Online Resource 4. Project-Specific Selection Decision Matrix (Part 1 of 5)

Technology / Soil Type / Treatment Depth
Wet and weak fine grained soils / Unsaturated, loose granular soils / Saturated, loose granular soils / 0 – 1.5 m / 1.5 – 3 m / 3 – 6 m / 6 – 15 m / Greater than 15 m
Aggregate Columns /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Blasting Densification /  /  /  /  / 
Chemical Grouting/Injection Systems /  /  /  /  /  / 
Column-Supported Embankments /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Combined Soil Stabilization with Vertical Columns /  /  /  /  /  / 
Compaction Grouting /  /  /  /  /  / 
Continuous Flight Auger Piles /  /  /  /  /  / 
Deep Dynamic Compaction /  /  / 
Deep Mixing Methods /  /  /  /  /  / 
Electro-Osmosis /  /  /  / 
Excavation and Replacement /  /  /  /  / 
Geosynthetic Reinforced
Embankments /  /  /  /  /  / 
Geotextile Encased Columns /  /  /  / 
High-Energy Impact Rollers /  /  / 
Jet Grouting /  /  /  /  /  / 
Lightweight Fill /  /  /  /  /  / 
Micropiles /  /  /  /  /  / 
Prefabricated Vertical Drains and Fill Preloading /  /  /  / 
Rapid Impact Compaction /  /  /  /  / 
Sand Compaction Piles /  /  /  /  /  / 
Vacuum Preloading with and without Prefabricated Vertical Drains /  /  /  /  / 
Vibrocompaction /  /  /  /  / 
Vibro-Concrete Columns /  /  /  /  /  / 

Online Resource 4. (Cont.) Project-Specific Selection Decision Matrix (Part 2 of 5)

Technology / Purpose of Improvement
Increase resistance to liquefaction / Increase strength / Increase bearing capacity / By-pass Soft Ground / Reduce immediate settlement / Seepage Barrier (cutoff wall) / Reduce consolidation settlement / Increase rate of consolidation
Aggregate Columns /  /  /  /  /  / 
Blasting Densification /  /  /  / 
Chemical Grouting/Injection Systems /  /  /  /  / 
Column-Supported Embankments /  /  /  / 
Combined Soil Stabilization with Vertical Columns /  /  /  /  /  / 
Compaction Grouting /  /  /  / 
Continuous Flight Auger Piles /  /  /  / 
Deep Dynamic Compaction /  /  /  / 
Deep Mixing Methods /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Electro-Osmosis /  /  /  /  / 
Excavation and Replacement /  /  /  /  / 
Geosynthetic Reinforced
Embankments
Geotextile Encased Columns /  /  /  / 
High-Energy Impact Rollers /  /  /  / 
Jet Grouting /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Lightweight Fill /  / 
Micropiles /  /  /  / 
Prefabricated Vertical Drains and Fill Preloading /  /  /  / 
Rapid Impact Compaction /  /  /  / 
Sand Compaction Piles /  /  /  /  /  / 
Vacuum Preloading with and without Prefabricated Vertical Drains /  /  /  / 
Vibrocompaction /  /  /  / 
Vibro-Concrete Columns /  /  /  / 

Online Resource 4. (Cont.) Project-Specific Selection Decision Matrix (Part 3 of 5)

Technology / Project Type / Site Characteristics / Size of Area to be Improved
New embankment/new construction / Embankment widening / Replacement structure / New Structure (culvert,
wall, etc.) / Existing Structure with Differential Settlement / Large, open, undeveloped sites / Constrained, developed sites / Small
area / Moderate area / Large
area
Aggregate Columns /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Blasting Densification /  /  /  /  / 
Chemical Grouting/Injection Systems /  /  /  /  / 
Column-Supported Embankments /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Combined Soil Stabilization with Vertical Columns /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Compaction Grouting /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Continuous Flight Auger Piles /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Deep Dynamic Compaction /  /  /  /  / 
Deep Mixing Methods /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Electro-Osmosis /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Excavation and Replacement /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Geosynthetic Reinforced
Embankments /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Geotextile Encased Columns /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
High-Energy Impact Rollers /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Jet Grouting /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Lightweight Fill /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Micropiles /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Prefabricated Vertical Drains and Fill Preloading /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Rapid Impact Compaction /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Sand Compaction Piles /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Vacuum Preloading with and without Prefabricated Vertical Drains /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Vibrocompaction /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Vibro-Concrete Columns /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 

Online Resource 4. (Cont.) Project-Specific Selection Decision Matrix (Part 4 of 5)

Technology / Project Constraints / Construction schedule / Unstable soil condition that best describes site
Low overhead clearance / Adjacent buildings / Existing utilities / Accelerated schedule / No schedule constraints / Unstable soil extends from ground surface to depth / Unstable soil underlies stable soil / Unstable soils and stable soils are interlayered
Aggregate Columns /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Blasting Densification /  /  /  / 
Chemical Grouting/Injection Systems /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Column-Supported Embankments /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Combined Soil Stabilization with Vertical Columns /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Compaction Grouting /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Continuous Flight Auger Piles /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Deep Dynamic Compaction /  /  / 
Deep Mixing Methods /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Electro-Osmosis /  /  /  /  /  / 
Excavation and Replacement /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Geosynthetic Reinforced
Embankments /  /  /  /  / 
Geotextile Encased Columns /  /  /  /  / 
High-Energy Impact Rollers /  /  /  / 
Jet Grouting /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Lightweight Fill /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Micropiles /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Prefabricated Vertical Drains and Fill Preloading /  /  /  / 
Rapid Impact Compaction /  /  /  / 
Sand Compaction Piles /  /  /  /  /  /  / 
Vacuum Preloading with and without Prefabricated Vertical Drains /  /  /  /  / 
Vibrocompaction /  /  /  /  / 
Vibro-Concrete Columns /  /  /  /  /  /  / 

Online Resource 4. (Cont.) Project-Specific Selection Decision Matrix (Part 5 of 5)

Technology / Sufficiently thick peat layers are present that will affect construction and settlement1 / Fine grained soils present with shear strengths below
25 kPa1 / Obstructions are present which would cause drilling difficulty1
Aggregate Columns
Blasting Densification / 
Chemical Grouting/Injection Systems /  / 
Column-Supported Embankments /  / 
Combined Soil Stabilization with Vertical Columns / 
Compaction Grouting / 
Continuous Flight Auger Piles /  / 
Deep Dynamic Compaction / 
Deep Mixing Methods /  / 
Electro-Osmosis / 
Excavation and Replacement /  /  / 
Geosynthetic Reinforced
Embankments /  /  / 
Geotextile Encased Columns /  / 
High-Energy Impact Rollers / 
Jet Grouting /  / 
Lightweight Fill /  /  / 
Micropiles /  /  / 
Prefabricated Vertical Drains and Fill Preloading /  / 
Rapid Impact Compaction / 
Sand Compaction Piles
Vacuum Preloading with and without Prefabricated Vertical Drains /  / 
Vibrocompaction
Vibro-Concrete Columns /  / 

1 All technologies are applicable if the condition is not present

Selection assistance for the evaluation of geoconstruction technologies

Douglas, Schaefer, and BergGeotechnical and Geological Engineering

Caleb Douglas (Corr. Author) Page 1 of 5