Articles About Terracon's Geotechnical Projects & Services

Terracon Names Christopher McIntyre Senior Vice President and Florida Division Manager

terramedia — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 21:27:53 +0000

Jacksonville, Fla. – Terracon, a leading national consulting engineering firm comprised of engineers, scientists, architects, facilities experts, and field professionals, announces Christopher L. McIntyre, P.E., has been named senior vice president and Florida Division manager. The strategic change is designed to support client service, innovation, and project delivery as the company continues to grow its presence in Florida and the southeastern U.S. Drawing on nearly 16 years of experience, McIntyre will assume responsibility for overseeing the safety, leadership, growth, and strategic direction of Terracon’s Florida Division. After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in civil engineering, McIntyre relocated to northern Virginia, where he spent the first eight years of his career. During this time, he earned a Master of Engineering degree from George Mason University and obtained his professional engineering license. In 2013, McIntyre decided to return to his Florida roots and relocated to Jacksonville, where he launched his career with Terracon. McIntyre is actively involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Florida Engineering Society (FES), American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE). Additionally, he has successfully completed the FES Florida Engineering Leadership Institute and the ACEC Pathways to Executive Leadership program. Terracon is an employee-owned, multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 6,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.

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Mike Covert promoted to executive vice president for services and quality

terramedia — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:56:59 +0000

Fort Worth, Texas – Terracon, a leading national consulting engineering firm comprised of engineers, scientists, architects, facilities experts, and field professionals, announces a strategic organizational change to support client service, innovation, and project delivery as the company continues to grow. Mike Covert, P.G., has been promoted to executive vice president for services and quality. In this role, he is responsible for the continued growth and evolution of Terracon’s service lines, quality and project delivery, and sustainability. He previously served as senior vice president and national environmental service line director. Covert also served in other leadership roles since joining Terracon in 1998 as part of the acquisition of HBC Engineering. With more than 35 years of experience, Covert holds a master’s degree in environmental science from the University of Texas at Dallas and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Southern Methodist University. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Baker University. Covert has been a contributor to the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) E50 Committee and served as the chair of the Environmental Business Council for the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA). He is based in Terracon’s Forth Worth office. Terracon is an employee-owned, multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 6,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.

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Data for More Sustainable Solar Energy

terramedia — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:27:34 +0000

Terracon’s Proprietary Pile Load Testing System Leads to Safer, More Efficient Collection of Essential Solar Foundation Data

The future of solar energy lies in the combination of sustainability and speed to market. Our latest innovation, the Terrapod 2100 pile load testing system, was inspired by that intersection. Implementing this new technology helps us give our clients a unique advantage in bringing solar projects online.

The Next Generation of Pile Load Testing Design

Pile Load Testing (PLT) is the most critical step in optimizing a solar array foundation design. The Terrapod 2100 helps our professionals bring clients this critical data quickly and efficiently. The proprietary design is lightweight, strong, and easily maneuverable by one person. At only 81 pounds, it can be quickly moved into position and can handle loads that well exceed current foundation load requirements. It also removes the need for heavy equipment in the field, saving the cost of transport and operation. A smarter solar foundation design is key for more sustainable projects. Accurate collection of PLT data using the Terrapod 2100 can be the start of more environmentally friendly projects. Lowering pile embedment depths, even by just one foot, can lead to millions of dollars saved in steel on one project and a huge reduction in the project’s carbon footprint. We have the resources to keep pace with the growing demand for solar. Our team of more than 120 trained, solar professionals currently operates our fleet of piledrivers and 30 Terrapod 2100 tripods. Terracon’s solar experts can help you get the most from your solar foundation. Let’s connect to put our expertise to work on your next project! Contact client development manager Ryan Merrell, P.E., at ryan.merrell@terracon.com to learn more about our PLT data servcies!

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Terracon Foundation Scholarship Awarded to University of Colorado Boulder Graduate Student in Geotechnical Engineering

terramedia — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:02:23 +0000

Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust Awards Caroline Bessette

OLATHE, Kan. – The Terracon Foundation announced $2,000 has been awarded to Caroline Bessette, a student pursuing a doctorate degree in civil/geotechnical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, to support her studies. The scholarship is the second award following the establishment of the DFI Educational Trust/Terracon Consultants Scholarship Fund in 2020. An endowment of $50,000 from the Terracon Foundation funds this annual educational scholarship. Bessette was recommended for the scholarship by Shideh Dashti, Ph.D., associate professor of geotechnical engineering and geomechanics at University of Colorado Boulder (UC Boulder). She is currently working on her doctoral degree research project focused on the mitigation of liquefaction consequences in stratigraphically variable sites. Bessette earned a master’s degree in civil/geotechnical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Polytechnique Montréal in Montréal, Canada. She is currently working as a graduate research assistant in geotechnical engineering at UC Boulder. Originally from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Québec, Canada, Bessette’s interest in civil engineering stemmed from the prospect of contributing to the design and construction of vital structures that shape our modern world. After graduating with a specialization in geotechnical engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, Bessette refined her skills at the SM Group in Canada, progressing from an intern to an engineer-in-training in geotechnical and environmental engineering. Seeking to deepen her knowledge and expertise for design-oriented roles, Bessette pursued a master’s degree, delving into research and discovering a passion for earthquake engineering and risk reduction. This path led her to CU Boulder through a Mitacs Globalink-supported internship during her master’s degree studies, where she conducted dynamic centrifuge tests at the Center for Infrastructure, Energy, and Space Testing (CIEST). Inspired by the experience, Bessette enrolled in a Ph.D. program at CU Boulder, receiving honors from the National Research and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Driven by her dedication to resilient, sustainable solutions, Bessette aspires to contribute to community safety and infrastructural resilience through her research. The DFI Educational Trust manages 20 scholarship programs funded by endowments, donations, and fundraising events. Since 2006, the Trust has awarded $1.6 million in scholarships and grants to 450 students studying at colleges and universities across the United States and the province of Ontario, Canada. Donations to the DFI Educational Trust scholarship funds can be made online at www.dfitrust.org. The Terracon Foundation encourages employees to submit grant requests each year for organizations focused on education as well as the built and natural environment. To date, the Terracon Foundation has granted nearly $4 million to community organizations, universities, dependents of employees, and disaster relief efforts. For more information about the DFI Educational Trust/Terracon Consultants Scholarship, contact Andrew Verity. Terracon is an employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 6,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.

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Teaming Up to Deliver Winning Projects

terramedia — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:55:18 +0000

Terracon Works Alongside A/E/C Clients to Achieve a Common Goal

The traits of the best partners go far beyond talent. Integrity, trust, the ability to work toward a common goal, and having difficult conversations when necessary are the foundation of successful partnerships. When Terracon partners with our Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (A/E/C) clients, our job is often to provide the accurate, timely data our partners need to stay on schedule. Challenges can and do arise – the world is an imperfect place. We understand issues within the industry because it’s our industry, too. In fact, our A/E/C clients accounted for nearly a third of our projects and revenue in 2022. Collaborating with our partners means bringing solutions to your projects to solve problems or avoid challenges altogether.

Resources at the Ready

Our strength lies in our numbers and the expertise and commitment of our employee-owners. With more than 6,000 scientists, engineers, and other professionals, we offer nationwide networks of expertise in several key areas, including environmental services, materials testing and laboratories, geotechnical services, industrial hygiene, facilities services, and more. The diversity of services means we can help your A/E/C project both now and in the future. Local expertise gives our clients knowledgeable partners who can help anticipate and possibly avoid challenges unique to a particular state or region. And our fleet of drill rigs, laboratories, and other resources helps cut the time needed to gather and analyze necessary data.

Making More Informed Decisions Through Technology

Technology is transforming the A/E/C industry. At Terracon, we use several technological innovations to maximize the value of the data our clients entrust us to gather. We enhance our consulting services through data-driven decision-making and provide software-as-a-service solutions to put the power of technology into our clients’ hands. We offer two technology solutions that help streamline the site selection process for our A/E/C clients on a wide variety of projects. We can work with clients remotely and our innovative platform unlocks powerful, site-specific data and anticipated subsurface conditions allowing for a quick advance into planning and preliminary designs and budgets without setting foot on the proposed project site. We have a software-as-a-service offering delivering location-based intelligence to clients performing preliminary siting and routing solutions for renewable energy and other large linear projects. We’ve also developed technology tools to simplify searching for specific testing results on large projects. Our GIS-based platform puts testing results right on the project site map. Finding a particular test result is as easy as clicking on the area where the test was taken, providing a better understanding of the critical nature of any specific test on the overall project. In many ways, data is our business. We’re committed to continually innovating to help our clients find new ways to maximize the data we gather.

Resiliency Services that Benefit Companies as well as the Environment

Sustainability is as important to us as it is to our A/E/C clients. Our cultural and natural resource professionals, NEPA planners, scientists, and landscape architects excel at providing the services needed to navigate the complexity of environmental regulations. We can help identify and clearly walk you through each step of the permitting requirements specific to your project needs, allowing you to prioritize and stay ahead of potential hurdles. Whether we’re helping to protect people and natural resources, enhance ecosystem services, or extend the life of facilities, we bring a sustainability and resiliency mindset to our projects that go beyond the obvious needs to find opportunities that champion the stewardship legacy of our projects. We’re also intently focused on sustainability in our own business practices. We understand the challenges involved because we leverage the same services ourselves that we provide to our clients to continually improve and make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work.

Welcoming the Opportunity to Overcome Challenges

Good planning is important. So is adaptability when plans change. We are in the business of not only providing data and answers that are good news, but also on occasion when it is not. “We’re going to be there to tell you when things aren’t what you want to hear,” Laura Campa, P.E., materials assistant service line director said. “But we’re also going to partner with you to come to a solution and figure out how to get those items corrected.” Good news or bad, we have the solutions to help at every step of the project journey.

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Show Up and Keep Up

terramedia — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 17:40:25 +0000

Alternate Delivery Group Ready to Meet the Needs of Dynamic Transportation Projects

Fast is the pace at which design-build, public-private partnership (P3), and other alternate-delivery transportation projects move. Consistency in leadership, processes, and deliverables are essential to keeping each unique project on schedule. This was the inspiration behind Terracon creating a new alternate delivery group. While no two alternate delivery projects are alike, our clients can expect a consistent and reliable experience from project to project, no matter where it’s located.

Meeting the Unique Demands of Alternate Delivery

Being a trusted partner requires meeting clients where they’re at. This mindset led to the creation of the alternate delivery group, so our services to transportation clients could evolve alongside changes in the industry. “We created the alternate delivery group out of our transportation and infrastructure sector to get laser-focused on consistency in the pursuit, execution, and delivery of transportation projects,” Chief Growth Officer Michael O’Grady said. “Today there is a tremendous number of transportation projects going into alternate delivery, whether it be design-build or P3. It takes a certain amount of expertise to understand how to manage those projects and deliver to our clients, so we felt we needed a group to focus strictly on that part of the transportation market.” Alternate delivery projects have their own rhythm. As the emphasis on timing and scheduling increases, so does the need for experienced professionals who can manage the challenges at hand, with the foresight to anticipate and plan for any potential future issues. “The alt-delivery structure allows us to narrow in on the needs of our clients as well as the risk associated with these projects. At the same time, we will manage those risks to effectively meet project needs and schedules,” O’Grady said. Alternate delivery projects will become more streamlined as their numbers continue to grow. The experienced professionals in Terracon’s alternate delivery group have the specialized skills and experience to partner with you every step of the way. Let’s get to work on your next project.

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Completing a Critical Link for the I-69 Highway Expansion

terramedia — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 18:36:05 +0000

Photo courtesy of American Structurepoint

First envisioned in the 1970s, the new I-69 highway expansion in Indiana is closer than ever to becoming a reality. Terracon’s team of local experts is a key part of this project, for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), which is designed to connect an entire region with improved access to jobs, education and healthcare. As the geotechnical engineer of record for Sections 4 and 5 of the 142-mile corridor, we were trusted with leading the geotechnical engineering for over $1B of construction value. The geotechnical engineering included all of the exploratory field work, the laboratory testing program, and the analysis and recommendations followed by engineering services during construction and some materials testing. With price escalations and supply shortages during the COVID timeframe, our team was able to continually optimize bridge foundations to help offset the cost increases. INDOT needed to work quickly to complete the expansion. Although our industry was deemed essential, the accelerated timeframe during the peak of the COVID pandemic presented a challenge that Terracon was eager to support. Using a national workforce to work locally, 50 employee-owners were able to complete the design in less than 12 months. The entire project was done remotely – a successful feat during the time. Our work continues with engineering services during construction, including pre-construction exploratory work and observation of high resistance rock-socketed drilled shafts slated for this winter.

Photo courtesy of American Structurepoint

When completed in 2024, the I-69 project results in a much-anticipated corridor of free flow traffic from Evansville to Indianapolis, and in the greater scale, this piece of I-69 completes a major component of an interstate that will connect Texas to the Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan. Terracon’s nationwide resources include more than 5,500 employees serving all 50 states. We can bring the same level of expertise and effort to similar transportation projects across the country, with valuable services at every construction phase. Let’s explore how we can help your next transportation project.

About the I-69 Finish Line

Section 6 – Martinsville to Indianapolis

47 bridges
59 retaining walls
3 million SYD of pavement (HMA, PCCP &CRCP) approximately 130 lane miles
5M CYS earthwork
14 sound walls
3 interchange modifications
4 new interchanges

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Testing the Soil Where It Lies

terramedia — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 20:48:28 +0000

In Situ Services Bring Value, Efficiency to Transportation Projects

As the speed of business increases, today’s large transportation projects become reality via a design-build process to streamline and accelerate delivery. This on-the-go method requires flexibility and versatility, and sometimes can’t slow down for soil testing data from traditional geotechnical methods and lab analysis. That’s why in situ testing can be a valuable resource.

In situ testing defined

In situ testing involves testing soils in place, as they exist in the subsurface. It provides a higher level of detail to site investigations, in many instances providing data that would normally be generated only after the time and costs associated with laboratory testing. Risk and uncertainty are characteristics of the subsurface and are never fully eliminated, however a robust exploration program with in situ testing can significantly increase our understanding of the site conditions and improve the ability to meet project design objectives and potential cost savings. Terracon’s experts use a variety of methods, including cone penetration testing (CPT), dilatometer testing (DMT), field vane shear testing (FVST), and pressuremeter testing (PMT). Additionally, formations can be tested for hydraulic conductivity using inflatable packers. The subsurface conditions can be monitored with the installation of geotechnical instrumentation to include inclinometers, vibrating wire piezometers, magnetic extensometers, and other instrumentation placed in the ground to measure the strength and performance of the soil and rock during and after construction. The advantages of in situ testing extend well beyond the time saved by not having to send samples off-site for analysis. CPT data, for example, provides a nearly continuous soil profile that includes correlations to the soil type, strength parameters, groundwater levels, settlement parameters, and permeability. The data and tests are repeatable, with a higher level of quality. Also, more data can be collected over the course of a day. Faster data collection means faster analysis, more data, and less client wait time for needed information. Turning around geotechnical data and laboratory testing data collected by traditional methods can take several weeks. In situ testing data, meanwhile, can be turned around in just days.

The value of accurate in situ data

In situ testing eliminates assumptions about soil performance. It tells our professionals exactly how soils will behave. With this information, foundations on transportation projects can be designed knowing the exact strength of the soil. If as little as 12 inches can be shaved off the length and embedment depth of bridge piles on a large project, the cost of materials and construction can be significantly reduced. Terracon is committed to further growing our in situ testing capabilities for our clients. We’re investing in more training and resources for our nationwide network of professionals, as well as the equipment, tooling, and rigs needed to meet growing project demands. Contact us to learn how our in situ services can benefit your next project.

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Terracon Names Tim Cleary National Manager of In Situ Services

terramedia — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 21:38:54 +0000

RALEIGH, N.C. – Terracon, a leading provider of environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services, has named Tim Cleary national manager of in situ services. Cleary will lead the company’s in situ and direct push-site investigation services and lead a practice resource group to develop standards for advanced site characterization services. “Terracon is making significant operational and financial commitments to be a national leader in in situ testing,” Cleary said. “Developing our people and giving them the best resources is critical to our success. I am excited to work with our exploration and engineering staff to lead innovation and serve our clients.” Cleary has more than 30 years of experience leading exploration operations serving consulting engineers and geologists. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego and studied geotechnical engineering at North Carolina State University. He is based in Terracon’s Raleigh office. Terracon is an employee-owned, multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 5,500 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.

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A Trusted Partner for Every Phase of the Project Journey

terramedia — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:22:32 +0000

Projects are like fingerprints; the combination of location, timing, elements, budgets, risk tolerance, and other factors makes each one unique. The needs of today, next month, next year, and the next five years can vary greatly depending on those same factors. Terracon has evolved with the times, developing innovative new services and combining them with traditional methods so we can be a partner on your project journey now and into the future. We’ve broken down the project journey into four phases – Site Selection, Design and Mitigate, Construction, and Manage Assets – to help meet clients where they are now and set a plan for the future. The ability to see the trees and the forest allows us to meet client needs with flexibility and efficiency. Here’s a glance at each phase of the project journey:

Site Selection

Better data faster is the key to site selection. We use innovative, technology-based solutions to give our clients the information they need to make informed decisions. Stage1 delivers a report of preliminary expected subsurface and environmental conditions on virtually any project site in the country, allowing our clients to make an apples-to-apples comparison before choosing a site. Pivvot’s linear siting solutions helps our clients make the best choice for large, complicated projects like pipelines and transmission lines. Founded more than 55 years ago as a geotechnical firm, we’ve stayed true to our roots as we’ve grown. The nation’s largest fleet of drill rigs means our clients get the soils and other geotechnical data needed to keep projects on schedule.

Design and Mitigate

If and when an environmental or geotechnical challenge is identified they can quickly inflate timelines and budgets without proper planning. We have some of the most trusted consultants in both fields of expertise. Our clients have access to our nationwide network of certified industrial hygienists; and we were once again ranked No. 1 in asbestos and lead abatement for the ninth consecutive year according to Engineering News-Record’s 2022 rankings.

Construction

Materials testing, inspection, and data management are essential once ground has broken. Our nationwide network of more than 140 laboratories makes sure quality assurance, quality control, and special inspection services are nearby, so timelines aren’t slowed by waiting on results. Large projects like power plants, logistics sites, and stadiums can produce reams of testing data. TARGETID, our innovative, GIS-based solution puts testing data on the map, bringing an end to the days of searching through endless spreadsheets for a specific result. Local, state, and federal building codes must also be considered during construction. Leaky windows and roofs can quickly inflate a budget. So can non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Our facilities experts can help you address these issues before they become challenges to help construction finish on-time.

Manage Assets

Efficiency is at the heart of a high return on investment in facilities of all ages. This includes the parking lots around facilities. We can provide clients a pavement management plan that regulates maintenance costs and keeps parking lots in safe working order without the need for large, unexpected repairs. That same planning is beneficial for HVAC and other important systems within facilities, so that maintenance, repairs, and replacement can be worked into the budget. The best people, the right resources, innovative tools, proper planning, and a trusted partner are essential elements to a great journey. Regardless of where your project is or where it’s headed, Terracon is ready to work with you at every step.

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