PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The Tipping Point Between Success and Failure: DFI I was in Washington D.C. a few weeks ago on a business trip and decided to take an extra day to see Gettysburg. I had always been fascinated by both the battle’s significance as a turning point in the Civil War and because of Lincoln’s famous address delivered there five months later. The more I read about the battle and listened to the tour guides describe it, the more I became fascinated by a third element — the power of information, specifically the power of essential information at the right time, and its role as the tipping point in determining success or failure. Lee was very likely the better General in the three-day battle at Gettysburg, but Meade had the vital information when needed, and Lee was, in his own words, virtually blind. His eyes and ears, J.E.B. Stewart, Lee’s scouting cavalry commander, failed to report the position and strength of the Union forces as well as the lay of the land in front of Lee for three days prior to the battle and only showed up late on the second day of the battle. Without this essential information, Lee could not plan in advance, deploy his forces effectively or develop the correct strategy for victory. As a result, he was forced to make bad decisions based on incomplete information, and the end result was defeat. While our objectives and overall mission in the foundation industry do not carry the significance of this great battle, our day-to-day success or failure as individuals, companies or organizations is, to a high degree, dependent on having the right infor- mation at the right time. In the world of high- speed Internet links to a flood of information, it is difficult at times to sort out and find the correct information when needed. For almost 40 years, DFI’s primary “In the world of high- speed Internet links…it is difficult at times to sort out and find the correct information…” mission has been to provide very relevant information in a timely manner. We have fulfilled this mission through our Robert B. Bittner, P.E. President [email protected] workshops, seminars and many publications including Deep Foundations magazine, DF I J o u r n a l , a n d conference proceedings. Most recently, this effort has taken a significant leap forward when DFI provided all members free on-line access to over 100,000 technical articles through OneMine.org. Gain the advantage that DFI offers of having essential up-to-date information relative to the design and construction of deep foundations, and let this advantage help tip the balance towards your success in the foundation industry. IFCEE 2015 Joint Venture Announced ADSC, DFI, G-I of ASCE, and PDCA announce their partner- ship in IFCEE 2015 (International Foundations Congress and Equip- ment EXPO). This week long event will be held at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas, March 17-21, 2015. The Congress will include presen- tations of reviewed technical papers, panel discussions and debates, indoor exhibits, an outdoor equipment exposition, educational short courses, technical committee meetings, and networking with industry leaders. Registration for exhibitor space and sponsorships are expected to open in January 2014, while registration will open in September 2014. Survey on Current Practices in Helical Piles and Helical Anchors The DFI Helical Piles and Tiebacks Committee is preparing a comprehensive study of the current practices, design and installation of helical piles and tiebacks. The study will be based on the results of a practice survey available at http://www.dfi.org/commhome.asp?commfield=HLPR. The work is being conducted by Professors Sam Clemence of Syracuse University and Alan Lutenegger of University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Your participation will provide valuable information to ensure a complete and useful project. The survey will take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. This work is being funded by the DFI Committee Project Fund, and the results will be published in a state-of-the-art paper that will be available to all members. Please submit your response by September 1, 2013. Please contact Mary Ellen Bruce at [email protected] for more information. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2013 • 7
