News

News, announcements, policy updates, spotlighted websites, software updates and other info that may be of interest to practicing geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists, geophysicists, hydrogeologists and related professions.

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Geologic Hazards

Chile Earthquake Links – March 1, 2010

March 1, 2010 rockman Comments Off on Chile Earthquake Links – March 1, 2010

A few interesting links related to the Chile Earthquake. Over the next days and weeks, I will try to highlight interesting news and blog posts related to this event. Chile Earthquake: Soft ground bites the […]

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Weekend CUP

Weekend CUP March 1, 2010

March 1, 2010 rockman Comments Off on Weekend CUP March 1, 2010
  • Dam Safety News for January and February – Association of State Dam Safety Officials
  • Illustrated Guide to Nonprofit GIS and Online Mapping – Slashgeo
    "The Guide includes: * a brief introduction to mapping and GIS (geographic information systems) technology and concepts. * examples of successful nonprofit projects using GIS and/or mapping technologies. * helpful strategies for planning your own mapping/GIS project. * a review of public data sources with freely available data. * a brief review of free and low-cost tools for nonprofit mapping and GIS projects."
  • New Training Video on How to Heat Seam and Field Test Geomembranes – Cadwaller Technical Services via GeosyntheticsMagazine.com
    See the techniques of hot wedge welding, extrusion welding, hot air welding, destructive testing, and non-destructive testing demonstrated and discussed by one of the industry’s most experienced and qualified training teams. Includes information relevant to all geomembrane materials and all forms of heat seaming and heat seaming equipment. $80 plus $10 shipping for an 80-minute DVD broken up into 25 sections.
  • Polk County US-64 Rockslide Update – WTVC NewsChannel 9
  • Lessons to be learned from Haiti’s tsunami – BBC News via Ontario-geofish

… and 10 more. Click through for the rest.

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Chile Earthquake 2010 - Destroyed appartment building
Geologic Hazards

Chile Earthquake 2010 – Magnitude 8.8

March 1, 2010 rockman Comments Off on Chile Earthquake 2010 – Magnitude 8.8

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile on Saturday, centered about 200 miles southwest of the capital, Santiago and 70 miles north-northeast of Concepcion, one of the worst hit areas. According to the USGS event page, […]

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Weekend CUP

CUP for Thursday, February 25, 2010

February 25, 2010 rockman Comments Off on CUP for Thursday, February 25, 2010

… and 13 more. Click through for the rest.

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Thomas R. Kuesel, 1926-2010
In Memoriam

Bridge and Tunnel Engineer, Thomas R. Kuesel 1926-2010

February 25, 2010 rockman Comments Off on Bridge and Tunnel Engineer, Thomas R. Kuesel 1926-2010

Thomas R. Kuesel, 1926-2010 Newport Bridge, Newport, R.I., much of the BART subway system and Boston’s Big Dig were among the numerous significant projects worked on by the late Thomas R. Kuesel. He was a well known civil engineer and tunneling expert, co-editor of the “Tunnel Engineering Handbook,” a standard reference for design and construction used worldwide. One of his most noteworthy tunneling projects was the NORAD Combat Operations Center beneath Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, built during the height of the Cold War and designed to withstand a nuclear blast. Read on for a full obituary chronicling his distinguished career.

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American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM
Standards and Codes

ASTM Updates February 2010

February 23, 2010 rockman Comments Off on ASTM Updates February 2010

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTMASTM C39/C39M – "Standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens" is probably the most significant standard update for the moth of February, at least as it pertains to the geotechnical and construction industries.  Also included are a number of other concrete and mortar related standards, and some changes to the E series on nondestructive testing. Click through for the list of ASTM Standards that were revised, reapproved or otherwise changed this month.

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Weekend CUP

Weekend CUP February 22, 2010

February 22, 2010 rockman Comments Off on Weekend CUP February 22, 2010

Geology meets archaeology: ancient Mediterranean harbours – Through The Sandglass Blog Drilling to stabilise mines | Ipswich News | Local News in Ipswich | Ipswich Queensland Times N.C. residents awaiting cleanup after landslide :: WRAL.com […]

Sea to Sky Highway
Project Related

Geotechnical Engineering Challenges of British Columbia’s Sea-to-Sky Highway, gateway to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games

February 19, 2010 rockman Comments Off on Geotechnical Engineering Challenges of British Columbia’s Sea-to-Sky Highway, gateway to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games

Sea to Sky Highway I don’t know about you, but I’ve been enjoying watching the 2010 Olympic Winter games over the past few days. If you have, you know that Whistler is the venue for many of the sports including alpine skiing, luge, skeleton, bobsled, ski jumping, biathlon and cross-country skiing among others. The Whistler area is located about 50-miles or so North of Vancouver. In order to get to Whistler, you need to drive along Highway 99, better known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway.  This highway has a long history of geotechnical problems, including some significant structurally controlled rockslides and landslides.  In the years leading up to these Olympic Games a fair amount of work was done on the highway with some significant geotechnical innovations.

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