Digging deeper: Geotechnical team drills down for purpose and discovery in their ‘boring’ jobs
A marine drilling crewmember contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District writes down notes from survey readings during a geotechnical drill to collect samples of bedrock on the Ohio River near the Emsworth Locks and Dams in Pittsburgh, Sept. 27, 2023. Pittsburgh District geotechnical engineers and geologists study subsurface terrain to assess bedrock for construction projects. A marine drilling crew has been working at Emsworth Locks and Dams since July to drill more than 50 boreholes. The geotechnical team will send samples to a lab to identify the bedrock hardness, strength and permeability for construction. The district plans on constructing a newer, larger lock chamber at Emsworth as part of the Upper Ohio Navigation Project. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District photo by Michel Sauret)