Experience
Selected projects led by our principal before founding GES, as a university investigator or with a previous employer. They show the kinds of problems we work on; outcomes are stated only where they are documented in the published record.
Expansive soils and stabilization
Characterizing reactive soils and choosing treatments that last.
- Idaho Transportation DepartmentUS-95, Elephant Butte
Laboratory characterization of a swelling clay causing recurrent pavement damage, followed by numerical modeling of alternative pavement sections. The study placed the most expansive clay at least 6 ft below the pavement, and modeling showed geocells to be the most effective option for reducing differential heave. ITD's reconstruction, completed in 2019, placed geocells over the existing lime-treated base.Principal investigator, Boise State University, 2015–2016Sources: Transportation Research Record (2018) · ITD project summary
- Montana Department of TransportationStatewide guidance
Protocols for chemically stabilizing problematic soils, including sulfate-bearing soils, from lime and cement testing on six Montana soils. Treatment was viable for all six in the short term, but only three performed satisfactorily for long-term use. Delivered as a final report and technical manual.Principal investigator, Boise State University; final report 2020Sources: final report FHWA/MT-20-002/9389-522/FR · technical manual
- NCHRP IDEA programTransportation Research Board
Laboratory and field trials of microbially induced calcite precipitation as a shallow treatment for expansive pavement subgrades.Principal investigator, 2016–2019
- Industry clientChemical additive evaluation
Evaluation of amine-based additives as an alternative treatment for expansive soils.Principal investigator, 2013–2014
Forensics and pavements
Finding out why pavements and structures are failing, and what to do about it.
- Idaho highway networkForensic study
Investigation of recurrent pavement heave over expansive soil deposits, with subsurface characterization and selection of rehabilitation alternatives. Published in Transportation Research Record, 2018.Lead author
- Idaho Transportation DepartmentI-15, southeast Idaho
Pavement performance monitoring, structural evaluation and rehabilitation recommendations.Co-principal investigator, 2018–2019
- Federal Highway AdministrationBridge approaches
Analysis of pavement profiler data to quantify the bump at the end of the bridge.Co-principal investigator, 2018–2019
Infrastructure and materials
Earth structures, pipelines and reuse of site materials.
- Pipeline backfill researchThe University of Texas at Arlington
Mix designs and QA/QC protocols for controlled low-strength material made from native high-plasticity clay, so that excavated trench soil could be considered for reuse as pipe bedding and backfill. Published results showed the mixes meeting flowability and density criteria.Researcher, 2010–2015Sources: ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (2014) · technical note (2015)
- Fugro ConsultantsPipeline alignment
Geostatistical mapping of soluble sulfate concentrations to flag zones at risk of sulfate-induced heave.Co-principal investigator, 2012
- US Army Corps of EngineersFort Worth District
Investigation of clay mineralogy in Dallas–Fort Worth alluvial and residual soils, and extended monitoring of field test sections.Co-principal investigator and postdoctoral researcher, 2010–2015
- Tarrant Regional Water DistrictEagle Mountain Dam and Burgess Gap Levee, Fort Worth
Seepage, settlement and stability analysis of the hydraulic fill dams impounding Eagle Mountain Lake, as part of the Parsons Brinckerhoff assessment team. The assessment was followed by rehabilitation of the spillway dam, completed in 2013 with seepage-reducing grouting and new instrumentation; the project received the ASDSO National Rehabilitation Project of the Year award in 2014.Engineer II, Parsons Brinckerhoff, 2009–2010Sources: TRWD award announcement · Renewable Energy World (2015)
- Parsons Brinckerhoff, DallasLevees and retaining walls
Seepage, settlement and stability analysis of the east levee on the Trinity River for the Trinity Parkway; external and global stability of MSE walls on the DART Blue Line extension.Engineer II, 2009–2010
Bio-mediated and low-carbon ground improvement
Treatments that use less cement and lime.
- Air Force Research LaboratoryVia Enbiorganic, Inc.
Protective barriers built from local soil treated with microbially induced calcite precipitation, catalyzed by indigenous soil bacteria.Principal investigator, Phases 1 and 2
- Idaho Global Entrepreneurial MissionPavement bases
Novel pavement bases combining cellular confinement with MICP-treated, high-fines infill, from laboratory to field trials.Principal investigator
Research record
The body of work behind our recommendations.
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