resiliency + water
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC),
NYC H+H Metropolitan, New York, New York
Matrix New World Engineering (Matrix) provided surveying and geotechnical services to the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and another firm as part of a project for flood control improvements for Metropolitan Health & Hospitals located in New York, NY. The existing hospital building had recently been victim to flood damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Working with FEMA, the NYEDC has since been developing plans to mitigate any future damage to the hospital during major storm events. This project primarily centered on the construction of a flood wall to span the perimeter of the building, which will prevent future flood waters from reaching and entering the hospital. Studies were also performed regarding the susceptibility of underground basements and tunnels to damage during flood events, along with the mitigating precautions that could be taken at the project site to avoid any future debilitating damage.
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Matrix’s team of surveyors completed both topographic and utility surveys at the project site, including delineation of existing underground sewers and subway tunnels. Matrix then worked with the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) to access relevant permits and locate borings sufficiently to allow for soil sampling near the existing subway tunnel along 2nd Avenue.
Once necessary permits and approvals were completed, the subsequent geotechnical investigation included 31 borings covering the critical areas of the project site. Matrix managed and coordinated the drilling operation with the drilling subcontractor, as well as on-site coordination with the NYCEDC, Stantec and Metropolitan Hospital. Matrix was on site for every boring taken and completed the classification of multiple soil borings on site.
The field responsibilities included collection, classification, and logging of soil samples taken at varying depths and at numerous borehole locations. Supervision of correct drilling practice (including safety precautions) was also a significant aspect of the project. A Matrix engineer prepared soil boring logs which included soil descriptions, blow counts, and groundwater observations. Permeability tests were also conducted at the site to evaluate the existing soil’s drainage properties – a critical factor in flood control design. Four groundwater monitoring wells were installed around the hospital building to further study the movement of groundwater at the site. Following field operation, a geotechnical report was prepared which included final soil boring logs, geotechnical laboratory test results, site preparation, and foundation recommendations for the proposed flood wall. Matrix also completed a hydro-geological study, which evaluated the potential for flood water to harm the existing and proposed structures at the project site. Recommendations for further flood control measures were then made based upon the findings of the hydro-geologic study.
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