Year: 2008

Standards and Codes

ASTM Standards Updates – Sep/Oct

October 22, 2008 rockman Comments Off on ASTM Standards Updates – Sep/Oct

For those of you are interested, there were a number of ASTM standards updated in the last two months that apply to geotechnical engineering, soils testing, concrete, aggregate and other materials testing topics. Unfortunately the only way to see what changed is to buy the updated standards.  If there are any significant changes that affect the state of the practice in our industry, I hope someone will let us know and we can post a summary here on GeoPrac for the benefit of all.  In the mean time, I only highlight newly approved standards or re-approved standards, not work items. Click through for a list.

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Rockman's Ramblings

GeoPrac.net Facelift

October 21, 2008 rockman Comments Off on GeoPrac.net Facelift

As you can probably tell, there have been a few cosmetic and behind the scenes changes to the GeoPrac.net website. Rest assured it is still one of the premier sites for news and articles related to geotechnical engineering, geological engineering and engineering geology. But the software that runs the site was in dire need of upgrades, both for security and ease of maintenance. The new look was a byproduct of those upgrades (long story).

There are going to be some growing pains with the upgrades, including some broken links and other glitches. I appreciate your patience as I work to sort them out and I ask you to do me a favor, and if you come accross a problem, drop me a note – . If you’re interested in more details about the new site, click through.

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Rockman's Ramblings

New Feature – GeoThreads

October 21, 2008 rockman Comments Off on New Feature – GeoThreads

I made a conscious decision when creating GeoPrac.net to NOT include a forum or bulletin board. I feel that with my technical skills and using one of the excellent open source products out there I […]

gINT Software, Inc.
Press Releases

GEO5 Distribution Deal Signed by gINT Software, Fine

September 29, 2008 rockman Comments Off on GEO5 Distribution Deal Signed by gINT Software, Fine

gINT Software, Inc.Leading Geotechnical Software Developers to Integrate Solutions

Windsor, CA – September 29, 2008 –  gINT Software, Inc.

gINT Software, Inc., developer of gINT data management and reporting software for geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering professionals, has signed a mutual distributorship agreement with Fine s.r.o. of Prague, Czech Republic, maker of the GEO5 geotechnical analysis software programs. gINT Software will represent GEO5 on an exclusive basis in the USA, Canada and Mexico. In addition, Fine has been granted exclusive rights to represent gINT in the Czech Republic and surrounding Eastern European countries, including Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

[Editor] All screen shots courtesy of gINT Software, Inc. Click through for the rest of the press release. [/Editor]

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Software Updates

Exciting Changes for gINT Software

September 10, 2008 rockman Comments Off on Exciting Changes for gINT Software

If you haven’t read today’s gINT Software press release on their new Google Earth capabilities in gINT, do that first. Go ahead..I’ll wait.

As readers of this site know, I’m a big fan of utilizing Google Earth as a geoengineering tool, and since I’m a big fan of gINT as a geoengineering tool as well, this news for me was like a match made in heaven! The good folks over at gINT were kind enough to give me a sneak peek at the new Google Earth functionality a couple days ago. And they also discussed a shift in their approach to updates and upgrades that will be of particular interest to all gINT users. Click through for more info. (Screenshot courtesy of gINT Software)

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gINT Software, Inc.
Press Releases

Google Earth Integration Offered for gINT Borehole Data

September 10, 2008 rockman 6

gINT Software, Inc.Related Images, Calculations, Automated Displays Programmable by Users with New Interface

Windsor, CA – September 11, 2008 –  gINT Software, Inc.

A new upgrade to gINT geotechnical and geoenvironmental software lets users publish boreholes to Google Earth, Google’s satellite imagery–based mapping product. The version 8.2 upgrade enables users to specify an icon, color, label, and description to associate with the borehole via an easy-to-use Google Earth Setup dialog in gINT.  When the borehole icon on the Google Earth map is clicked by a viewer, a user-designed description will appear in a popup window.  The window can also contain links to any type of file, including images and PDFs displaying the boring log, enabling users to visually provide a substantial amount of information for each borehole.

[Editor] Click through for the rest of the press release and more screen shots. All screen shots courtesy of gINT Software, Inc. [/Editor]

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Press Releases

States Forced to Delay Millions of Dollars in Highway Contracts

September 9, 2008 rockman Comments Off on States Forced to Delay Millions of Dollars in Highway Contracts

[UPDATE 9/11/08] Yesterday the senate broke through their deadlock and approved $8 Billion to restore the solvency of the highway trust fund. Very good news indeed. [/UPDATE]

[Editor] From American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials, released September 9, 2008.  Contact: Tony Dorsey 202-624-3690 [/Editor]

States have put the brakes on millions of dollars of highway construction projects and are scrambling to substitute scarce state funds for the federal funds that have been cut off due to the crisis in the Highway Trust Fund.

“States are suspending new contract awards, halting right-of-way acquisition and looking for ways to stop on-going construction while maintaining public safety,” said AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley. “It is truly a crisis that Congress must resolve immediately. Every day the federal IOUs are piling up and the states’ financial hole gets deeper.”

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters announced on Friday that the federal government would slow down reimbursements to the states, and would likely be able to make only partial payments beginning next week, due to insufficient funds in the Highway Trust Fund. She has urged Congress to enact by the end of the week an $8 billion transfer from the General Fund to preserve the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Action is pending in the Senate.

More than a dozen states have detailed the impacts of the federal default on state programs, either in news releases or via media reports. Those impacts are available on the AASHTO website www.transportation.org or at the following links: [Editor] Read on for the rest of the press release. [/Editor]


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