Video: Fun with Falling Rocks

October 31, 2007 rockman Comments Off

Thank you to my old colleague at URS Corporation, Andy Messer for sending me a link to these videos. The are from an Austrian company, Trumer Schutzbauten, that provides products and research related to rockfall fences. The first video is presumably to show the hazards of camping next to hazardous rock slopes…good fun! Click through for the videos.

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New NCHRP Report – Drainage and Pavement Performance

October 22, 2007 rockman Comments Off

A new publication has been released on the Transportation Research Board website. It is National Highway Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) publication Number 583, Effects of Subsurface Drainage on Pavement Performance. From the foreword of the document:

"This report evaluates the effects of subsurface drainage features on pavement performancethrough a program of inspection and testing of the subsurface drainage features present in the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) SPS-1 and SPS-2 field sections. The report will be of particular interest to engineers in the public and private sectors with responsibility for the design, construction, and rehabilitation of highway pavements."

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ASDSO Releases Simplified Risk Categorization Tool for Dams

October 17, 2007 rockman Comments Off

As part of their State and National Dam Safety Program, the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) has released pre-release versions of the Simplified Risk Categorization Tool, consisting of two Excel spreadsheets, and a users manual. More info after the break. (Photo by drainhook)

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Technological Advances in Geotechnical Engineering

October 8, 2007 rockman Comments Off

According to James Miller of GeoEngineers, Inc., the most significant recent technological advances in geotechnical engineering are LiDAR, GIS-based data management, and advanced analysis of soil-structure interaction. Read his article at DJC.com. Thanks to iCivilEngineer […]

Several New Geofoam Papers Available

September 24, 2007 rockman Comments Off

Geosynthetica has added several new publications to their online library. They are all papers authored or co-authored by Professor John Horvath of Manhattan College and made available through his website. They are all on the topic of geofoam, a subject on which Professor Horvath is a recognized expert. Read on for a list of the newly listed publications. (Image courtesy of NCS Consultants, LLC)

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Rockfall Protection Installation Video

September 11, 2007 rockman Comments Off

Geovert, a specialty design-build geotechnical contractor in New Zealand and Australia has released a video showing the construction of a challenging rockfall protection project. From their YouTube description:

Stockton Coal Mine is situated on the rugged west coast of New Zealand’s South Island, near Westport. Geovert, a design-build contractor specializing in difficult access rockfall mitigation projects, were retained to provide a turnkey solution combining slope protection and stabilisation measures, to manage the rockfall hazard and protect the surrounding environment with a world class design build rockfall protection solution. The barrier was 1.7 kilometres long and follows a ridgeline escarpment, making this the longest rockfall protection barrier in the southern hemisphere. This was one of the largest and most challenging rockfall construction projects completed to date anywhere in the world.

Click through to see the video.

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Geomorphology from Space

September 10, 2007 rockman Comments Off

Geomorphology from Space is an out of print 1986 NASA publication edited by Nicholas M. Short, Sr. and Robert W. Blair, Jr. designed for use by the remote sensing science and educational communities to study landforms and landscapes. The entire book, including 237 plates of landforms, photographs, locator maps and some geologic maps has been reproduced on the NASA Website. [more…]

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Geosynthetics Manufacturer Posts Product Videos

August 15, 2007 rockman Comments Off

Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. (GSE) is a manufacturer and marketer of geosynthetic lining products and services in the following markets: agriculture, aquaculture, canals, civil, golf courses, mining, power, sportsfields, stormwater retention, waste containment, wastewater, and other industrial applications. They have recently released a series of product videos on YouTube. But you don’t have to search for them yourself, you can watch them right here on GeoPrac, just read on! Thanks to Geosynthetica.net for the heads up.

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Available Resources

Google Earth for Geotechnical Engineers and Geologists

August 7, 2007 rockman 1

Google Earth - Logo copyright Google Inc. Google Earth is a software application that uses satellite and aerial photo imagery, terrain, maps, 3D buildings and Google Search data to view information in our world in two and three dimensions in real time. Iâ€™m curious how other geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists are using Google Earth in their practice. Read on for some GE related resources Iâ€™ve found useful or interesting, and then post a comment on how you use Google Earth in your practice and for fun! (Logo copyright Google Inc.)
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New Publications in Geosynthetics

June 26, 2007 rockman 1

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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