Foundation Testing and Analysis Workshop, Proficiency Test Coming Nov. 3


Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI), in cooperation with the Pile Driving Contractors Association (PDCA), has developed a "Dynamic Measurement and Analysis Proficiency Test" for engineers providing high strain dynamic foundation testing services. The test was designed to reflect their level of knowledge and ability, which is then indicated in a "Certificate of Proficiency". To assure a high standard of testing, many organizations or agencies seeking testing services now require a certificate demonstrating some specified level of ability in dynamic testing.

The test is offered upon request (please contact PDCA), but also twice each year as part of the Deep Foundation Dynamic Testing and Analysis (DFDTA) conference, a three-day program coming to the Cleveland Marriott East Hotel (26300 Harvard Road, Warrensville Heights, OH 44122), November 3-5, 2021.

 
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR #1 CONCERN! 
The health and safety of attendees is PDCA & PDI's primary concern. With continued concerns regarding COVID-19 health crisis, social distancing will be implemented in the session room and attendees will be required to wear face masks, including those that are fully vaccinated.

Effective October 1, 2021, Pile Dynamics, Inc. has implemented a COVID-19 Event Protection Clause. In order to provide the utmost safety to our event attendees and instructors, Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI) has instituted the following requirements for all 2021 events hosted by the organization.
  1. All attendees must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the first day of the event.
  2. If attendee does not show one of the above, a negative quick test taken daily will be required for admission.
  3. All attendees must wear a mask while in the classroom, except when eating or drinking.

The DFDTA conference will present a one-day seminar titled Deep Foundation Integrity Testing and Wave Equation Analysis on November 3, 2021.  A two-day workshop titled High Strain Dynamic Foundation Testing will also be presented November 4-5, 2021. On the third-day, PDI will also offer the Dynamic Measurement and Analysis Proficiency Test, a 90-minute, multiple-choice exam that will cover the theory of Wave Mechanics, Case Method (PDA) equations, data quality assessment, data interpretation and basic CAPWAP analysis.

The fee to attend the seminar on November 3, 2021 is $300.00.  The fee to attend the workshop on November 4-5, 2021 is $550.00.  An Early Bird discount with $50.00 off both the seminar and workshop registration fee will be offered until October 15, 2021.  The fee to take the Dynamic Measurement and Analysis Proficiency Test is $200.00.

A total of 21 Professional Development Hours earned for all 3 days: 
  • 7 PDHs for the Day 1 Seminar
  • 14 PDHs for Day 2 and 3 Workshop

*****  If you are a Government employee you can receive a $50.00 discount off the seminar and workshop, in addition to the early bird discount.  Please see the registration information below.  ******

The one-day seminar is designed for Geotechnical, structural and construction engineers, owners, contractors and other professionals involved in the design, construction and specification of deep foundations. This seminar is suitable for those new to the field of Foundation Testing and Analysis and includes an overview of non-destructive testing methods (integrity and load testing) and their applications. It is suitable also for those specifying the testing to gain a basic understanding for assessing the results presented in the test reports and for those needing an understanding of wave equation analysis methods. Those attending the two-day workshop that follows this seminar are strongly encouraged to attend this review of wave equation background materials.

The learning objectives of the seminar are to have the participants able to select an appropriate method of integrity assessment of deep foundations for a particular application, review reports of integrity and dynamic load testing of deep foundations conducted by others and run a basic wave equation analysis of pile driving.

The two-day workshop is designed for users of the Pile Driving Analyzer® (PDA) system and CAPWAP® software who are interested in sharpening their skills: engineers, foundation testing professionals, students and professors already familiar with the basic concepts of deep foundation dynamic testing and analysis; professionals who desire to have a basic understanding of the dynamic test results being presented to them; and those interested in taking the Dynamic Measurement and Analysis Proficiency Test.

The learning objectives of the workshop are to have the participants operate the PDA in a manner conducive to acquiring good quality data; assess pile bearing capacity, pile driving stresses, hammer performance and pile integrity by various methods; avoid pitfalls when analyzing PDA data with the CAPWAP software; interpret PDA testing and CAPWAP software results; describe the soil-model used in CAPWAP; prepare the input for CAPWAP; review options for CAPWAP analysis and output; and calculate bearing capacity and its distribution for driven piles from impact records.

The seminar, workshop or proficiency test may be taken independently, all together or a combination of the course offerings.


To register for the Deep Foundation Dynamic Testing and Analysis program please click DFDTA REGISTRATION FORM.


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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

All Government Employees can receive an additional $50.00 discount when registering for the DFDTA seminar and workshop.  If you are a Government Employee and would like to register for the DFDTA Orlando program please use the link below.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE REGISTRATION FORM

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HOTEL REGISTRATION

Each program attendee will be responsible for making their own hotel reservation.  PDI has arranged a group rate at the Cleveland Marriott East Hotel.

Room reservations can be made online with the Cleveland Marriott East Hotel: click HERE to make your reservation.

The Cleveland Marriott East, along with all Marriott properties, are continuing to instituted their cleanliness protocols during the COVID-19 health crisis. Click HERE to review the hotel's safety practices.

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Please contact the PDCA office toll-free at 904-215-4771 for more information.

Refund Policy: Cancellations received by October 22, 2021 will receive a 50% refund. After this date, there will be no refunds, however name changes are permissible. There will be no transfer of funds to the next course permitted.

SPOTTED in Vegas: PDCA members at DFI conference


As a Cooperating Organization, PDCA lent its support to the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) through participation in the 46th Annual Conference on Deep Foundation, 2021 which was held October 12-15 in Las Vegas, NV. Numerous PDCA members who also participate in DFI attended the event in various capacities; those included session presenters, exhibitors and general attendees. PDCA also staffed an informational booth in the exhibit hall.

Check out the following photos of various sightings at the DFI conference which included an Elvis impersonator (Robert Thompson of Dan Brown and Associates), swagmasters (we see you APE) and foundation projectiles, courtesy of the award-winning contractor Foundation Constructors:
 
Elvis hasn't left the building

Foundation projectiles sailed through the rafters

The Swagmaster and his entourage
 
In addition to participation in the exhibition hall, several representatives of PDCA member companies also served the DFI conference as presenters on a wide-range of subject matter. Some of those who presented are pictured below:
 
 
PDCA staff attended the Hal Hunt Lecture during lunch on October 14th; retired MLB pitcher and Olympic Gold Medalist Jim Abbott delivered an inspiring talk about overcoming unique challenges.

PDCA thanks DFI for the continued, industry partnership. 

To all PDCA members, you are encouraged to Save the Date as the PDCA 2022 Annual Conference is right around the corner, coming February 2022!
 

INVITATION to the 2021, ASCE Buchanan Lecture

PDCA shares this invitation from Jean-Louis BRIAUD, PhD, PE, DGE, Distinguished Member ASCE, current President of ASCE (a cooperating organization with PDCA). It contains details for parties interested in attending the 2021 Buchanan Lecture, a virtual event on November 12.


Dear Colleague,

The 2021 Buchanan Lecturer is Dr. Philippe Jeanjean who is the Senior Advisor for Geotechnical Engineering at BP America in Houston, Texas. Dr. Jeanjean's lecture is entitled "Offshore Geotechnics: From Oil & Gas to Renewable Energy."

Also on the agenda is Professor Edward J. Cording, who will be presenting his 2020 Terzaghi Lecture "Observing and Controlling Ground Behavior with Tunnel Boring Machines." Professor Cording is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

The lectures will take place virtually via Zoom, and will begin at 2:00 pm US Central Time on November 12, 2021. Please relay to colleagues and students. A Zoom link to attend the Buchanan Lecture will be posted on this website (https://briaud.engr.tamu.edu/buchananlecture/) a few days before the lecture and a video will be posted on that website afterwards for those who are unable to attend.

Best wishes, Jean-Louis.

Jean-Louis BRIAUD, PhD, PE, DGE, Distinguished Member ASCE
ASCE President
University Distinguished Professor and Buchanan Chair Holder
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas, 77843-3136, USA

Presenters at the 2021 Buchanan Lecture by ASCE:



Dr. Philippe Jeanjean,  Senior Advisor for
Geotechnical Engineering at BP America 
is The 2021 Buchanan Lecturer

Professor Edward J. Cording
Prof. Emeritus, Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign


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