Ground Improvement In the event that all the requirements set forth in the above sections cannot be met

for a project, ground improvement measures may be considered to meet the requirements. Prior written approval from the Port should be obtained before performing ground improvement evaluations. Ground improvement design recommendations should incorporate construction considerations including constructability, availability of contractors and equipment, schedule impact, and construction cost. Alternatives such as use of additional piles, or accepting greater damage due to larger displacements shall be considered and discussed with the Port. In cases where subsurface conditions indicate the presence of continuous, thin ( less than 2 feet), liquefiable and/or soft soils beneath the dike that could result in con centrated deformations within these layers, more detailed numerical analyses may be necess ary. Such analyses shall not be performed without prior written approval by the Port. If more detailed numerical analyses are deemed necessary to provide input to the structural engineer, two-dimensional dynamic soil-structure interaction analysis of the wharf-pile-dike-soil system using numerical finite element or finite difference analyses should be performed. Sensitivity analyses should also be performed on factors af fecting the results. As a minimum, deformation profiles along the length of the various pile rows should be provided to the structural engineer to estimate strains and stresses i n the piles for the purpose of checking performance criteria. Such analyses should be coordi nated with the structural engineer and shall not be performed without prior written ap proval by the Port.