Project Related
Articles by rockman
Project Related
Decommissioning of Dounreay, UK nuclear waste dump
From ContractJournal.com: Dounreay is the most northerly and remote of the UK’s nuclear sites. It is located on the coast above the stormy North Atlantic Ocean, looking directly at the North Pole. Temperatures are low […]
Miscellaneous
Faces of Earth – The geology of the Earth in HD
Faces of Earth is a 4-hour high-definition television series about the ever-changing planet we live on. The only thing constant on Earth is change and Faces of Earth examines this phenomenon through the eyes of […]
Press Releases
Researchers examine carbon capture and storage to combat global warming
While solar power and hybrid cars have become popular symbols of green technology, Stanford researchers are exploring another path for cutting emissions of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas that causes global warming.
Carbon capture and storage, also called carbon sequestration, traps carbon dioxide after it is produced and injects it underground. The gas never enters the atmosphere. The practice could transform heavy carbon spewers, such as coal power plants, into relatively clean machines with regard to global warming. [Image Credit: Statoil]
Standards and Codes
ASTM Updates June 9 through July 9
Here are some revised ASTM standards and work items that pertain to geotechnical engineering, pavement, construction QC/QA, and laboratory testing etc. Of special interest to some of you might be the revised standard for moisture and density testing using a nuclear density gauge or nuke gauge, ASTM D6938. There are a bunch of others as well.
Geologic Hazards
Arizona Earth Fissure Planning Maps
According to Lee Allison’s Blog (Lee is the head of the Arizona Geological Survey and the Arizona State Geologist), the AZGS has released earth fissure maps of 4 Arizona Counties suitable for planning purposes. Read on for more details.
Geologic Hazards
Rebuilt New Orleans couldn’t handle a Katrina
The Washington Post by way of the Seattle Times has an interesting article on the reconstructed levee system post-Katrina. The city of New Orleans is safer than it was before, but it still could not […]
Available Resources
New Publications in Geosynthetics
GeoSynthetica.net has a nice index of technical articles related to geosynthetics. Most recently, they have linked to some articles by Dr. John S. Horvath at Manhattan College on the topics of geosynthetics for ground improvement, geofoam, and cellular geosynthetics. Also included in this list is a Spencer J. Buchanan Lecture by Robert D. Holtz on Geosynthetics for Soil Reinforcement. Read on for links to these PDF articles.
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Geologic Hazards
Home Owners Insurance Doesn’t Cover Geologic Hazards
Anyone who owns a house or is looking to buy one should be aware that nearly all home owner’s insurance policies will not cover them in the event their home is damaged by common geologic processes including floods, landslides, earthquakes, subsidence, and expansive or swelling soils. (Image by Geology.com)
Available Resources
TRB: 30 Years of MSE Walls
The Transportation Research Board has released a publication titled "Research Pays Off – Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls on the Interstate Highway System: Thirty Years of Experience". Check out the link after the break.