Required skills

Required skills include

interpreting maps site plans and drawings

planning and managing projects

identifying and locating site services sampling and testing sites eg using global positioning system GPS

identifying soil rock and fill materials

observing interpreting and reportingsite features and geotechnical conditions

maintaining accurate and complete records

interpreting test data

resolving problems appropriately

seeking advice about problems beyond technical competence from appropriate personnel

driving safely on and offroad

working safely on construction sites aroundheavy equipment and earthmoving plant

report writing

using computer software to createmaintain databases and produce detailed reports

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

the purposes and principles of geotechnical site investigation

identification and classification of materials

principles of planning and project management

engineering properties of soil and rock materials

representative sampling and testing both in situ and laboratory

uses of engineering materials in civil construction

civil construction techniques

relevant health safety and environment requirements

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors should ensure that candidates can

liaise with stakeholders at various levels of complexity

plan coordinate and monitor a diverse range of geotechnical activities

analyse collate and report geotechnical investigation findings

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment through observation over time The timeframe must allow for adequate assessment of operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions Where this is not practical additional assessment techniques must be used

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSLA Provide information to customers

MSL915001A Provide information to customers

MSLA Schedule laboratory work for a small team

MSL915002A Schedule laboratory work for a small team

MSLA Monitor the quality of test results and data

MSL935001A Monitor the quality of test results and data.

Resources may include

access to sites tools and equipment

enterprise procedures sampling plans test methods and equipment manuals

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of work outputs over a period of time to ensure accurate and consistent work is obtained within required timelines

examples of completed workplace documentation

feedback from peers and supervisors

oral or written questioning

In all cases practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly

Where applicable reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity age gender demographics and disability

Access must be provided to appropriate learning andor assessment support when required

The language literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case study below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting

Construction materials testing

The materials laboratory of a large local authority has been requested to investigate a km section of road pavement that shows varying degrees of distress

As the road is to be rebuilt and upgraded the supervising engineer requires information to identify the reasons for the distress and to inform the design of the new pavement The investigation will require test pits at m intervals to allow examination of the underlying strata in situ testing and sampling of existing pavement and subgrade materials The work will be performed by an experienced technician and a testing assistant with supervision by a senior technician The Councils Works Department will provide a backhoe with an operator and traffic management team The engineer briefs the senior technician on the scope purpose and requirements of the investigation and provides himher with the available documentation including maps drawings and previous reports on the project They refer to relevant ARMIS data Falling Weight Deflection testing and surface defect mapping data They carry out an onsite reconnaissance to confirm the available data and initial assumptions

The senior technician conducts a desk study to ensure that heshe understands the full requirements of the project Heshe plans the on and offsite activities including locating the relevant services and utilities arranging for the necessary permits and preparing a health and safety management plan Heshe also plans the excavations sampling and in situ testing and the laboratory testing regime Finally heshe prepares a GANTT chart showing all activities and the critical control points The project is expected to take one week to complete

Heshe conducts a briefing session with the relevant stakeholders to nominate job roles and explain the required timelines The scope of testing requires coring of UCS samples cutting of asphalt slabs for MATTA testing Material Quality testing ie gradings atterbergs and CBRs as well as in situ DCP and moisture content testing PAVSET data is also to be collected onsite

On completion of the field activities the senior technician checks the samples and then if required adjusts the testing schedule so as to capture enough relevant test data Once all required testing has been completed and checked the senior technician collates the test data and summarises it into a report for the project engineer Heshe then meets with the engineer who after reviewing the report finds that a km section of the road needs further sampling and testing because this section is in a known flood plain The engineer issues a new test request specifying that this section of road requires a sample and test pit every m Previously collected data is to be collated with these new samples

The senior technician then organises for the added sampling and testing to be included into the laboratorys work schedule mindful of any new time constraints After completing the additional testing heshe collates all the data into a final report for the engineer

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Site hazards may include:

Safety procedures

Tools and equipment

Common site problems

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements