Impact Test of Modular Rockfall Protection Wall

July 16, 2018 rockman Geologic Hazards, News Comments Off on Impact Test of Modular Rockfall Protection Wall

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Kaikoura New Zealand in 2016 caused over 50 landslides along State Highway 1, north and south of the Town.  The team of engineers tasked with reopening the corridor to road and rail traffic needed a rockfall barrier system with a small footprint and wanted to incorporate precast blocks being used elsewhere on the corridor for other purposes.  They contacted Holmes Solutions to do a full-scale impact test of the system. The precast concrete blocks are what you would see on the roadway side of the barrier.  The back side of the barrier system consists of gabion baskets with some kind of sand layer in between the baskets and the blocks.  Click on the video to see the outcome of the test!

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Geologic Hazards

China Earthquake Coverage

May 13, 2008 rockman Geologic Hazards Comments Off on China Earthquake Coverage

The regular news media as well as the geo-blogosphere are all abuzz about Monday’s 7.9 magnitude earthquake in central China. Official death toll is at 12,000 right now and that’s in Sichuan Province alone.  My guess is that number will swell substantially in the coming days. If you haven’t seen photos and video yet, they are absolutely gut-wrenching. My heart and prayers go out to the victims of this disaster. (Photo by Liu Hai, AP)

Several geo-bloggers have posts about the earthquake. Harold Asmis of Ontario-GeoFish describes the earthquake as a "big valley-thrust earthquake" or what he calls the "Fist of God". Dave’s Landslide Blog has started compiling reports of landslides related to the earthquake in this landslide prone region of China. And here is the USGS info on the earthquake.

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Press Releases

New Study Shows Odds High for Big California Quakes

April 15, 2008 rockman Press Releases Comments Off on New Study Shows Odds High for Big California Quakes

Released: 4/14/2008 12:02:15 PM

California has more than a 99% chance of having a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake within the next 30 years, according scientists using a new model to determine the probability of big quakes.

The likelihood of a major quake of magnitude 7.5 or greater in the next 30 years is 46%-and such a quake is most likely to occur in the southern half of the state.

[Editor] At Left: Figure 1. The colors on this California map represent the UCERF probabilities of having a nearby earthquake rupture (within 3 or 4 miles) of magnitude 6.7 or larger in the next 30 years. As shown in the table, the chance of having such an event somewhere in California exceeds 99%. The 30-year probability of an even more powerful quake of magnitude 7.5 or larger is about 46%. [/Editor]

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