The explosion in Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) structures designed and installed in the last 20 years has revolutionized the grade separation solutions used in site development construction. Accompanying this dramatic growth (or because of it) there has been an increasing frequency of MSE structure failure (excessive deformation and collapse) despite the fact that we know properly engineered and constructed MSE structures are capable of achieving what we are designing them to do! This is a clear indication that many owners, designers, contractors and inspection/regulatory agencies are not sufficiently educated in critical MSE construction methods.
On Tuesday, 22 May 2012, TRI Environmental will host a short course on "Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Inspector Training." (REGISTER ONLINE or download a brochure [.docx]) This combination classroom and hands-on professional development opportunity will focus on inspection, monitoring and maintenance of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, berms and slopes. It will be held at TRI’s Denver Downs Research Facility (DDRF) and the Holiday Inn Express in Anderson, South Carolina.
SUCCESS IN DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, & CERTIFICATION
Project responsibilities, construction inspection, quality control, and on-going performance monitoring are all vital to the success of MSE structures. The challenges and costs of affective remediation, not to mention safety, are reason enough to make sure your MSE project is properly constructed. The purpose of this short course is to fill this void and to prepare qualified individuals to obtain Certified Inspector status through the Geosynthetic Certification Institutes’s Inspectors Certification Program (GCI-ICP) for MSE Walls, Berms and Slopes.
This course is ideal preparation for the Geosynthetic Certification Institute’s certification exam and will provide a comprehensive understanding to those professionals who are: preparing MSE designs, reviewing MSE plans, constructing MSE Structures and performing MSE field inspections.
The first half of the day focuses on presenting the state of MSE construction, including current practices and a review of lessons learned from failures. Additional time is spent establishing rationale and standard operating procedures for field inspections, documentation of visual observations and identification of potential problem situations. The second half of the day focuses on HANDS-ON construction of MSE structures done right . . . and wrong! A tour of TRI’s Denver Downs Research Facility will be provided including review of some TRI internal R&D projects related to the class curriculum.
Each MSE course student may register to sit for the Geosynthetic Certification Institute’s – Inspectors Certification Program (CQA-ICP) for MSE Walls, Berms and Slopes exam immediately following the MSE course.
INSTRUCTORS
- Mr. John Paulson, P.E. – President DISON C & S, LLC
- Mr. Joel Sprague, P.E. – Sr. Engineer and Technical Director of TRI’s Denver Downs Research Facility (DDRF)
TRI/Environmental, Inc. (TRI) has been active in geosynthetics testing, inspection and research and development for over twenty years. TRI is an independent, third-party laboratory unaffiliated with any manufacturing, engineering/consulting, or construction management firm. Download registration forms for the courses and exams at www.GeosyntheticTesting.com.
