Training - Certificed National Highway Institute Instructor

Dr. Collin is a National Highway Institute (NHI) certified instructor for the following courses:

Earth Retaining Structures - The goal of this course is to provide agencies with state-of-the-practice design tools and construction techniques to expand implementation of safe and cost-effective earth retention technologies. This course addresses the selection, design, construction, and performance of earth retaining structures used for support of fills and excavations or cut slopes. Instructors cover factors that affect wall selection, including contracting approaches with an emphasis on required bidding documents for each approach. Class discussions will include design procedures and case histories, demonstrating the selection, design, and performance of various earth retaining structures. Detailed information on subsurface investigation, soil and rock property design parameter selection, lateral earth pressures for wall system design, and load and resistance factor design (LRFD) for retaining walls are provided.

Geosynthetics - This 3-day course, provides training on the appropriate, cost-effective utilization of geosynthetics in transportation applications. The course examines the use of geotextiles, geogrids, pavement edge drains, drainage composites, erosion control materials, sediment control materials, and geomembranes. In addition, instructors also cover applications of filtration, drainage, temporary and permanent erosion control, sediment control, roadway separation, roadway reinforcement, roadway subgrade improvement, pavement overlays, embankments over soft foundations, mechanically stabilized earth walls, mechanically stabilized earth slopes, geomembrane containment ponds, and geomembrane pavement encapsulation.

Ground Improvement - This course covers important design and construction aspects associated with ground improvement techniques including Vertical Drains, Lightweight Fills, Vibro-Compaction, Dynamic Compaction, Stone Columns, Deep Soil Mixing, Column Supported Embankments, MSE Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes, Soil Nailing, and Grouting. The goal of the course is to help participants determine the applicability and preliminary cost analysis for techniques that could be employed to improve the ground to permit construction of geotechnical facilities for transportation applications.

Participants will develop an appreciation for exploring and characterizing subsurface soil and rock in the laboratory, as well as the requisite design parameters necessary to develop a preliminary design and cost estimate. Instructors will discuss and summarize the advantages and limitations of each method. The course is designed to elicit maximum input from participants particularly regarding their understanding of application criteria, the impact of geotechnical features on the long-term performance, and contracting methods.

MSEW and RSS Design and Construction - Mechanically stabilized earth walls (MSEWs) are commonly used on roadway projects and are typically cost effective and aesthetically pleasing. The basic concept behind MSEWs is to combine soil, reinforcing materials made of steel or polymers, and appropriate facing to produce a composite system with engineering properties that are ideal for most roadway applications. Reinforced soil slopes (RSS) utilize the same types of reinforcement for the construction of steep embankments. Both MSEWs and RSS structures can provide substantial savings in construction time and costs when compared with other types of earth retaining systems.

The goal of the course is to educate participants about state-of-the-practice design tools. This includes comprehensive instruction on the design of MSEWs using load resistance factor design (LRFD). The course also presents construction practices to promote implementation of mechanically stabilized earth technology in cost effective earth retention structures. 

MSEW and RSS Inspection - This course is part of a series to develop a training and qualification/certification program for geotechnical field inspectors. Topics addressed in the course include the types and durability of mechanically stabilized earth walls (MSEWs) and reinforced soil slopes (RSS), construction methods and sequences, alignment control, methods of fill and compaction control, safety, shop drawings, and plans, specifications, and the geotechnical report . A 2-hour qualification exam is administered at the end of the course.

Shallow Foundations - This course provides transportation earthwork professionals with the necessary skills to design shallow foundations for transportation applications and to consider the construction and inspection implications of the design. The participants will receive a comprehensive reference manual on investigation, design, and construction of shallow foundations used by highway and geotechnical engineers that will be referred to during the course, so participants will become familiar with its contents. The exercises book is an interactive teaching tool for the course, enabling participants to be actively involved in the learning experience. This course is currently presented in allowable stress design (ASD).

Soil Slope and Embankment Design - This course covers important aspects associated with the design and construction of soil slopes and embankments. It is intended to provide transportation earthwork professionals with knowledge to recognize potential problems with soil slope/embankment stability and deformation in transportation projects. Participants will develop the skills necessary to design and evaluate soil slopes and embankments and learn about the implications for construction and inspections. The course embraces both design and construction.

Slope Maintenance - As focus changes toward the asset management of our existing infrastructure, the value of maintaining and managing our embankment and cut slopes becomes more apparent. This course provides the essentials to slope maintenance and slide restoration for transportation field personnel with an asset management perspective. This course is not meant to be highly technical, and explains "conceptually and in layman's terms" the conditions and factors affecting slope movement, stability and deterioration, and the cost considerations of maintenance, stabilization and of slope failures. The course also provides the fundamental aspects of slope management systems and discusses the rationale of slope management considering the legal implications of slope failures and rock fall.