automotive service facilities,
cell towers, landfills,
naval and military
installations, proposed
roadways, active and
closed industrial plants
and underground storage
tank sites. Bienkowski
will be leading E&A’s
project effort for the
Florida Department
of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) Petroleum Restoration Program.
About Ellis & Associates, Inc.
E&A is a respected engineering corporation specializing in
geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing and
inspection, environmental engineering, construction engineering
and inspection (CEI) and special inspection services.
Founded in Jacksonville, Fla. and chartered as a professional
engineering firm in 1970, E&A has remained strong and committed
to providing responsive, high quality service to clients.
For 44 years, E&A has provided service to northern Florida
and southern Georgia with their corporate office and laboratory
in Jacksonville, Fla. and an office in Brunswick, Ga. E&A
is a Federal Small Business Enterprise (SBE) with the Small
Business Administration (SBA), and a certified SBE with the
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
▼▼PDCA AND NCCCO SIGN AGREEMENT FOR
DEDICATED PILE DRIVING RIGS
PDCA has been working on an agreement with the National
Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)
to develop a certification program for pile driving rig operators.
PDCA is pleased to report that the agreement between the
two parties was signed and delivered on Sept. 18, 2014 to the
NCCCO offices in Fairfax, Va.
The purpose of the program is to recognize and enhance
the education, experience and professional status of personnel
who operate dedicated pile driving rigs. The anticipated credential
for operators passing the exam is the “Certified Dedicated
Pile Driver Operator.” NCCCO agrees that the program would
be beneficial to general industry and construction, and is willing
to contribute its certification program expertise and financial
resources to the development and delivery of the program.
Likewise, PDCA believes the program will be beneficial to our
mission and stakeholders, and will therefore contribute similar
resources.
PDCA will be responsible for soliciting participation of
subject matter experts (SME) for exam development and
administration, providing meeting space (now available at the
new PDCA office), securing equipment for practical exam
development and administration and promoting the program.
PDCA will also be able to conduct exam prep and educational
programs related to the program.
PDCA will begin soliciting SME in support of the development
task force as soon as possible. Members of the task force
will be asked to participate in two 2.5-day meetings approximately
every two months.
The first meeting of the task force will be held at the new
PDCA office, Nov. 19-20, 2014.
For more information on the program, please contact the
PDCA office.
▼▼PILE DYNAMICS, INC. HAS A NEW PILE
INTEGRITY TESTER
For more than 20 years, the Pile Integrity Tester – PIT – has
been the go-to instrument for low strain integrity testing of deep
foundations. In its simplest configuration, PIT performs pulse
echo tests and consists of a main unit, one accelerometer and one
handheld hammer. The hammer is used to impact the top of the
foundation, producing a wave that propagates down the shaft
and reflects back up. The reflected waves are received by an
accelerometer attached (typically with wax) to the pile top. The
main unit provides the testing professional with a velocity as a
function of time log that may reveal a compromised foundation
element. Some PIT models enable tests where two accelerometers
are used, or where the handheld hammer is instrumented
with an accelerometer, for an alternate method of integrity
analysis (transient response/frequency domain analysis).
A few years ago, Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI) released the
PIT-X, a compact PIT that weighs only 500 grams and has a
wireless configuration option (no cables connecting accelerometers
or instrumented hammers to the main unit).
PDI has now reengineered the traditional PIT, giving it
a large and bright color screen, a lighter enclosure and a USB
pdca member news
Service, Sales & Rentals of all pile
driving equipment and accessories has
been our business for over 25 years.
GeoQuip Inc.
1111 Cavalier Blvd,
Chesapeake, VA 23323
Phone: 757-485-2500
Fax: 757-485-5631
www.geoquip.biz
• Impact Hammers, Hydraulic & Diesel
• Vibratory Hammers • Hydraulic Drills / Auger Cast
• Swinging & Fixed Leads
Call today and let us work for you.
757-485-2500
36 | QUARTER 4 2014
/www.geoquip.biz
