24 JANUARY 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® In Memoriam Thresa Ann Henson (1952~2024) Thresa Ann Henson of Portland, Tennessee, passed away November 14, 2024, at Tri Star Portland Emergency Room. She was born on February 18, 1952, in Rensselaer, Indiana. She began her career in explosives in 1987, working for Hermitage Explosives in Nashville. Affectionately and widely known as “Ms. T,” she was the first person you talked to when calling the office requesting explosives, delivery, shot services, and finding the right person needed in a 200-mile radius. Customers calling in immediately knew they were considered #1 and their requests would be met or sorted accordingly. Thresa is survived by her loving husband of 48 years, David; sons David and James (Tejah); sister Bettie; brother Michael; brothers-in-law Keith (Nora) and James; and several nieces and nephews. The management and staff of WWDR extend their condolences to Ms. T’s family and friends. Lest we forget . . . Terracon is Creating a Powerful Resource with Data Adapted from Information by Terracon Terracon is revolutionizing the traditional approach to geotechnical engineering by embracing technology, and tapping into the vast amount of subsurface, geology, hydrogeology, and geotechnical data. With over two million soil and bore logs and counting, they are combining their own data with government agencies’ shared information, to create a comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) platform for technical characterization. Noted economist and Nobel Laureate Professor, Robert J. Shiller, is quoted as saying: “It amazes me how people are often more willing to act based on little or no data than to use data that is a challenge to assemble.” To overcome this challenge at Terracon, they’re combining the power of computers, GIS-based archiving and retrieval systems, as well as machine learning to start their technical site characterization process with predictive analysis techniques. This will consider the consistency of the information and the geotechnical practitioners’ local experience to determine the confidence in their prediction. The use of machine learning technology is becoming more prevalent in geotechnical engineering to develop a virtual soil boring log for any specific location in the United States. Technical engineers must ensure they are up to date in their usage of public domain data and predictive technologies to create a smart work plan that confirms or modifies the predicted conditions and provides the necessary information for foundation design with increased confidence. GEOTECH
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