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TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast

TGEP 15: How Soil Erosion Affects the Community and Our Infrastructure

January 14, 2021 By EMI

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soil erosionIn this episode of The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast, we talk to Stacey Kulesza, B.S., M.E., Ph.D., an Associate Professor at Kansas State University, about her research on soil erosion and how it affects the community and our infrastructure.

Engineering Quotes:

soil erosion

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Stacey:

[Read more…] about TGEP 15: How Soil Erosion Affects the Community and Our Infrastructure

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: anthropogenic factors, backfills of the MSC walls, carbon dioxide, causes of bridge collapses, geophysics, human activities destroy the soil, infrastructure, Kansas State University, long-term impact of soil erosion, Mechanically stabilized earth walls, Soil Erosion, soil productivity, Stacey Kulesza, susceptible to corrosion, top surface soil, topsoil erosion

TGEP 14: Be Open to New Opportunities in Your Engineering Career

December 31, 2020 By EMI

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New OpportunitiesIn this episode, we talk to Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D., P.E., a geotechnical project manager and laboratory manager at American Geotechnical & Environmental Services, Inc., about how you can be open to new opportunities in your engineering career, what geotechnical engineers can do in life, and what it means to be an engineer who attends conferences.

Engineering Quotes:

New Opportunities

New Opportunities

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Sebastian:

[Read more…] about TGEP 14: Be Open to New Opportunities in Your Engineering Career

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: American Geotechnical & Environmental Services, be open to change, engineer who attends conferences, Engineering Career, engineering student, fear of making changes, forefront of learning, geotechnical engineers, how to be open to new opportunities, important experience, Inc., knowledge gained, make important decisions, making life decisions, new opportunities, researching other kinds of engineering, Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero

TGEP 13: Dynamic Compaction: Insight From a Geotechnical Engineer

December 17, 2020 By EMI

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Dynamic CompactionIn this episode, we talk to Chris Woods, a geotechnical engineer with over 20 years of project-related experience throughout the continental United States, and Vice President for the Virginia-based dynamic compaction specialty contractor, Densification, Inc. about the importance of industry involvement and relationships in construction, transitioning from consultant to a contractor, and the applicability of dynamic compaction.

Engineering Quotes:

Dynamic Compaction

Dynamic Compaction

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Chris Woods:

[Read more…] about TGEP 13: Dynamic Compaction: Insight From a Geotechnical Engineer

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: broader knowledge base, building relationships, Career Transitions, Chris Woods, compaction tests, consultant to contractor, Densification, Dynamic Compaction, engineering industry, geotechnical engineer, granular soils, Ground Improvement, industry organizations, mine spoils, networking, relationships in construction, Relationships with contractors, uncontrolled fills

TGEP 12: What Geotechnical Engineers Should Know About Static and Seismic Liquefaction

December 3, 2020 By EMI

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LiquefactionIn this episode, we talk to Scott M. Olson, Ph.D., P.E., Professor of Geotechnical/Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, about his career journey and about static and seismic liquefaction. He also provides some of the latest updates about the residual strength of liquefied soils.

Engineering Quotes:

Liquefaction

Liquefaction

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Scott:

[Read more…] about TGEP 12: What Geotechnical Engineers Should Know About Static and Seismic Liquefaction

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: clay silts, Earthquakes, geotechnical engineers, getting a Ph.D., how sands behave, intermediate soils, international students, low- or non-plasticity silts, residual strength of liquefied soils, sandy silts, Scott M. Olson, Seismic Liquefaction, soil liquefaction, Static and Seismic Liquefaction, Static Liquefaction, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

TGEP 11: How To Become a Great Geotechnical Engineer

November 20, 2020 By EMI

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Great Geotechnical EngineerIn this episode, we talk to Andrew Burns, P.E., who is the Vice President of Engineering & Estimating for Underpinning & Foundation Skanska. We talk about his career and how he worked his way up from office engineer to vice president and he also shares some very useful advice on how you can become a great geotechnical engineer.

Engineering Quotes:

engineer

engineer

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Andrew:

[Read more…] about TGEP 11: How To Become a Great Geotechnical Engineer

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: Andrew Burns, deep foundation elements, Engineering & Estimating, Engineering jobs, geological processes, geotechnical engineer, Geotechnical Engineering, office engineer to vice president, optimal performance, precision and accuracy, problem solving, Skanska, SOE system, thinking out of the box, uncertainties, Underpinning & Foundation, understanding the problem, Vice President

TGEP 10: Ground Improvement Techniques for Geotechnical Engineering Professionals

November 6, 2020 By EMI

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Ground Improvement TechniquesIn this episode, we talk to John R. Grillo, P.E., a Project Executive at Keller about ground improvement techniques, deep foundation design, and the latest drilling techniques they have been using. He also provides some great advice for geotechnical engineers who are looking at moving into a leadership role.

Engineering Quotes:

Ground Improvement Techniques

Ground Improvement Techniques

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask John R. Grillo, P.E.:

[Read more…] about TGEP 10: Ground Improvement Techniques for Geotechnical Engineering Professionals

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: advice for geotechnical engineers, bidding on projects, building a foundation, deep foundation design, Deep Foundations, drilling techniques, Geotechnical Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering Professionals, Ground Improvement, Ground Improvement Techniques, John R. Grillo, Keller, relationship with your staff, soft skills, structural slabs

TGEP 9: Earthquake Engineering – Dream Big and Aim High!

October 23, 2020 By EMI

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Earthquake EngineeringIn episode 9 of The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast, we talk to Menzer Pehlivan, Ph.D., P.E. a geotechnical engineer with a specialization in seismic hazards and resiliency. Menzer knows four languages, has a Ph.D., spent two years working in New York, was featured in a movie, and is now working at Jacobs in Seattle. And in this episode, we have the privilege to talk to this successful engineer about earthquake engineering, and diversity and inclusion in the engineering world.

Engineering Quotes:

earthquake engineering

earthquake engineering

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Menzer in This Episode:

[Read more…] about TGEP 9: Earthquake Engineering – Dream Big and Aim High!

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: Aim High, critical thinking, culture, Diversity, Dream Big, Earthquake, Earthquake Engineering, effects of earthquakes, Engineering, ethnic background, Geotechnical Engineering, geotechnical industry, Menzer Pehlivan, problem-solving skills, resiliency, seismic hazards

TGEP 08: Ground Improvement Techniques for Geotechnical Engineering Professionals

October 9, 2020 By EMI

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Ground ImprovementIn this episode, we talk to Seth Pearlman, P.E., D. GE, M.ASCE, President and CEO of Menard Group USA, about ground improvement and the differences between ground improvement and piling. He also provides some great tips on how engineers can advance and grow in their careers.

ground improvement

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Seth Pearlman, P.E., D. GE, M.ASCE:

[Read more…] about TGEP 08: Ground Improvement Techniques for Geotechnical Engineering Professionals

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: advance in your career, building codes and standards, commoditized, Design Build, Geotechnical Engineering Professionals, Ground Improvement, ground improvement solutions, Ground Improvement Techniques, management structure, Menard Group USA, reinforce the ground, Seth Pearlman

TGEP 07: How to Start and Grow a Successful Engineering Firm

September 25, 2020 By EMI

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Successful EngineeringIn this episode of The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast, I talk to Peggy Hagerty Duffy, P.E., D.GE, M.ASCE, president at Hagerty Engineering, Inc., about starting a successful engineering firm. Peggy shares some of the valuable lessons she learned when starting her firm and how she overcame obstacles in her path.

Engineering Quotes:

Successful Engineering

Successful Engineering

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Peggy Hagerty Duffy, P.E., D.GE, M.ASCE, in This Episode:

  • Can you tell us what it is like to be the President of Hagerty Engineering?
  • What made you decide to take the geotechnical engineering path?
  • Do you have to love math to be an engineer?
  • Why did you start your blog and what experiences have you had because of it?
  • Can you tell us about the deep foundation video that you were in and what your role was in it?
  • What made you decide to start your own firm?
  • Did you have any fears when you started your firm and how did you overcome them?
  • If you had to look back, did you make the right decision to start a firm?
  • Is there anything that you can think of doing differently in your firm?
  • What is your advice for geotechnical engineers who are thinking about starting their firm?
  • With your firm’s involvement with ADSC, how do you find time to do everything, and how does it align with your responsibilities and professional career?
  • At what point do you think in someone’s career should they start looking at getting engaged with professional organizations?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About How to Start and Grow a Successful Engineering Firm:

  • Peggy started her geotechnical engineering career by conducting basic geotechnical investigations, and still does this from time to time. She has kept her company small because she does not want to go to a level of just management — she still wants to be active in the field. The company is in an area where there are many sinkholes, and it excites her to work on projects that involve working with sinkholes.
  • Peggy started studying in the medical field, however, she had helped her dad with research projects and discovered that she enjoyed doing that kind of work, and so decided to pursue a geotechnical engineering career.
  • You do not need to love math to be an engineer, but you do need to be able to do it.
  • There are not many women in the geotechnical engineering field, and the few that are there feel like they cannot talk about having rough days at a site. This is because they are mostly scared someone is going to pull them off of the project and replace them with a man. Peggy’s blog serves as an outlet for women, and they are encouraged to join in and share their experiences.
  • Peggy was 30 years old when she decided to start her firm. She decided to do this because she did not agree with the philosophy of many of the places she worked at. Many firms put the business decisions before the engineering decisions, but Peggy wanted to do this the other way around: engineering decisions and ethics first.
  • When starting her firm, Peggy was more nervous about the business side of things than the engineering side. She thought in a way where she felt responsible for the mortgages of all the people who worked in her firm. She has a spontaneous personality and when she decided to start her firm, she said she was doing it and not looking back.
  • Hagerty Engineering Inc., does a lot of outreach and support of community construction projects.
  • If you get involved with all of your employees’ personal problems, then you are not being a good manager, and this takes a while to learn.
  • The ADSC is Hagerty Engineering’s biggest client, and they service their technical director. They oversee all of ADSC’s technical committee work and all the research that is done with the association. They are also the liaison with federal estate agencies and represent members in technical issues.
  • You should start engaging with professional organizations as soon as you can. This will help you early in your career to get help with problems from people who have done it before.

More Details in This Episode…

About Peggy Hagerty Duffy, P.E., D.GE, M.ASCE

successful engineeringPeggy Hagerty Duffy, P.E., D.GE, M.ASCE, graduated from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1989 and a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering degree with a concentration in geotechnical engineering in 1990. She worked for several consulting firms before starting Hagerty Engineering in 1997 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in the metro Louisville, Kentucky, area.

Peggy has experience with both deep and shallow foundations for a wide variety of structures, including municipal facilities, wastewater treatment and water treatment plants, multifamily and single-family housing, industrial complexes, and many others. She also has experience with tunnel and dam design and with dam remediation, as well as slope stability analysis. She has extensive experience in karst terrain and has worked on hundreds of projects involving sinkhole treatment and design and construction of structures over sinkholes.

Sources/References:

Hagerty Engineering
ADSC
Connect with Peggy Hagerty Duffy, P.E., D.GE, M.ASCE, on LinkedIn
Underpinnings Blog
Video: What is the geotechnical field?
Send Peggy an email
TWiCE

This episode was brought to you by Aero Aggregates. Aero Aggregates is the first vertically integrated manufacturer of ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate in North America made from 100% recycled glass. This sustainable aggregate has bulk densities that are 80% to 90% lower than traditional fill, is free-draining and non-reactive, and has a high friction angle. If your project site is challenged by resiliency concerns, raising grades over soft soils, sensitive utilities, or structures, or the need to reduce lateral loads, foamed glass aggregate can often accelerate construction, reduce project costs, and offer green credits for LEED and ENVISION programs. Please visit www.aeroaggregates.com.

This episode was also brought to you by Menard Group USA. Do you have projects where you are faced with building on soft or loose ground? Does it seem like all the good sites are taken and you are always building on poor soils that are a challenge for conventional foundation approaches? Menard may be able to help! As a specialty ground improvement contractor, Menard works nationally and internationally providing design-build ground improvement solutions at sites with problematic soils. Menard’s techniques include Controlled Modulus Columns, wick drains, earthquake drains, vibro stone columns, dynamic compaction, rapid impact compaction, and soil mixing. Typical projects include warehouses, buildings, material storage piles, processing areas, embankments, roadways, port facilities, storage tanks, containment structures, and platforms. In many cases, ground improvement is less costly than traditional approaches such as removal and replacement or piling systems. Menard works closely with civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers to minimize foundation costs for wide ranges of soil conditions, structure types, and loading conditions. To learn more about Menard Group USA, or for help on your next project, please visit www.menardgroupusa.com

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on starting your own successful engineering firm.

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To your success,

Jared M. Green, P.E., D.GE
Host of The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: ADSC, business decisions, community construction projects, Engineering Decisions, Ethics, Geotechnical Engineering, geotechnical investigations, Hagerty Engineering, Inc., outreach and support, overcame obstacles, Peggy Hagerty Duffy, philosophy, professional organizations, research projects, sinkholes, Successful Engineering Firm, Underpinnings Blog

TGEP 06: Foundation Design and Analysis: Deep Foundations, Codes, and Regulations

September 11, 2020 By EMI

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Deep FoundationsIn this episode of The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast, I talk to Michael Wysockey, Ph.D., P.E., who is the president of Thatcher Foundations, Inc. Michael dives into some very interesting items including deep foundations, earth retention, marine construction, and safety considerations from a geotechnical specialty contractor’s perspective.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Michael in This Episode:

  • What do you do daily at Thatcher Foundations, Inc.?
  • How did receiving the Wilson and Peck Fellowships benefit your geotechnical engineering career?
  • You have many publications; can you tell us about your paper on the Accuracy of Methods Predicting Axial Capacity in Deep Foundations?
  • As a geotechnical professional, where do you learn about things like building codes and union agreements?
  • What kinds of techniques should young engineers be thinking about when they design something?
  • How much do you get into the codes and regulations in designs?
  • What have you learned from the marine projects that you have done?
  • What excites you about geotechnical engineering today, and in the future?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Deep Foundations, Earth Retention, Marine Construction, and Safety Considerations:

[Read more…] about TGEP 06: Foundation Design and Analysis: Deep Foundations, Codes, and Regulations

Filed Under: TGEP - The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast Tagged With: Accuracy of Methods Predicting Axial Capacity in Deep Foundations, analysis, building codes, Codes, codes and regulations, Deep Foundations, Foundation Design, Geotechnical Engineering, marine projects, Michael Wysockey, Regulations, techniques, Thatcher Foundations, union agreements, Wilson and Peck Fellowships

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