Subsurface Investigation Qualification Course
The National Drilling Association is sponsoring the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) course “Sub-surface Investigation Qualification” again this year at the Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites in Orlando, Fla. Dates for the course are Dec. 3-5.
Many states now require this qualification to work on Department of Transportation projects. Following FHWA guidelines and practices for subsurface investigations, the course is intended for drillers, drilling inspectors, engineers, geologists and technicians involved in field data collection and quality assurance of subsurface investigations. A partial list of topics addressed in the course are exploration equipment and methods, safety, borehole sealing, drilling and sampling requirements and criteria, proper soil and rock visual classification and descriptions, common drilling errors, and dealing with difficult subsurface site conditions.
A two-hour qualification exam is administered at the end of the course. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the investigation specialist’s general role, duties and importance of coordination and communication with field personnel and engineers.
- Explain the purpose of geotechnical subsurface investigations and why adequate, consistent and quality investigations are important.
- Identify the major components of the typical subsurface investigation plan.
- Identify common drilling rigs, uses and components.
- Explain the importance of accurate borehole logging and documentation.
- Describe the importance of accurate ground water investigations.
- Discuss drill rig operation safety issues.
