the number, the greater the obstacle.

26 Phase 2 project report, the Web-Based Information and Guid- ance System Development Report. Feedback comments from stakeholders are contained in the appendices of that report. Marketing and education/ training plans Subtask 8.c is the development of a promotional/marketing plan for soil improvement/geoconstruction technologies within transportation agencies, and includes collaboration strategy Subtask 8.f educational activities, to mitigate obstacles to more widespread use of ground improvement methods by transpor- tation agencies. Another mitigation strategy, education and training, is a key component within the promotional/marketing plan. Subtask 8.f, teach the teachers, and Subtask 8.h, update existing educational materials, are addressed within the pro- posed promotional/marketing plan. The proposed marketing plan is for implementation once the R02 project has been completed, and the information and guidance website is fully functional. It is anticipated that this Table 4.2. Possible Mitigation Measures for Obstacles and Evaluation of Effectiveness Mitigation Methods for Nongeotechnical Obstacles from Task 4 Strategy Employed Obstacles Addressed Effectiveness of Mitigation Method 8.a. Conduct-focused workshops to bring together key stakeholders for information exchange, including emerging opportunities for contractors Collaboration 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-7, 4-9 Surveys and interviews of partici- pants to determine impact of workshops on practice 8.b. Survey and interview DOTs to learn which characteristics of DOTs enable use of new tech- nologies, and use the results to develop recom- mended DOT policies to encourage appropriate use of new technologies Policy development 4-2, 4-3, 4-7 Extent of adoption of the policies; surveys on the impact of the policies on use of soil improve- ment technologies 8.c. Develop a promotional or marketing plan for soil improvement technologies within the trans- portation industry Collaboration 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-7, 4-9 Extent of adoption of the plan; compile statistics on technol- ogy use by DOTs 8.d. Develop one-page fact sheets on technologies with references to more detailed information Education and training 4-1, 4-7 Surveys of those who receive the updated materials 8.e. Develop a methodology for identifying and evaluating information about new technologies, and incorporating new technologies in the sys- tem described in Task 9 Education and training 4-1, 4-7 Survey recipients of information and document use of new technologies 8.f. Teach the teachers, by providing a short course for university professors Education and training 4-1, 4-5, 4-7, 4-8, 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, 4-13, 4-15 Surveys of professors and their students 8.g. Create a soil improvement website containing educational materials, videos, graphics, text, and links to additional information Education and training 4-1, 4-5, 4-7, 4-8, 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, 4-13, 4-15 Number of hits; surveys of target audience. 8.h. Update existing educational materials, includ- ing short courses Education and training 4-1, 4-5, 4-7, 4-8, 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, 4-13, 4-15 Surveys of those who receive and use the updated materials Table 4.3. Stakeholder Meetings and Workshops Activity Location Date Project team and advisory board meeting Kansas City, Mo. October 2009 Minnesota Department of Transportation briefing and demonstration Maplewood, Minn. October 2010 Project team and advisory board meeting Baltimore, Md. November 2010 TRB annual meeting workshop Washington, D.C. January 2011 Louisiana DOTD workshop Baton Rouge, La. April 2011 Soils and Materials Standing Committee, Transportation Association of Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 2011 Renewal TCC presentation Irvine, Calif. April 2011 Compaction “roadeo” Jacksonville, Fla. May 2011

27 plan will be reviewed and refined as implementation of the Geotechnical Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure website is defined by SHRP 2, AASHTO, and FHWA. Marketing the R02 product and tools (i.e., the Geotechni- cal Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure website) is key to achieving SHRP 2 Renewal objectives of rapid renewal of transportation facilities, minimal disruption of traffic, and production of long-lived facilities for the following elements of construction: new embankment and roadway construc- tion over unstable soils, roadway and embankment widening, and stabilization of pavement working platforms. Marketing of these ground improvement technologies will be directed toward STAs, other transportation agencies, and other enti- ties designing or constructing transportation works. Thus, a multilevel marketing plan has been developed to reach these various stakeholders. Components of the plan can be imple- mented; it does not need to be implemented in its entirety. Transportation personnel and related industry personnel to be reached with this marketing plan are: geotechnical engi- neers, civil/structural design and construction engineers, pave- ment design and construction engineers, project management, procurement, research, maintenance, district engineers, gen- eral contractors, architectural/engineering groups, academics, students, and consultants. Components of the multilevel mar- keting plan to reach these various stakeholders are categorized as promotional, collaboration, educational and training, dem- onstration and research and development (R&D) strategy, or outreach strategy, and include the following items: • Promotional 44 Advocate with trade associations 44 Advocate professional organizations (TRB, ASCE, GI, and International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foun- dation Engineering) 44 Develop in-house DOT experts 44 DOT internal review team • Collaboration 44 NHI, NCHRP, AASHTO, FHWA 44 SHRP 44 Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC) 44 Others: design-build teams, general contractors, aca- demia, industry • Educational and training 44 FHWA NHI—promote and demonstrate the website 44 Teach the teachers 44 Train all levels of transportation personnel 44 Re-education—especially on new technologies 44 Vendor training • Demonstration and R&D strategy 44 SHRP preimplementation 44 “Roadeo”—demonstration of emerging compaction technologies 44 Engage academia 44 Scan tour 44 Technology development—enhancement to existing and new technology • Outreach strategy 44 Internal DOT road map 44 Public outreach 44 Internal review panel (DOT) 44 Universities—engage academia 44 Environmental perception A final marketing plan will have to detail which of these items to proceed with and provide specific details on imple- mentation for each item. A final marketing plan was not within the scope of the Phase 2 R02 work, because it would have been premature. Marketing of the R02 products is tied to long-term opera- tion, funding, and maintenance of the Geotechnical Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure website. Where the R02 Geotechnical Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure website will be housed is yet to be determined by SHRP 2, FHWA, and AASHTO. Long-term funding of the website has not yet been identified. These aspects must be defined before finalization and then implementation of a market plan. technology Fact Sheets Subtask 8.d is the development of fact sheets on technologies, with references to more detailed information. The technology fact sheets are one-sheet (double-sided) summaries of key fea- tures of a technology. Their purpose is twofold. The fact sheet is a concise introduction to a technology for those unfamiliar with (or with limited knowledge of) that technology. The fact sheet is also a concise summary of applicability and limita- tions of a technology for use by those already familiar with the technology. Thus, the fact sheet product is a tool for use by the full spectrum of transportation agency personnel. The format of the fact sheet was developed to organize and present information on different aspects of engineering with a ground improvement technology. The information is pre- sented in a consistent format, thus aiding the user in compar- ing different technologies. Fact sheets for 46 technologies are available on the Geotechnical Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure website. Updating Mitigation work will continue in the future with operation and maintenance of the Geotechnical Solutions for Transpor- tation Infrastructure website. Educational materials will be updated with maintenance of the website products. Addi- tional educational materials will be added for when the web- site is expanded to include more technologies. Cases history

28 products will be added. These add to the educational data­ base and, more importantly, can lead to development of tech­ nology champions within different STAs. New Technologies Subtask 8.e is the development of a methodology for identify­ ing and evaluating information about new technologies, and incorporating new technologies in the system. Website users can suggest technologies to be added to the Geotechnical Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure website. How do I suggest adding a technology? is a specific question under the Frequently Asked Questions page of the website, as shown in Figures 4.1 and 4.2. The user is directed to the Submit a Com­ ment form of the website, as shown in Figure 3.10. Once submitted, a proposed technology will have an initial evaluation of its relevancy to SHRP 2 R02 Element 1, 2, or 3 areas. The next step for adding a technology is the develop­ ment of the background information on that technology. The key background is the Comprehensive Technical Summary (CTS). The CTS and the other reports that are built on infor­ mation contained in the CTS are summarized in Chapter 5, Development of Background Information, of this report. The CTS and other report formats are standardized as part of this project and are available for use in assessing new technologies. Products and tools that will be posted on the website are then developed from the CTS and other background reports. Next, these products, when fully reviewed, are ready for posting on the website. The product templates that have been created as part of this project are available for use in creating products and tools for new technologies. The next, significant step to adding a technology to the web­ site is integrating it into the selection process. This may require some reprogramming of the existing selection logic. Completion of the steps just summarized results in the addition of a new technology to the Geotechnical Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure website. Who will perform this work needs to be defined in the implementation phase of this work. It may entail collaboration with others. Likewise, how this work will be funded has to be addressed. The Geotechnical Solutions for Transportation Infra­ structure website can be expanded to include technologies and selection logic for applications other than Elements 1, 2, and 3. For example, the website could be expanded to address deep foundations (piling, shafts, etc.), or earth reten­ tion systems, and the like. The development of background information and products and tools would be the same as that used for Elements 1, 2, and 3 technologies. However, a new logic tree would have to be developed and added to the website to address technology selection in a new applica­ tion area. Website Recommendations Subtask 8.g is preparation of recommendations for a soil improvement website, including considerations of financial support, technical quality control, and continual updating of Figure 4.1. Frequently Asked Questions page of the website.

29 information for new and changing technologies. This task evolved during the course of the Phase 2 work. The Geo­ technical Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure website has been developed and has been refined through an alpha­level testing program. Beta­level testing is recom­ mended as the next phase of work. Recommendations for website technical quality control, updating, and the like are presented within this report in Chapter 6. Figure 4.2. Technology addition question and website response.