Workshop on New Directions for the National Geotechnical Experimentation Sites Program

National Council For Geo-Engineering And Construction, Alexandria VA

Investigators

Abstract

The National Geotechnical Experimentation Sites (NGES) program comprises a system of six well-characterized sites located throughout the United States that are available for full-scale geotechnical experiments. In 1998, the National Council for Geo-Engineering and Construction (the Geo Council), a council of ten geo-related organizations, assumed management of the NGES program. The Geo Council expressed interest in expanding the program to new types of sites, such as a geoenvironmental site or a rock site. In addition, with FHWA support, the NGES database is currently being updated and improved and will be a major asset for users including professionals, educators, researchers and students. In order to give direction and priorities to NGES program, a workshop is planned, with NSF support, to develop a broader vision for the program and inject some new thoughts and people into the process. The workshop, to be held in the fall, 2000, will be sponsored by the Geo Council and will produce a report that is widely disseminated and available on the council's Web site: www.geocouncil.org