Andrew Cho
Ph.D., P.E., P.G., LEED AP. Associate DBIA, CGDIT
Turner Construction Company | Senior Geotechnical Design Specialist
Speaker
Track F: Building Performance
Session F3: Building Envelopes and Systems
September 27, 2024 | 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Lessons Learned from Geo-Exchange System Constructions
A geo-exchange system has been incorporated into our recent building construction projects as a sustainable energy source.
Geo-exchange systems have advantages over conventional fuel-driven heating and cooling systems because they reduce overall operating and maintenance costs, increase safety, improve indoor air quality and comfort, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions even though it requires upfront capital costs for installation.
Geotechnical considerations on the optimized geo-exchange system design include groundwater levels, bedrock depths, available land space, ground temperature, characteristics of in-situ soils and rocks including thermal conductivity values, etc.
Lessons learned from the geo-exchange system design, procurement, and construction include: coordinating scope of works between geotechnical and mechanical subcontractors; implementing the geothermal scope in construction; evaluating water quality and aquifer zones; confirming locations of existing underground utilities and tracking the geothermal well piping systems; providing factors of safety with the well capacities to meet/exceed the expected loads of the HVAC system; and performance of thermal conductivity testing or underground water quality testing in the pre-construction phase.
Speaker Bio
Andrew Cho holds a BS in Geology from Yonsei University, an MS in Geology from Seoul National University in Korea, and a Ph.D. in Engineering Geology from Purdue University in Indiana.
He is a registered professional engineer in the States of New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Indiana. Also, he is a licensed professional geologist registered in the States of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Nebraska. He is certified as LEED AP DB+C, Associate DBIA, and Certified Geoexchange Designer in Training (CGDIT).
Currently, Andrew Cho works as a Senior Geotechnical Design Specialist in Turner Engineering Group at Tuner Construction Company.
He serves as a committee member in multiple technical groups of Deep Foundation Institute, Geo-Institute of ASCE, and International Group of ASCE Metropolitan Section.
