Geotechnical
Engineering
Soil, rock, and groundwater conditions at every site are different. We assess the specific site conditions and design earth structures (slopes, channels, and dikes), foundations (retaining walls, bridges, buildings, tanks), and subsurface structures (clarifiers, lift stations, buried utilities, tunnels) to economically achieve the specific project objectives.
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Construction Materials
Engineering
& Testing
Construction material performance is key to the function and durability of any project. We engineer and test materials such as soil, concrete, and asphalt so you get what you pay for and the project performs as expected.
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Civil/Pavement
Engineering
A successful project starts with clear understanding of the project’s specific needs. We prepared street rehabilitation PS&E, traffic control designs, pavement designs, and asset management systems based on careful understanding of design requirements.
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Environmental Geology
& Engineering
Impact from hazardous waste, wetlands, faulting, and/or NEPA processes are serious concerns for project development. We identify such concerns early in project development, and provide strategies to mitigate impacts and provide the proper regulatory approval so the project can proceed on time and achieve the project goals.
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Roads & Bridges
Congestion and failing road surfaces cause delays, vehicle damage, and even driver safety issues. Solving these problems requires our specialized knowledge of pavement and roadway structures.
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Water, Wastewater & Flood Control
Drinking water, flushing toilets, and dry streets for granted – until they are gone. We specialize in keeping these systems running effectively.
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Airports, Ports & Dredging
Expanding and maintaining ports and airports is crucial to our economic development. HVJ’s specialized pavement, wharf, and navigation channel experience makes it happen.
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Rail & Transit
Rail and public transit facilities enable efficient transportation of people and goods. Our detailed knowledge of AREMA requirements keeps projects on track.
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Buildings & Parks
Schools, universities, courts, parks, solid waste facilities are all critical to our society. HVJ has specialized knowledge and experience with a multitude of public projects.
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HVJ Difference
Our engineers provide a unique blend of capabilities and experience because of the support they receive. Employees do not simply exist here. They thrive.
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Culture
We are committed learners, empowered to interact based on making strong commitments. We take ownership of our actions and results.
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Benefits
We believe in taking care of our employees. We offer a rewarding work experience, opportunities for advancement and competitive benefits.
Learn More →
Employee Stories
Check out what our employees say and learn about the HVJ experience! Great people and even greater teams are behind every project.
Learn More →
Current Openings
We're always looking for talented individuals who fit our culture and can bring new perspectives and experiences to our growing teams.
Learn More →
The Opportunity
Own a successful engineering business by adding our proven systems to your engineering talent and network.
Learn More →
How It Works
Help us branchise – you help us build a branch office and then convert it into your own franchise.
Learn More →
Who's A Fit?
Are you energetic and confident? See if this might be an opportunity that fits you.
Learn More →
Success Stories
Hear about the outstanding results our current franchisees have produced using our proven systems.
Learn More →
Geotechnical
Engineering
Soil, rock, and groundwater conditions at every site are different. We assess the specific site conditions and design earth structures (slopes, channels, and dikes), foundations (retaining walls, bridges, buildings, tanks), and subsurface structures (clarifiers, lift stations, buried utilities, tunnels) to economically achieve the specific project objectives.
Learn More →
Construction Materials
Engineering
& Testing
Construction material performance is key to the function and durability of any project. We engineer and test materials such as soil, concrete, and asphalt so you get what you pay for and the project performs as expected.
Learn More →
Civil/Pavement
Engineering
A successful project starts with clear understanding of the project’s specific needs. We prepared street rehabilitation PS&E, traffic control designs, pavement designs, and asset management systems based on careful understanding of design requirements.
Learn More →
Environmental Geology
& Engineering
Impact from hazardous waste, wetlands, faulting, and/or NEPA processes are serious concerns for project development. We identify such concerns early in project development, and provide strategies to mitigate impacts and provide the proper regulatory approval so the project can proceed on time and achieve the project goals.
Learn More →
Roads & Bridges
Congestion and failing road surfaces cause delays, vehicle damage, and even driver safety issues. Solving these problems requires our specialized knowledge of pavement and roadway structures.
Learn More →
Water, Wastewater & Flood Control
Drinking water, flushing toilets, and dry streets for granted – until they are gone. We specialize in keeping these systems running effectively.
Learn More →
Airports, Ports & Dredging
Expanding and maintaining ports and airports is crucial to our economic development. HVJ’s specialized pavement, wharf, and navigation channel experience makes it happen.
Learn More →
Rail & Transit
Rail and public transit facilities enable efficient transportation of people and goods. Our detailed knowledge of AREMA requirements keeps projects on track.
Learn More →
Buildings & Parks
Schools, universities, courts, parks, solid waste facilities are all critical to our society. HVJ has specialized knowledge and experience with a multitude of public projects.
Learn More →
HVJ Difference
Our engineers provide a unique blend of capabilities and experience because of the support they receive. Employees do not simply exist here. They thrive.
Learn More →
Culture
We are committed learners, empowered to interact based on making strong commitments. We take ownership of our actions and results.
Learn More →
Benefits
We believe in taking care of our employees. We offer a rewarding work experience, opportunities for advancement and competitive benefits.
Learn More →
Employee Stories
Check out what our employees say and learn about the HVJ experience! Great people and even greater teams are behind every project.
Learn More →
Current Openings
We're always looking for talented individuals who fit our culture and can bring new perspectives and experiences to our growing teams.
Learn More →
Agencies
HVJ has been proud to support hundreds of public agencies meet and exceed service expectations from their constituents.
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Consultant Clients
We’ve developed ongoing teaming relationships with many consulting firms based on delivering outstanding client satisfaction.
Learn More →
HVJ Difference
Our engineers provide a unique blend of capabilities and experience because of the support they receive. Employees do not simply exist here. They thrive.
Learn More →
Culture
We are committed learners, empowered to interact based on making strong commitments. We take ownership of our actions and results.
Learn More →
Benefits
We believe in taking care of our employees. We offer a rewarding work experience, opportunities for advancement and competitive benefits.
Learn More →
Employee Stories
Check out what our employees say and learn about the HVJ experience! Great people and even greater teams are behind every project.
Learn More →
Current Openings
We're always looking for talented individuals who fit our culture and can bring new perspectives and experiences to our growing teams.
Learn More →
The Opportunity
Own a successful engineering business by adding our proven systems to your engineering talent and network.
Learn More →
How It Works
Help us branchise – you help us build a branch office and then convert it into your own franchise.
Learn More →
Who's A Fit?
Are you energetic and confident? See if this might be an opportunity that fits you.
Learn More →
Success Stories
Hear about the outstanding results our current franchisees have produced using our proven systems.
Learn More →
Houston Ship Channel Project
In 2016, a new class of ships began traversing the Panama Canal. Dubbed the “Neo Panamax,” these ships reached lengths of 1,200 feet long, 168 feet wide, and up to 50-foot draft, with up to 14,000 container capacity. Shortly thereafter, these ships began transiting the Houston Ship Channel to terminals at Port Houston.
Arrival of these new ships created a problem—the channel was only wide enough for one Neo Panamax ship to pass at a time, creating delays and traffic problems. Expansion of the channel was deemed the natural solution. Port Houston is partnering with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers in Project 11 to safely and efficiently sustain national energy security and support economic growth by widening about 26 miles of the nation’s busiest waterway by 170 feet in Galveston Bay and deepening an upstream segment to 45 feet. HVJ has supported Port Houston’s commitment to environmental stewardship by using dredge material to create new features that benefit the environment.
In 1912, the group that is known today as Port Houston began dredging work on a deep-water ship channel connecting the port to the Gulf of Mexico. The completion of this channel turned the city into an economic powerhouse, exporting vast amounts of oil, rice, cotton, and other commodities.
After a century of loss due to development and land subsidence, the vital wetlands surrounding Galveston Bay became diminished. These marshes provide a home for much of the wildlife in the area, including birds, fish, and shrimp. HVJ has supported Port Houston for over 25 years in their successful program to improve the environment through their expansion projects.
HVJ working with Gahagan & Bryant Associates and Turner, Collie, and Braden (now AECOM) supported Port Houston to achieve three large-scale objectives:
Since 1992, HVJ has demonstrated expertise in creating these habitats by using dredge materials in a beneficial way. Since then, the firm has continued to evolve its understanding of wetlands by designing marsh environments at over 15 additional sites where marsh had been lost due to development, erosion, and subsidence.
HVJ was able to predict how to pump the watery clay into a site so that it settled at a specific elevation which is the key to successful marsh projects. Too little material would result in open water, and too much would mean that the ground is too high to support the marsh grasses that are characteristic of the biome.
By carefully analyzing how the ground settled after the clay-rich water was pumped in, HVJ was able to predict the amount of material to place at a marsh site so that the final surface was within about half a foot of elevation—the perfect conditions for creating marshland. As of this writing, HVJ has been able to repurpose dredge material from the port expansion into thousands of acres of new wetlands, while creating new habitats for the rich wildlife that forms part of the core ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico.
Previous beneficial use projects have received the Engineering Excellence Award from the Consulting Engineers Council of Texas, the American Association of Port Authorities Environmental Enhancement Award, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Clean Texas Award.
“HVJ has been the go to geotechnical engineering firm for the JV. They have continually performed complex scopes of work with expedited schedules on time and within budget in order to support the design and successful construction of beneficial use projects in Galveston Bay.”
Dana Cheney
Vice President, Gahagan & Bryant Associates