The data must be pretty solidly demonstrable for the reviewers to come out so solidly against the geotechnical firm that did the soils investigation and recommendations and the engineering firm that reviewed and used that data to develop the design approach. Usually, if there is any way the data isn't crystal clear a forensic engineer will temper their comments.
That all being said, it is beyond comprehension that the contractor drove pilling to this shallow depth. I've done piling like this 50 foot away from a river basin and driven it over 50' just to hold back a little static water.
I've also done millions of dollars of work for the COE and they don't let people cut corners from what is on the documents. The two things combined (design errors and construction not-in-place) are almost beyond belief.
I do not have an engineering background ... but, I, too was stunned ... as this would appear to go way beyond corruption and shoddy business practices.
Do you think this means Cheney and Bush didn't really dynamite the levees after all??
KC Burke wrote:
"I've also done millions of dollars of work for the COE and they don't let people cut corners from what is
on the documents. The two things combined (design errors and construction not-in-place) are almost
beyond belief."
When the first sonar results came out, there were also reports that at least two different periods of construction took place after the ortiginal structure was built under Corps supervision.
Neither of these projects was under Corps control or supervision, and I believe that at least one of them was under Sewer and Water Board control.
The Sewer and Water Board was also the agency that received reports of water standing in people's backyards near the 17th Street breach well prior to Katrina and never reported it to the Corps.
I think this report is a deliberate attempt to cloud the waters, make the CoE bear part of the blame when the lawsuits start racking up. Like you, I know my way around engineer types, and am willing to bet that the Corps CYA documents can be measured in tons gross weight.
In any event, the official Senate investigation is in good hands, and their report will have much greater effect on the outcome of class action malicious negligence suits than any deliberate smear job by the media and a few pocketed professors.