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ACEC/MA Engineering Excellence Awards
Geocomp was proud to be recognized at the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA) Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in Boston this April, receiving the Bronze Award for our work on the Sinkhole Risk Management Project in Saudi Arabia.
In partnership with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Saudi Geophysical, Geocomp developed and implemented a data-driven solution to address sinkhole threats along a critical 1.5-kilometer freight rail corridor near Riyadh. The innovative risk management system used a combination of advanced geotechnical sensors and real-time data integration to detect early signs of ground instability.
This state-of-the-art monitoring program allowed SAR to respond proactively to sinkhole risks, protecting vital rail infrastructure and helping to provide safe, continuous freight operations. The project stands as a strong example of how international collaboration and advanced technology can help solve complex infrastructure challenges in demanding environments.
We thank our partners for the opportunity to support this important work and are honored by ACEC/MA’s recognition of the project’s technical excellence and impact.
Geocomp + Sercel: Advanced Technologies for Safer, Longer-Lasting Infrastructure
Sercel and Geocomp are redefining what’s possible in infrastructure monitoring. By combining Geocomp’s deep expertise in geotechnical and structural performance with Sercel’s cutting-edge sensor and geophysical technologies, we’re delivering faster, more resilient monitoring systems for clients across critical sectors. Examples of our collaboration include:
Structural Monitoring on Perenco Barge
Deployed Sercel’s ATEX-rated S-morpho system to monitor static, dynamic, and modal behavior on an offshore barge. Setup took under two hours, with validated, real-time data delivered within 48 hours.
South African Iron Ore Mine
Utilized the S-scan passive seismic imaging system to detect underground voids and assess rock hardness—helping improve safety, drilling strategy, and reduce site investigation costs on a recent mining operations project.
Tailings Storage Facility Monitoring Research
Presented joint research on combining distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and accelerometers to monitor structural changes in mine tailings facilities—advancing early warning systems for safer mine operations at this global forum for geotechnical and geophysical site investigation.
Indoor Building Investigation
Used S-scan technology to non-invasively image subsurface conditions, revealing differential settlement from a thickening clay layer—pinpointing the cause of cracking within the building and enabling a targeted mitigation plan.
SIFER 2025 Exhibition
Showcasing our advanced geotechnical monitoring technologies—including those co-developed with Sercel—for rail safety and performance improvement at France’s leading rail industry event in late June, 2025.
Innovative Groundwater Control Reduces Settlement Risks in Urban Excavation
Geocomp’s customized dewatering and excavation support solution helped a developer in Atlanta, GA safeguard adjacent buildings and stay on schedule. By reducing predicted settlement from more than 8 inches to less than ½ inch—well below thresholds for structural damage, our innovative solution protected nearby infrastructure and enabled deep excavation in a highly sensitive urban setting.
support of excavation is delineated in yellow.
A Site with Tight Margins and High Stakes
The project site, located in a dense Atlanta neighborhood, involved the construction of a 12-story mixed-use building with a 30-foot-deep below-grade parking deck. Surrounding the site were several low-rise structures, including a historic building with shallow foundations located just 80 feet away. Given the presence of shallow groundwater and highly permeable Piedmont residual soils, the risk of inducing settlement during excavation was significant.
From Conventional Risk to Controlled Outcomes
Typical dewatering systems deployed outside the excavation zone would have significantly lowered groundwater levels near the adjacent buildings, resulting in soil consolidation and large differential settlements. Geocomp opted for an unconventional approach: installing dewatering wells within the excavation footprint while placing recharge wells outside the excavation to maintain groundwater balance around critical structures.
Excavation Support Built for Sensitivity
A 36-inch soil-mix wall reinforced with steel H-piles was selected for support of excavation, with the geometry and tieback configuration adjusted based on the proximity of sensitive structures. The northeast section—nearest to the historic building, featured the most robust configuration, including multiple levels of tiebacks and closely spaced piles.
Monitoring Confirms Design Performance
Real-time monitoring using automated prisms and piezometers tracked soil and structure movements and pore pressure below and around the outside perimeter of the excavation. Results confirmed that settlement remained under ½ inch near the most sensitive zones, aligning with finite element model predictions and validating the effectiveness of the recharge system in mitigating ground movement.
installation between soil-mix wall with H-piles and adjacent building.
This project highlights how a site-specific, data-driven approach can redefine best practices for deep excavations in complex geologic and urban environments. By relocating dewatering systems and introducing recharge wells—an uncommon solution in Piedmont soils, Geocomp protected adjacent infrastructure and expanded the industry’s toolkit for settlement control.
Geocomp Supports Safe Construction of New Montgomery Lock Chamber
To accommodate larger barge traffic along the Ohio River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is upgrading the Montgomery Dam Lock in Monaca, PA with a new 1,200-foot lock chamber. The scale and complexity of this construction—requiring the installation of large cofferdams both upstream and downstream, demands robust monitoring to ensure the safety of workers and the integrity of the existing structures.
Geocomp is supporting the project with an advanced instrumentation program designed to deliver real-time insights during construction. The system includes hundreds of survey prisms monitored by Automated Motorized Total Stations (AMTS), nearly 60 automated inclinometers, over 200 vibrating wire sensors, and automated crack meters—all working together to monitor structural movement and ground behavior.
Geocomp’s team engineered a custom data logging system to streamline installation and manage the significant volume of data collected. At the core of this effort is iSiteCentral®, Geocomp’s powerful web-based data management platform, which enables project stakeholders to access, visualize, and analyze instrumentation data in one centralized location.
As a trusted partner to the main instrumentation subcontractor and geotechnical engineer on the project, Geocomp is providing expert staff, technical leadership, and smart monitoring solutions that help keep this vital infrastructure upgrade on track and safe for all involved.
GTX’s Nancy Hubbard Presents at ASCE Virginia’s Geotechnical Short Course
The Virginia Geo-Institute Chapter of ASCE hosted its Short Course Week in Smithfield, VA—bringing together geotechnical professionals for an in-depth series of technical trainings focused on improving project performance and data reliability.
Nancy Hubbard kicked off Day 1 with expert-led sessions covering core laboratory testing topics, including:
- Index Testing
- Sample Disturbance
- Consolidation Testing
- Direct Simple Shear Testing
- Triaxial Testing
A recognized expert in geotechnical laboratory methods, Nancy Hubbard serves as a Project Manager, Quality Assurance Technician, Deputy Quality Manager, and Advanced Laboratory Geotechnical Engineer at GeoTesting Express, where she has worked for 26 years. Nancy has a BS in Civil Engineering from WPI and a ME(C) in Geotechnical Engineering and Geology from Cornell University. Nancy provides a key role in the lab, working with and maintaining the automated testing equipment, supporting the quality system, and providing training, reporting, and technical support for technicians in both the Acton and Atlanta GTX labs, as well as for clients.
Nancy’s presentations reflects her deep expertise and Geocomp’s broader commitment to delivering trusted data, promoting technical excellence, and helping clients meet the highest standards in geotechnical design and construction. We’re proud to support initiatives like this that foster professional growth, collaboration, and innovation across the industry.
Geocomp Delivers Advanced Cyclic Direct Simple Shear System to University of Alberta
Geocomp recently delivered an Advanced Cyclic Direct Simple Shear (ACDSS) testing system to the University of Alberta’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering – enhancing the university’s ability to conduct advanced research in soil mechanics and infrastructure resilience. Located in Edmonton, the University of Alberta is the largest post-secondary institution in the province, serving approximately 40,000 students, 80% of whom are undergraduates.
This project was partially funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), which was established by the Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the country’s capacity for world-class research and technological innovation. Through CFI’s support, the University of Alberta selected Geocomp to supply the ACDSS system to enhance the department’s advanced soil mechanics research capabilities.
Geocomp’s Products Division provided full system delivery, along with comprehensive installation and training services for Dr. Michael Hendry, PhD, P.Eng., and his team of faculty members and graduate students – ensuring seamless integration into lab workflows and immediate research readiness. We are proud to support the University of Alberta’s ongoing research and innovation in geotechnical engineering.
