Bring Your A-GaME! The Benefits of Advocating for Advanced Geotechnical Exploration Methods-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

Pdf Summary

The presentation introduces the Federal Highway Administration’s Advanced Geotechnical Methods in Exploration (A-GaME), a toolbox of proven but underused subsurface investigation methods promoted through the Every Day Counts program. A-GaME aims to better identify subsurface variability, optimize exploration, and improve project delivery by saving time, money, and resources.<br /><br />Enhanced site characterization can reduce cost overruns by lowering bid contingencies, change orders, and claims, while helping construction proceed faster. Featured methods include cone penetration testing (CPT/SCPT), electrical surveys, seismic methods, measurement while drilling (MWD), and optical or acoustic televiewers.<br /><br />CPT provides continuous subsurface data, can reveal small changes in soil layers, and can measure pore pressure and shear-wave velocity. It is reported to be three to ten times faster than conventional drilling and supports direct design approaches. At the Bass River Bridge in Massachusetts, eight CPTs supplemented three borings. The work saved about $25,000—roughly 25% of the subconsultant fee—reduced laboratory testing, and enabled pile design using continuous CPT data.<br /><br />Electrical methods can map material contrasts and groundwater conditions over broad areas, helping target follow-up investigations. A Florida DOT survey covered a six-mile section in one field day and helped identify likely soft soils. Seismic methods can reveal stratigraphic boundaries, estimate bedrock depth, and assess engineering conditions. In a Minnesota Highway 1 realignment study, a 450-foot seismic survey helped estimate rock excavation volumes, with one boring used for verification.<br /><br />MWD records drilling parameters continuously to indicate changes in materials and strata. Optical and acoustic televiewers produce oriented, high-resolution images of borehole walls, documenting rock structure without relying on core quality. Overall, the presentation argues that investing in advanced exploration can produce more reliable designs and reduce project risk.

Keywords

advanced geotechnical methods

subsurface investigation

Federal Highway Administration

A-GaME

cone penetration testing

electrical surveys

seismic methods

measurement while drilling

optical televiewer

project delivery