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October e.Geo

October 2020




In this issue:

  1. Tracing our Roots: The History of Geotechnical Practice in California
  2. Support our Students - your future employees
  3. GBA's Fall Conference Goes Virtual
  4. Getting the Angle on Inclinometers - New Short Course
  5. EP Webinar - Case Study on Earth Dam Stability
  6. Geological Mapping Survey - Economic Benefits
  7. Outstanding Geo-Contractor Award VIDEO RELEASED
  8. Welcome New Members
  9. Upcoming Events - the e.Calendar

Tracing Our Roots: The History of Geotechnical Practice in California

Ever wonder about the roots of the company you work for? Or those famous names you hear mentioned at awards lectures and in text books?

David Rogers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology has compiled a detailed list of all the interweaving threads of geotechnical companies and names in California.

Download the Southern California (word) Document HERE >>

Download the Northern California (word) Document HERE >>

And for a blast from the past... check out Dr. Roger's presentation to CalGeo from our 2013 Annual Conference "How Geotechnical Engineering Needs Shaped the History of California" available on CalGeo's Online Learning Library (requires member login)

From David Rogers:

"California was the also birthplace of excavation and grading codes (in 1952), earthquake codes (in 1933), engineering geology (in 1957), and a slew of prominent geotechnical tests like the Proctor Compaction Test (1933) and the California Bearing Ration Test (1929), which revolutionized pavement engineering.  The impacts on our nation’s infrastructure and the world-at-large are far more significant than most engineers realize."


Support Our Students: Your Future Employees

CalGeo is proud to support a growing number of student chapters at Universities across the state. Now more than ever, students need organizations and clubs to keep the connection to other students, industry and hands-on learning.

Many members have already donated to CalGeo's student fund during their membership renewal this year. We really appreciate the support! We plan to turn around and direct these funds directly to our student scholarships and supporting the local GeoWall teams.

CalGeo Student Support Plans for 2020-2021:

  • Award $10,000 in scholarships to students continuing their education (undergraduate or graduate) in a geo-profession. The main award criteria is involvement in their CalGeo student chapter!
  • Increase GeoWall team support from $500/team to $1000/team
  • Aid with speakers and online web-events
  • Provide access to our new Online Learning Library to CalGeo student chapter members
  • Highly discounted course registration for student members

How you can help:

Donate to our Student Fund towards our scholarships and Chapter support

Donate directly to your favorite GeoWall Team:

Cal Poly Pomona: Sponsorship Request  E-mail Student Chapter President

Cal Poly SLO: Sponsorship Request  E-mail Student Chapter President

CSUF: E-mail Student Chapter President

CSUN: Sponsorship Request  E-mail Student Chapter President

UCLA: Sponsorship Request  E-mail Student Chapter President

UCSD: Sponsorship Request   E-mail Student Chapter President


GBA's Fall Conference Goes Virtual

Join industry professionals from all specialties from across North America for 4 half-days of virtual information and premier education convening October 20-23, 2020 (Tuesday through Friday) in the comfort of your own home or office setting.   Sessions will focus on leadership behaviors, business strategies, and proven tactics critical to managing corporate performance beyond crisis to take advantage of the emergent new business environment.

Looking beyond the pandemic, companies will do well to develop leadership that supports innovation, challenges assumptions and encourages risk taking and creativity.  The COVID crisis has revealed not just vulnerabilities but also opportunities to improve business performance

GBA will hold Board of Directors and Committee meetings on Tuesday; General Business Meeting and Round Table Sessions on Wednesday; and two half-days of education sessions on Thursday and Friday.

We will also showcase sponsor partners.  This conference will allow you to continue building lasting personal and professional relationships with industry stakeholders  Attending GBA’s Fall Conference (virtually) requires only 2-4 hours of engagement each day and offers up to 7.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for the education sessions.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION FORM

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

WINE TASTING & NETWORKING EVENT DETAILS – October 21st


Getting the Angle on Inclinometers - New Short Course

Looking for more educational opportunities? Check out our Instrumentation Short Course starting November 5th. It will run for just 2 weeks, on Thursdays from 12 noon to 1:00pm Pacific Time.

Schedule & Instructors:

Lead by Geokon's Geotechnical Service Engineer, Rob Clark, this series will focus on "Getting the Angle on Inclinometers."

November 5th, Inclinometers 101: Installation and Monitoring Techniques

This webinar provides a summary of the inclinometer monitoring system and will include a discussion of inclinometer components, suggested methods for installation of the inclinometer casings, and suggested methods for performing manual measurements with inclinometers.  The material is intended to provide a basic overview of the instrument and help guide the user in getting the most value out of a properly selected and installed inclinometer system.  Subsequent webinars will delve deeper into the plotting and evaluation of the data associated with the inclinometer.

November 12th, Inclinometers 201: Data Evaluation & Case Histories

This webinar provides a continued discussion of the use of the inclinometer system.  In the first half of this discussion, inclinometer data evaluation and plotting examples will be shared, along with identifying and dealing with common errors that can develop with the inclinometer systems.  The second half of this webinar will be a presentation of case histories with examples of some good inclinometer experiences and some not so much.


Cost:

$50/Members. $150/Non-members. Consider joining as an individual member and gain our entire Online Learning Library access for the whole year! Individual membership is only $150 or contact Kelly Cabal about a new company Trial Membership savings.

Attendees may login through GoToWebinar to attend any or all of the live webinars. Each webinar will be recorded and the video plus any handouts and slides will be available to registered attendees through CalGeo's Online Learning Library for up to 1 year. You choose based on your schedule!


Emerging Professional Webinar - Register NOW!

Registration is free but only CalGeo members will have access to the recorded session and materials on our awesome Online Learning Library.

Case Study On Earth Dam Stability Under Static And Seismic Loading

October 16th, 11am-12pm:: Presented by Dr. Sukhmander Singh, Ph.D., P.E., G.E. , Nicholson Family Professor of Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Santa Clara University

An old earth dam presently located in a heavily populated area of San Francisco Bay , was evaluated for its stability both under static and earthquake loading condition.  Shortly after construction was completed, a significant slide occurred in the lower portion of the embankment. But it did not threaten the functioning of the reservoir. Dam history over the years revealed that slide continued moving slowly downhill during rainy seasons. Various remedies to control slide were tried but did not work. The talk will include investigation to find the underlying cause of the slide, stability evaluation and the completion of remedial design by emptying the reservoir and reconstruction of the portion of the lower embankment.

A brief look at the importance of Observational Technique in the Geotechnical Engineering Practice will also be presented.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Singh is currently a Nicholson Family Endowed Chair Professor of Civil Engineering at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California.  After graduating with an M. Tech at IIT Delhi in 1966, he taught for a year at IIT Delhi and then moved to Canada and to U.S.A. and completed his PhD in 1979 from U.C. Berkeley.  He taught at Santa Clara University for 31 years of which 15 years as Department Chair.  Before joining Santa Clara, he worked 11 years in industry (Dames & Moore) as project engineer and manager on several geotechnical engineering projects.  For brief periods each year for 10 years he researched as visiting faculty at Cambridge University, UK.

Register Now >>

These webinars are made available free of charge to participants thanks to the generosity of our Affiliate members. Webinars will be recorded and available to CalGeo members only on our Online Learning Library.


 Economic Benefits of Geological Mapping -

Take the Survey!

The American Association of State Geologists invites you to participate in this survey.
Click on the link below to access the online questionnaire, focusing on your use/potential use of geological maps and associated reports, and the value of that use to your business or activity.

Take the Survey >>

It will be used nationally and by individual States to justify their geological mapping and associated societal benefits to Congress, State General Assemblies, and the public.   

This assessment is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted for the discipline of geology. It comes at a time when:

  1. Significant improvements to infrastructure have long been touted at the Federal, State, and local levels, and now more than ever are required for optimum economic recovery
  2. The uncertainty of climate change looms large on the horizon with a real threat to that infrastructure and human livelihood in many areas
  3. Understanding geologic hazards are increasingly important due to population growth and existing/expanding infrastructure
  4. Mineral (especially critical minerals) and energy resource assessments are crucial for technological advancements and economic diversification/recovery.

Click on the map above to visit the Historical Geologic Maps of California page on the California Department of Conservation website!


Project Award WINNER: Farrell Design Build

(NEW GeoContractor Project  Category)

Historic Marshall Hotel, Sacramento: A Chapter of Sacramento’s History is Reclaimed

Built in 1910-1911, the Marshall Hotel is a 5-story historic monument that resides in the heart of Sacramento, just blocks away from the California State Capitol building.  Made of century-old brick and steel, this landmark hotel slowly revealed the tale of a remarkable past, both above and below the ground. 

Click the image below or HERE to watch a great project overview video!


New Members - CalGeo Goes GLOBAL!

We are so pleased to welcome the following new company members and individual members from across the US and Internationally. Click the logos below to visit each company's website.

New Members:

OYO Corporation Pacific conducts a series of services ranging from ground investigation associated with roads and city planning, construction of civil engineering structures and building structures, etc., to design and construction management. (Japan & Guam)

New Individual Members:

Tayler Day, GEOServices LLC (Knoxville, TN)

Jeff Wale, Robinson Noble (Washington, OR)


The e.Calendar & Online Learning Events - The Geo-Calendar

All in-person events are cancelled for the foreseeable future. We will notify you when we plan to hold a dinner meeting or Emerging Professional event.

October 16th, 11am-12pm: Case Study on Earth Dam Stability Under Static And Seismic Loading EP Webinar by Dr. Sukhmander Singh, Santa Clara University

October 20-23: GBA's Fall Conference (A Virtual Event)

November 5th & 12th: Getting the Angle on Inclinometers, an Instrumentation Short Course

Save the Date:

January 23, 2021: Virtual Loss Prevention Seminar - Training for technicians, inspectors & field staff. Now available on-line for everyone!