Course Addresses Application of Geophysics in Geotechnical Engineering
by Lois Stephens

In response to requests from member organizations, Virginia Tech's Center for Geotechnical Practice and Research (CGPR) recently provided a forum to answer questions about the application of geophysics in geotechnical engineering.

On May 15-16, project engineers and other engineering staff from 10 states gathered on the Virginia Tech campus for classroom and field demonstrations on Geotechnical Applications of Geophysical Methods.

The course content was developed in response to CGPR member requests for information and guidance on applications and limitations of various geophysical techniques available to geotechnical engineers in practice. Matthew Mauldon, faculty member in the geotechnical engineering program at Virginia Tech and graduate student, F. Alex Rutledge, developed the guidance document that evolved into the short course.

The morning session on the first day covered electrical methods including ground-penetrating radar surveys, and electrical resistivity and electromagnetic surveys. The focus of the afternoon session was on seismic methods such as refraction, reflection, and wave surveys.

On the second day, four professional geophysical service providers conducted 50-minute demonstrations of a geophysical method covered in the classroom the previous day. This interactive work included equipment explanations and data acquisitions with field displays.

Project engineers attending Geotechnical Applications of Geophysical Methods interact during in a field demonstration offered by one of the four participating geophysical service providers.

Charles J. Smith, executive director of the Center for Geotechnical Practice and Research, managed the course development. "According to our course evaluations, the combination of the comprehensive manual, field demonstrations, and classroom study was exactly what the participants wanted, and they were pleased with the content and delivery," said Smith.

"One of the center's missions is to raise the knowledge base of practicing professionals, and it was rewarding to be able to transfer this knowledge and fulfill the needs expressed by our members," Smith added.

Rudi Luyendijk, assistant director of Continuing and Professional Education, and program coordinator Holly McCall facilitated the logistics of the course.

The Center for Geotechnical Practice plans to offer a course on state-of-the-art practices in ground improvement in December. For more information, contact Smith at cjs@vt.edu or 540/231-5052.