INDUSTRY PROFILE
“Our Canadian members
benefit from the fact that
we are a global institute
and that all DFI members
gain knowledge about
foundation design and
construction issues
from experts across
the world, making
them better informed professionals
and global industry contributors.”
– Theresa Engler, Executive Director, Deep
Foundations Institute
Suppliers and Service Providers Committee was established
to leverage the knowledge and innovation of these DFI members.
And the Women in Deep Foundations Committee was
established to focus on retaining professional women in the
deep foundations industry.”
Another area of investment is in students and young professionals.
DFI recognizes that the future of the industry
depends on the ability to encourage and engage promising
young engineers to consider careers in the deep foundations
industry.
In 2006, it established the DFI Educational Trust to support
and encourage individuals in the fields of study related
to the deep foundations industry by providing scholarships
and opportunities to meet and work with industry leaders.
Since its founding, the trust has awarded more than $600,000
in scholarships to over 160 students studying at colleges and
universities across the United States.
In Canada, a scholarship was established in 2013 for
civil engineering students attending universities in Ontario.
The Manuel Fine Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund was
established through a $25,000 donation from the Heavy
Construction Association of Ontario and a $25,000 donation
from the Ontario Association of Foundation Specialists.
The fund honors Manuel Fine, who served DFI for 24 years in
many roles, including trustee, president, executive director,
managing editor of Deep Foundations magazine and as publisher
of the DFI Journal.
Upcoming events
DFI supports the advancement of the deep foundations
industry by hosting several educational seminars and events
each year.
DFI’s technical committees develop specialty seminars,
short courses and workshops to educate and update members
on the fundamental applications of deep foundation
elements and systems, present innovations and technological
advancements, and discuss relevant market and practice
issues.
“Seminars, which are attended by 40 to 300 people,
provide a valuable learning experience for professionals
in the industry to build and strengthen their knowledge
base and obtain practical information that may be applied
immediately to their ongoing projects,” said Engler. “Our
regional chapters in Europe, India and the Middle East host
workshops and conferences each year, and DFI manages
international conferences on piling and deep foundations
worldwide. These conferences provide opportunities to share
common interests with counterparts around the world and
gain global perspectives on the use and advances of methods
and technologies.”
In June, DFI is hosting its ninth annual SuperPile conference,
June 7 to 9, at the Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago,
Ill. SuperPile ’16 – a collaboration of nine DFI technical
committees and partnership from ADSC-IAFD, an affiliated
association on foundation drilling – will include presentations
on the latest developments in driven piles, augered
cast-in-place/drilled displacement piles, micropiles, marine
foundations, testing and evaluation of foundation systems,
seismic and lateral loads, drilled shafts, ground improvement
and helical piles and tiebacks.
From August 1 to 3 in Denver, Colo., DFI’s Deep
Foundations for Landslides/Slope Stabilization and Tiebacks
and Soil Nailing Committees are hosting a seminar called “S3:
Slopes, Slides and Stabilization.” This three-day event will
feature meetings of the sponsoring technical committees,
lectures by industry experts on current technologies, key
design concepts and case histories that illustrate effective
application of deep foundations for stabilization of slopes
and excavation support and an exhibition.
September 9 to 10, DFI of India is hosting its annual conference
on Deep Foundations Technologies for Infrastructure
Development. The two-day conference is in Kolkata, India at
the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology;
it will focus on technology developments and case histories
on drilled and driven piling systems, ground improvement
and deep excavation systems – preceded by a full-day workshop
on Sept. 8 – on soft soil engineering in underground
space applications.
And in October, DFI will hold its 41st Annual Conference
in New York City.
“This year’s conference is introducing a new technical
track featuring seepage control and remediation for dam and
levee projects worldwide,” said Engler. “To reflect this addition,
the conference title is ‘DFI International Conference
on Deep Foundations, Seepage Control and Remediation.’
The conference is expected to draw more than 1,000 industry
professionals from across the globe to gather and share
experiences, exchange ideas and learn the current state of
the practice from various disciplines.”
The future
As for the next one to three years, Engler says DFI will remain
focused on four strategic goals: 1) globalization of the institute;
2) revitalization of technical activities; 3) engaging
manufacturer/supplier members; and 4) fostering involvement
of younger members.
“It is truly an exciting time to be involved in the Deep
Foundations Institute,” said Engler.
Ten Years of Piling Canada 45