DFI Announces Two New Committees

The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) recently announced the formation of two new committees – announce the formation of two new DFI committees – the Foundation Reuse Committee and the Student Engagement Committee.

Foundation Reuse Committee

The mission of the Foundation Reuse Committee is to reduce impediments to foundation reuse through outreach, promotion of technical advancements, and development of guidance documents and specifications.

The committee chair is Andrew Boeckmann, Ph.D., P.E., senior engineer with Dan Brown and Associates (DBA). Boeckmann primarily works on geotechnical design for large bridge projects, but he also performs a variety of specialty services including foundation reuse, integrity test evaluation, instrumentation and monitoring, tremie concrete, mass concrete, and geotechnical research.

Prior to joining DBA, Boeckmann spent eight years as a research engineer at the University of Missouri, where he wrote NCHRP Synthesis 505 Current Practices and Guidelines for the Reuse of Bridge Foundations (2017) and performed a large field research study for Missouri DOT on the reuse of foundations. Prior to working at the university, he was a geotechnical engineer for URS in St. Louis, where he worked on design teams for several large projects, including deep soil mixing for post-Katrina levee reconstruction in New Orleans.

In addition to his involvement with DFI, Boeckmann is a member of the EFFC/DFI Tremie Concrete Task Group.

“With the steadily increasing reuse of existing foundations as a relevant and sustainable option for the deep foundation industry, DFI recognizes the need to create a standing committee to address and promote the issue,” says Matt Glisson, DFI technical activities director. “The new committee is continuing the important work they have been doing as a task force, including the publication of foundation reuse peer reviewed papers, the publication of foundation reuse case histories and organizing workshops and panel sessions for industry conferences.”

Student Engagement Committee

The Student Engagement Committee, with support from DFI Educational Trust, will develop consistent student opportunities and experiences that raise awareness of career opportunities in our industry, grow interest in DFI and provide members the opportunity to interact with prospective employees at school and DFI events.

“DFI recognizes that the future of our industry depends upon our ability to encourage and engage promising individuals to consider careers in the deep foundations industry,” says Theresa Engler, DFI executive director. “This new, enthusiastic committee is taking charge of the recently launched University Ambassador Program as well as student activities at DFI and industry events, and more to follow.”

The chair of the Student Engagement Committee is Chris Woods, P.E., G.E., BC.GE, C.Eng. MIEI, F.ASCE, LEED AP BD+C, vice president at Densification, Inc. Prior to joining Densification, Woods spent over 13 years as a geotechnical consultant practicing throughout the eastern seaboard of the United States, as well as overseas. He has more than 20 years of experience in geotechnical engineering, with a particular specialization in ground improvement; he has additionally been involved with the design of shallow and deep foundation systems, evaluation of earth slope stability, design of retaining walls, geotechnical instrumentation monitoring and extensive construction oversight.

Woods is deeply involved with Deep Foundations Institute (DFI), serving as technical program co-chair of the 2022 DFI Annual Conference, a founding member of the DFI Podcast Committee and one of the “Live at Game Day” series hosts, a member of the DFI Journal Editorial Board, and a long-standing member of the Ground Improvement committee. He is also an active member of the ASCE Foundation Standard Committee and has been an active member of the ASCE and the Geo-Institute, serving as a member of the Geostrata Editorial Board since 2015, and as a member and leader of the Soil Improvement Committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and his master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from Virginia Tech.

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