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.

Cover of FHWA NHI Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Slopes Design and Construction Guidelines course manual.
Available Resources

FHWA NHI 2009 MSE Wall Manual

January 12, 2009 rockman 1

Cover of FHWA NHI Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Slopes Design and Construction Guidelines course manual.[Disclosure] NCS Consultants is the employer (day job) of Randy Post, the owner of this site. [/Disclosure]

Geotechnical engineers who encounter MSE retaining walls or Mechanically Stabilzed Earth Walls are undoubtedly familiar with the FHWA NHI manual on “Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes”. This manual, along with the NCMA manual that is used for non-transportation projects, is virtually the bible for MSE wall design. In late summer/early fall of 2009, a revised version of this manual will hit the streets. Read on for more details.

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Landslide blocks SR 14 east of Cedar City, Utah
Geologic Hazards

Landslide Closes SR 14 in Utah

January 7, 2009 rockman Comments Off on Landslide Closes SR 14 in Utah

Landslide blocks SR 14 east of Cedar City, UtahA large landslide has closed SR 14 east of Cedar City, Utah. UDOT expects that the road will be closed for up to 2 weeks for cleanup and to ensure that the slope is safe. Boulders up to an estimated 20 tons are now blocking the road and will likely need to be blasted down to a smaller size. A UDOT spokesman interviewed on the video shown after the break estimate the size of the slide at 700 to 800-ft long and 10 to 12-ft thick.

 

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Oregon man laments losing his house to fire after a landslide knocked it off its foundation
Geologic Hazards

Oregon Landslide News and Map

January 5, 2009 rockman Comments Off on Oregon Landslide News and Map

Oregon man laments losing his house to fire after a landslide knocked it off its foundationThis is definitely the season for landslides, mudslides, debris flows and other mayhem in Oregon and elsewhere in the pacific northwest. It seems like every time I turn around there is another Google Alert in my inbox about a landslide related issue in that area. Having a hard time keeping up with it all, I decided to try something new. Click through to see a map of automatically updated landslide news in Oregon. Lets call it a Beta…so we’ll see if it works out. If it does, maybe I’ll try something similar for other areas or other items that tend to make it into the news. (Photo by Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian)

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TVA coal ash dyke failure
Failures

TVA Coal Ash Disaster

January 5, 2009 rockman Comments Off on TVA Coal Ash Disaster

On December 22 of 2008, there was a massive failure of a fly ash landfill (tailings dam?) at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Kingston power plant. The failure caused a torrent of coal ash sludge […]

Rockman's Ramblings

Top Content of 2008

January 2, 2009 rockman Comments Off on Top Content of 2008

Happy New Year to all GeoPrac.net members and visitors! I send you warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and fulfilling 2009. As is the custom on most blogs, I’ve taken a look at the most popular items on the site from 2008. I define popularity as highest average hits/day, not just the most hits, otherwise it biases things towards those articles that have been posted longer. I also break down the most read articles of 2008 including those published earlier, and the most popular items published in the last quarter. Click through for the lists.

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Space Navigator by 3D Connexicon
Giveaways and Contests

GeoPrac.net Giveaway – Space Navigator!

December 30, 2008 rockman Comments Off on GeoPrac.net Giveaway – Space Navigator!

Space Navigator by 3D Connexicon[Update 2009-01-12] The deadline for this contest has been extended to 11:59PM CST on January 31, 2009. Get your comments in to win the Space Navigator! [/Update]

Announcing the first of what I hope will be many giveaway contests at GeoPrac.net! The first prize up for grabs is the Space Navigator from 3D Connexicion. Use it to fly through 3D worlds such as Google Earth, Microsoft Virtual Earth, increase productivity in AutoDesk apps or just use it to play Second Life! How can you win? Leave a comment with a valid email address on any GeoNews blog post or Article…even old ones. See full rules and more info on the Space navigator after the break.

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Erosion control wattles on palletes from Earth-Savers.com
Available Resources

BMPs for Geotechnical Drilling and Well Drilling

December 29, 2008 rockman Comments Off on BMPs for Geotechnical Drilling and Well Drilling

Stormwater Pollution Prevention regulations require the use of best management practices (BMPs) for any project involving site disturbance of over an acre. Usually for geotechnical drilling and well drilling, the sites are much smaller, so […]

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM
Standards and Codes

ASTM Standards December Update

December 29, 2008 rockman Comments Off on ASTM Standards December Update

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTMThis month there are a number of changes to standards relating to masonry units, bricks, dimension stone, etc. There are also some changes to a few standards related to asphalt paving, and groundwater testing. ASTM D6453 – Standard Guide for Format of Computerized Exchange of Soil and Rock Test Data was withdrawn. Read on for the full list.

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