"Benchmarking for Best Practices in the Public Sector articulates the ups and downs of benchmarking and communicates the great potential best practices have to affect change in any government agency." — Deedee Corradini, mayor, Salt Lake City
"True benchmarking isn't just for the corporate world.The authors of Benchmarking for Best Practices in the Public Serctor show convincingly that it's for the public sector, too." — David N. Ammons, senior associate, Caril Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
"Most of the literature about benchmarking has a private-sector focus and uses the manufacturing approach toward process improvement when, in reality, the public sector requires a service approach to process improvement. Benchmarking for Best Practices in the Public Sector fills this void by using benchmarking and process improvement constructs and applying them to real-life applications in the public sector....This is a book that you should have on your bookshelf." — Government Finance Review
Sooner or later, every contractor will face a situation difficult enough to require a broad knowledge of soils, but not so complex as to call for an outside expert. Available soil and soil behavior books, however, lack the basic, practical information needed by the busy contractor. Construction Guide for Soils and Foundations, written especially for those who will do the actual construction work, is the first sourcebook to provide that essential information and guidance. Construction Guide for Soils and Foundations presents clear discussions of the procedures, materials and equipment used in treating soils and installing foundations. Specific topics include reinforced earth retaining walls, the use of filter fabrics, the use of synthetic membranes, dynamic compaction, and the analysis of capacity of piles using the wave equation. Part One presents a simplified explanation of what to expect from soils encountered during construction. It discusses the nature and types of soils, soil behavior, and unusual soils, such as swelling soils and sensitive soils. Part Two, presents, in detail, aspects of soil, soil behavior, and foundations commonly encountered in construction. Construction Guide for Soils and Foundations will serve as an invaluable guide and reference not only for contractors, but for students, inspectors and soil technicians as well.