Ground Improvement Techniques for Geotechnical Engineering Professionals – Ep 008

In 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. Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Seth Pearlman, P.E., D. GE, M.ASCE: Who is Menard Group USA and what is the history of Menard? What do you mean by ground improvement? From doing nothing to doing piling is such a wide range; are there degrees within this range that meet this need? In an era of dwindling government budgets - particularly for our critical, yet crumbling infrastructure - what are the implications for ground improvement? One of our recent guests criticized ground improvement as not having to follow the same rules as piling. How do you respond to that? How do strict building codes play into that? Certain fields within specialty geotechnical construction, such as earth retention, align very well with the design-build approach. Where does ground improvement fall? For a new engineer leaving college or even an experienced engineer looking to advance his or her career, what opportunities are there at Menard? Some of the techniques you described sound like ground improvement, but some of it sounds like it resembles piling. Is there a difference? Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Menard Group USA and Ground Improvements: Menard Group USA is a specialty ground improvement contractor that works nationally and internationally providing design-build ground improvement solutions. The company is named after an inventor named Louis Menard, who invented the Menard pressure meter and a tool called dynamic compaction. He then started selling these inventions across the world, and this is when the company started. The company's lead product today is control modulus columns. Ground improvement is how different types of ground profiles are prepared for building structures on them. It can range from a normal foundation to deep foundations and even piling that is needed to keep the ground stable and to be able to carry the load of the structure that will be built. There are many ways to densify, consolidate, or reinforce the ground to make it suitable for the structure. If design-build and trusted relationships are made between responsible design-builders, owners, and consultants, you can create huge savings, and that will enable you to build more with the same amount of money. If people are not willing to create continuous improvement, then the pile specs are not going to bring value to the clients. There are places where piling should be used, but ground improvement is constantly trying to bring the best value. As with any new technology, faults are bound to happen, but if you are never willing to take that risk, you will never be able to bring the value. Ground improvement is not yet ready to be commoditized, but reasonable factors of safety, stresses, and other things are being set. The ground improvement sector likes to work as a team with the project team, the owner, and the contractor. The earlier they are involved in a project, the more value they can bring into the project. The Menard Group is in the process of expanding and is putting small to medium teams in their regional branches. Young engineers who move through Menard's system can move up fast because they keep a flat management structure. Even if they have only a few years of experience, they may be able to start their own office in another location if the Menard management thinks they are ready. The Differences Between Ground Improvement and Piling Are: Piling is codified, but this does not mean that the design cannot be changed because the total structure is the...