News – Page 149 – GeoPrac.net

Thank you to GeoPrac.net Sponsors!

August 4, 2010 rockman Comments Off

I wanted to acknowledge the ongoing support of all of my GeoPrac.net sponsors. It is because of them that I was able to attend the ER2010 conference and hopefully provide some useful coverage and info […]

Field Demonstrations at ER2010

August 4, 2010 rockman Comments Off

The conference team did a great job setting up a fantastic field demo at a King County Maintenance Yard. The President of local geotechnical contractor DBM, Tom Armour was one of the people instrumental in […]

Codes, Seismic, Landslides and Demos – ER2010 Day 2

August 4, 2010 rockman Comments Off

Day 2 of Earth Retention 3 started off with a presentation on AASHTO LRFD for earth retaining structures presented by my boss Naresh Samtani and his co-author, Paul Sabatini. It was a nice overview for […]

Seattle Area Project News

August 4, 2010 rockman Comments Off

When I arrived in Seattle for the ER2010 conference, I was thinking about the kinds of stories I post on the site. I think I probably post more about Seattle area projects than any other […]

Geotechs rejoice, It’s “Dirt! The Movie”

August 4, 2010 rockman Comments Off

Dirt! The Movie is more about soil conservation and its role in the environment, but hey, it’s still pretty cool. I wouldn’t expect to see it at the megaplex though. And what gives with their […]

Water sluice down at Three Gorges Dam, central China's Hubei Province, July 28, 2010

China Flooding and Landslides – Three Gorges Dam Being Tested

August 3, 2010 rockman Comments Off

China has been getting pounded recently by heavy rains and flooding. Here are a few stories I’ve come across in this department. Three Gorges Dam flooding turns deadly; dozens missing in China – Source: CSMonitor.com […]

Weekend CUP August 3, 2010 – Vacation Edition

August 3, 2010 rockman Comments Off

Here are some interesting stories that have been piling up since I got back from vacation last week. Read carefully, there are some gems in here.

Abolish Geology? – Source: Ed Medley
Seattle developer wants to investigate possible use of geotextile bags to construct artificial reef to prevent flooding of proposed development – Source: The Daily World via Geosynthetica.net News
New York City Marks Final Stage of Mining to Extend No. 7 Line – Source: WSJ.com via AGC SmartBrief
Scientists to create the most detailed map of California coastline ever assembled – Source: San Jose Mercury News via ASCE SmartBrief
Firefighting likely caused Oregon landslide – Source: Daily Journal of Commerce
Mitigation of SR87 landslide continues – Source: Arizona Geology Blog
Work starts on first tunnel for new south approach for Golden Gate Bridge – Source: ContraCostaTimes.com via ASCE SmartBrief
TenCate Doubles Its Profit in the First Half of 2010
India’s $100 billion (US$) highway investment – Source: Geosynthetics Magazine
Traffic Cameras for Roadway Monitoring and Management – Source: EarthCam.net via Roads and Bridges Magazine
Cool hardware and software system for monitoring of roadway and other construction projects.

And about 20 more! Click through for the rest.

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Theme from ER2010 Day 1 – Advancements in Earth Retention and Future Trends

August 3, 2010 rockman Comments Off

This first day of ER2010 was full of some excellent technical sessions. As you might expect from a conference that occurs once every 20 years, there is a strong theme of looking back at what […]

Howard Hanson Dam grouting by Nicholson Construction

Nicholson Completes Howard Hanson Grout Curtain Project

August 2, 2010 rockman Comments Off

Howard Hanson Dam grouting by Nicholson Construction

PITTSBURGH, PA – July 30, 2010 – In early 2010, Nicholson Construction Company finished the construction of a double-line grout curtain at the Howard A. Hanson Dam in western Washington State. This high profile project was completed under a very strict schedule and heavy public scrutiny.

Howard A. Hanson Dam, built in 1962, is an earth embankment dam. The dam embankment is 235 feet high and 675 feet long. The composition of the right abutment foundation is partially bedrock and unconsolidated alluvial and landslide material. The right abutment has leaked since the dam became operational. A leak in January 2009 filled the reservoir higher than ever, prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to reclassify Hanson Dam as “unsafe” with an “urgent and compelling” need for immediate action.

[Editor] Click through for the rest of this press release from GeoPrac.net Premier Sponsor Nicholson Construction Company [/Editor]

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Arrived in Seattle for ER2010

August 2, 2010 rockman Comments Off

Today is the first day of the Earth Retention Conference 3 or ER2010 conference in Bellevue, Washington. Sponsored by ASCE’s Geo-Institute, this is the third conference in a series that occurs every 20 years! I’ll […]