GEI’s team of engineer divers specialize in waterfront structural engineering and design. We provide facility inspection and assessments which include above water and underwater structural inspections, underwater still and video photography, material testing, definition of necessary repairs and estimation of remaining life. Our divers are all certified for FHWA – NHI Underwater Bridge Inspection. Our services include:

• Emergency Response Assessments.
• Above and Underwater Assessments of Structural Elements.
• Engineering Assessment of Facility Life Expectancy.
• Determination of Fender and Mooring System Adequacy.
• Determination of Alternatives for Restoration or Improvement.
• Documentation and Rating of Current Conditions.
• Providing Program for 5-year Monitoring/Assessment with Recommendations for Maintenance and Repair.

GEI routinely assists clients with planning and feasibility studies. Our staff specialize in waterfront projects and understand the many constraints and considerations which impact the feasibility of a project including: design loadings, vessel operation criteria, environmental impacts and regulations, permitting requirements, constructability, and cost estimation. We understand the physical impacts such as waves, currents, scour, erosion, sediment transport, and siltation which affect the viability and durability of any waterfront project. Because our staff specialize in waterfront and coastal engineering, we can provide realistic designs and accurate estimates of construction costs. We have performed these services for many different clients and a wide range of facilities including:

• Container Terminals.
• Oil Terminals.
• Municipal Fishing Piers.
• Ferry Landings.
• Marinas.
• Seawall Reconstruction and Improvement.

GEI offers a wide range of services relating to marina planning, design, and maintenance including siting, planning, economics, wave and wake analysis, layout, and dredging. Our design capabilities include floating docks and their moorings, wave attenuators, bulkheads, piers, gangways, boat lift foundations, boat ramps, utilities, and fueling docks.

Wave attenuation may be achieved by a number of different approaches including filled breakwaters, fixed wave fences and wave barriers, and floating wave attenuators. A sound understanding of the wave environment is critical to the success of any wave attenuation project and GEI can provide wave analysis to meet those needs. Because of their nature, any wave attenuation structure is usually situated in a higher energy environment and GEI can provide the analysis required to determine wave loads and the effectiveness of the barrier. GEI has provided designs for a wide range of successful projects including pile supported wave barriers, floating attenuators, and pier mounted wave fences.

Waterfront facilities need to be designed for compliance with ADA regulations. Although any new design has to be ADA compliant, ADA regulations have special requirements relating to passenger vessel terminals and ferry landings, marinas, boat ramps, and fishing piers. Many of these facilities require specialized design to meet the requirements through the full tidal range. GEI has designed ferry landings for passenger vessel access for tidal ranges in excess of 12 feet.
GEI engineers routinely incorporate these requirements when appropriate and can offer an innovative approach to help clients navigate the complex constraints.

GEI offers in-house hydrographic (bathymetric) surveys to support our clients whether it be a berth survey, dredge payment survey, or existing conditions survey for planning and design. GEI can provide single-beam hydrographic, multi-beam hydrographic, and side scan sonar surveys to achieve the needs of the client in an efficient manner. Utilizing the data of the hydrographic surveys, GEI can create 3D dredge prisms, color banded comparison surfaces, and perform detailed volumetric analysis for dredging. GEI’s single beam surveys provide an economical approach for shallow depth surveys. Multibeam and side scan sonar provide in-depth mapping of the seafloor and can provide 3D modeling of underwater obstructions or debris.

Dredging projects present a unique set of challenges for planning, design, permitting, and material disposal. GEI’s knowledge of the requirements helps our clients to navigate this complex process. The biggest challenge for most dredging projects is cost-effective disposal of the dredged material. We have experience completing projects requiring CAD Cell disposal, offshore disposal, upland disposal, and beach nourishment. GEI’s in-house expertise includes a large group of environmental engineers to assist with contaminated site remediation. We offer hydrographic surveys, dredge material sampling and testing, feasibility analysis, assessment of alternative disposal options, design, permitting, and bid and construction phase support.