Equipment manufacturer Liebherr has created a new simulator to allow operators to train on foundation drilling equipment virtually. The simulator is based on other simulators created by Liebherr, and includes things like a real construction site with neighboring buildings and structures, uneven ground, varying soil conditions, etc. [Source: Read more at GE Innovation News | New Civil Engineer via @GE_magazine. Image: NCE / GE Innovation News]
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Drilled shaft rig falls into hole – Iowa
On May 15 a drilled shaft rig operated by Mid America Drilling Corp was nearly swallowed by the 9-ft diameter hole it was drilling for a cell tower foundation near Harlan, Iowa. Fortunately nobody was injured and the truck did not suffer any significant damage.
In Arizona, the standard of practice is to use a temporary surface casing to prevent dangerous failures like that. I once saw pictures of a drilling contractor superindendent almost get sucked into a collapsing shaft, even with the temporary casing. Pretty scary stuff. Source: Harlan Tribune. (Photo by Samantha Bruck)