How to Read a Geotechnical Report
Description
A geotechnical report lands on your desk and you need a number out of it. So you turn to the recommendations, find the allowable bearing capacity, and design to it.
The recommendations tell you what to design to. Everything ahead of them tells you why, and the why is what tells you whether the what still applies to the site in front of you.
Those numbers also carry conditions. Some of them sit on pages you did not read, and some of them are things another party has to do in the field before the number holds at all.
When site preparation does not match what the report assumed, the recommendation you designed to no longer applies. That tends to surface during construction, as a change order, a redesign, or an argument about conditions nobody expected.
That is why we put this training together: so you can read these reports closely enough to know what the recommendations rest on before you commit a design to them.
You will leave this training knowing how to:
- Follow an investigation from the field program through the laboratory testing, so you can judge how much of the site the data actually represents.
- Read the soil and groundwater conditions for what they mean to your design instead of moving past them.
- Trace an allowable bearing capacity back to the assumptions behind it, including the site preparation and fill placement it depends on.
- Work confidently with the rest of the recommendations you will build to, from pavement and lateral earth pressure through groundwater control, seismic site classification, and soil resistivity and corrosivity.
- Review a report critically and know what to send back to the geotechnical engineer before you design to it.
Daniel Messmer, P.E., D. GE, has more than 30 years in geotechnical, foundation and structural engineering across transportation, industrial, municipal and commercial projects, and has spent that career on quality control and on training the people who do this work.
Two hours, and you stop taking a geotechnical report on faith.
Register now.
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.
Friday, January 8, 2027
11:00 am – 1:00 pm CT
Agenda:
Presented by Daniel P. Messmer, P.E., D. GE
Subsurface Investigation
- Field investigation
- Laboratory testing program
Subsurface Conditions
- Subsurface soil conditions
- Groundwater condition
Analysis and Recommendations
- Allowable bearing capacity – foundations and slab on grade
- Site preparation and fill placement
- Pavement
- Lateral earth pressure
- Groundwater controls
- Site seismic classification
- Soil resistivity and corrosivity
Review of Geotechnical Reports
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
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GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS
Web Browser:
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions)
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions)
Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better
Hardware: 2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)
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Credits
Engineers
2.0 PDHs
Architects
2.0 HSW CE Hours
AIA - American Institute of Architects
2.0 LU|HSW
ICC - International Code Council
0.2 CEUs (Sitework)
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 2.0 PDHs for professional engineers and 2.0 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, and New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System. Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 2.0 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .2 CEUs in the specialty area of Sitework (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
On-Demand Credits
The credits listed above apply only to the live webinar. This course in an on-demand format may not qualify for the same credit in some states. Please refer to specific board rules to determine if an asynchronous, on-demand course is appropriate. The following credits will be included:
- 2.0 HSW LUs (AIA)
Speakers
Daniel P. Messmer, P.E., D. GE
Project Manager with The Gateway Engineers, Inc., in PittsburghMr. Messmer has over 30 years of engineering experience in analysis, design, plan/specification development, and project management/personnel supervision for geotechnical, foundation and structural engineering projects in the transportation, industrial, municipal and commercial fields of civil engineering. Throughout his career he has placed an emphasis on quality control and staff training. Mr. Messmer is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the American Society of Highway Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. He earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Messmer was accepted into the Academy of Geo-Professionals in 2013.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: How to Read a Geotechnical Report
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This two-hour course explains how to read and interpret a geotechnical report for design professionals, including the subsurface investigation, subsurface conditions, analysis and recommendations.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to interpret the results of subsurface field investigations and laboratory testing in a geotechnical report.
Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to identify and evaluate key subsurface conditions, including soil profiles and groundwater conditions, as they relate to construction decisions.
Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to consider foundational recommendations, such as those related to allowable bearing capacity, site preparation, fill placement, and lateral earth pressures.
Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to explain the impact that site seismic classifications and soil resistivity/corrosivity have on foundation design and construction.
LUs: 2.0
LU Type: LU|HSW
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 10/30/2027
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.
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