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.

Available Resources

Video: Fun with Falling Rocks

October 31, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Video: Fun with Falling Rocks

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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Geologic Hazards

CA Licensed Professionals Needed in Evacuation Areas

October 29, 2007 rockman Comments Off on CA Licensed Professionals Needed in Evacuation Areas

A call for volunteers has been made on behalf of Governor Schwarzenegger by way of the California Department of Consumer Affairs website as reported by AEG. They are looking for professionals registered by the California Boards of Geology and Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors as well as a number of other boards. Read on for the full announcement. 

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Project Related

London Crossrail Project – Will Be Largest Civil Project in Europe

October 27, 2007 rockman Comments Off on London Crossrail Project – Will Be Largest Civil Project in Europe

According to ENR, the U.K. government has approved the 7-year, $32-billion London Crossrail Project which will reportedly be Europe’s biggest civil engineering project. It will include 41.5-km of tunnels 6-m in diameter laid out in pairs. The tunnels will pass underneath London and connect surface networks on either side of the city. Link after the break. (Photo by tkosaka)

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Project Related

Indonesia to Build Monumental Suspension Bridge in Ring of Fire

October 27, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Indonesia to Build Monumental Suspension Bridge in Ring of Fire

Indonesia is planning to build what will be the World’s longest suspension bridge to link up its two main islands of Java and Sumatra. The total length will over 30-km with a (max?) height of 70-m so ships can pass underneath. The catch is that the bridge will be located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the boundary between the Asian and Australian tectonic plates and one of the most seismically and volcanically active areas in the world. There have been several recent earthquakes greater than magnitude 7, not to mention the earthquake that caused the 2004 tsunami. The bridge will be built to withstand a magnitude 9 earthquake. Oh, and in case the seismic concerns weren’t great enough, the bridge will pass within 50-km of the volcano Krakatoa. The estimated cost of the bridge is $12 billion ($AU?). Credit to Geology.com for the story.

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Available Resources

New NCHRP Report – Drainage and Pavement Performance

October 22, 2007 rockman Comments Off on New NCHRP Report – Drainage and Pavement Performance

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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Project Related

Hanging Lake Tunnel (Colorado) repair nearly complete

October 17, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Hanging Lake Tunnel (Colorado) repair nearly complete

A stretch of tunnel on Eastbound I-70 in scenic Glenwood Canyon Colorado was closed last March because of a 70-foot long crack in the ceiling. Since then the two-lane westbound bore has been handling both eastbound and westbound traffic while repairs to the damaged segment were undertaken. This project has a little of everything: heavy excavation, rockfall, slab reinforcing, geofoam, and even geogrid! Read on for more details, a map and photos. (Photo by Concrete Works Of Colorado)

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Geoarchaeology

Columbus Era Aztec Emperor’s Tomb Found with GPR

October 17, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Columbus Era Aztec Emperor’s Tomb Found with GPR

Archaeologists beleive that they may have found the tomb of Aztec emperor Ahuizotl (ah-WEE-zoh-tuhl). Using ground-penetrating radar, they have detected underground chambers that could contain the remains of Ahuizotl, who ruled the Aztecs when Columbus landed in the New World.

This find would not have been possible were it not for strong earthquake in 1985 that severely damaged a Colonial Spanish building. Buildings of this type were built a top the Aztec ruins and are considered too valuable to remove for excavations. Apparently, before this find, no Aztec emperor’s tomb had ever been found at this location despite writings describing an Aztec ceremonial center because Spanish conquerors constructed over the site. Read on for the full story link. (Photo by Grabthar)

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Available Resources

Technological Advances in Geotechnical Engineering

October 8, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Technological Advances in Geotechnical Engineering

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 […]