Available Resources

Website links, new publications in geotechnical engineering and engineering geology and Google Earth related information can be found in this section. 

Available Resources

Video: RPI Geotechnical Engineering Centrifuge

September 3, 2008 rockman Comments Off on Video: RPI Geotechnical Engineering Centrifuge

I stumbled across this video for the geotechnical engineering centrifuge at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Centrifuge testing is a popular way to economically test models at much higher loads and pressures than you would normally be able to in the laboratory. The goal is to more accurately represent the real world conditions. Click through for the video.

[…]

Available Resources

Yucca Mountain – $32 Billion More

July 17, 2008 rockman Comments Off on Yucca Mountain – $32 Billion More

Thanks to Harold at the Ontario-geofish blog, I came accross this AP article that releases the first Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository cost estimate update since 2001. The US DOE now puts the cost of the facility at $90 billion, up $32 billion from that 2001 estimate. Of course that estimate is slightly deceptive. It covers the $9 billion already spent and 100 years of operation. Perhaps the bigger issue is funding has not been secured largely in part to the efforts of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat-NV). If a steady stream of money can be secured, the best case scenario for the facility is a 2020 opening. 

I also found a neat blog called Yucca Facts that has a refreshing perspective on the facility that is pro-science if not necessarily pro-Yucca. They also have a commentary about this latest DOE announcement and some commentary on Senator Reid.

[…]

Available Resources

ArcGIS API for Google Maps

July 17, 2008 rockman Comments Off on ArcGIS API for Google Maps

From Google Maps Mania Blog:

The ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for Google Maps allows map developers to extend the Google Maps API to use ArcGIS Server services. With the extension, you can add your own data to a Google Map and embed this map in your own page.

ESRI have a number of examples of what can be achieved using their new API. Examples and reference for the API can be found here. Using the API you can:

  • Display your own maps on top of a Google Maps base map.
  • Execute a GIS model and display the results in Google Maps.
  • Search for features in your GIS data and display the results on Google Maps.
  • Find addresses using your own address locator and display the result on Google Maps.
  • Display attributes from your GIS data on the map using the Google Chart API.
  • Allows others to add GIS functionality from your server as a Google Mapplet.

On the surface, it seems like this news would only be of interest to GIS professionals and geeks like me. But the truth as I see it is that this development for extending the popular ArcGIS platform to the internet will lead to a whole host of new online applications and mashups that will be both fun and useful. (Screenshot by way of Mapperz)

[…]

Available Resources

Wind Turbine Foundations and Massive Off-Shore Turbines

June 29, 2008 rockman Comments Off on Wind Turbine Foundations and Massive Off-Shore Turbines

Within the span of a few days I had two wind turbine foundation items to post. First, an old U of A Geological Engineering colleague, Eric Ntambakwa sent me a link to a paper written by him and a colleage (Kirk Morgan). Both of them work for Garrad Hassan America, Inc., one of the preeminent authorities on wind turbine design. Their paper entitled "Wind Turbine Foundation Behavior and Design Considerations" was a very interesting look at foundations in this specialized industry. The other item came from ENR, and was about massive, "behemoth" off-shore wind turbines with an interesting foundation design. Read on for the rest of the details. (Photo by brentdanley)

 

[…]

Available Resources

February Update of Google Earth Imagery

March 6, 2008 rockman Comments Off on February Update of Google Earth Imagery

I don’t know about you, but I’ve found Google Earth to be a very useful tool in my practice. Whether it is scoping out a site I’ve never seen before or creating a boring location plan or other figure for a report. Feel the same way? Then you might be interested in some recent (February 19, 2008) updates to Google Imagery and other data. Higher resolution images are always welcome! Comprehensive list after the break. 

[…]

Available Resources

Geologic Hazard Photos

February 28, 2008 rockman Comments Off on Geologic Hazard Photos

The National Geodetic Data Center (NGDC) of NOAA has an online collection of photos of various geologic hazards. Many of the photos are from older sets of 35mm slides that have been digitized. They are free to use provided you credit the photographer and the NGDC as the source. The would be really useful for educators and for powerpoint presentations. The only drawback is that they are in TIF format and some of them could use some retouching. (Photo by University of Colorado, made available by NOAA/NGDC)

[…]

Available Resources

New Sheet Piling Installation Manual

February 28, 2008 rockman Comments Off on New Sheet Piling Installation Manual

The North American Steel Sheet Piling Association (NASSPA) has released a Sheet Piling Installation Manual. It has a nice overview of different hammer systems and covers issues such as driving systems and methods, templates, cofferdams, driving corrections, driving assistance and extraction. (Photo courtesy of NASSPA)

NASSPA promotes the use of steel sheet piling through the development and dissemination of technical information. This guide was compiled to assist the designer, contractor, or owner with the construction of steel sheet pile walls.

Download the Steel Sheet Piling Installation Guide – Best Practices

[…]

Available Resources

Second Issue of International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories [Official This Time]

February 19, 2008 rockman Comments Off on Second Issue of International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories [Official This Time]

The International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories has formally announced their second issue. Apparently when I posted about it previously, they had only two of the four papers.

This second issue contains four case histories that come with additional downloads. In particular, check out Dr. Edmund Medley’s Paper on the 2006 Hawaii Earthquakes. He has some neat  photos including some in 3-D (more about his 3-D photos).

 

[…]

Available Resources

Series of Articles on Seismic Analysis

February 19, 2008 rockman Comments Off on Series of Articles on Seismic Analysis

I had an earthquake engineering course in my geological engineering undergraduate program, and an excellent teacher, but man, the math gave me fits! Well, apparently my time has finally come to make the effort to understand it again. A retired Canadian geophysicist/engineer is writing a series of articles on seismic analysis. Read more… (Photo by trochee)

[…]