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.

Press Releases

Corps releases Center Hill Dam Consensus Report

September 24, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Corps releases Center Hill Dam Consensus Report

WASHINGTON–The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released the Center Hill Dam Consensus Report, an external independent peer review that validates the USACE high-risk classification of the dam and the interim risk reduction measures currently in effect.

This is the second peer review report on a high-risk USACE dam, and it provides important input regarding current USACE efforts to investigate, monitor and modify Center Hill Dam. [Editor] (Photo by drainhook) [/Editor]

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Available Resources

Several New Geofoam Papers Available

September 24, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Several New Geofoam Papers Available

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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Press Releases

Layne Christensen Files Registration Statement for Proposed Offering of Common Stock

September 20, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Layne Christensen Files Registration Statement for Proposed Offering of Common Stock

MISSION WOODS, Kan., Sep 20, 2007 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) — Layne Christensen Company (Nasdaq:LAYN) today announced that it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock with a proposed maximum aggregate offering amount of $172.5 million (including shares that may be issued at the underwriters’ option to cover over-allotments, if any). Layne intends to use the net proceeds from the proposed offering to reduce the outstanding balance on its credit facility and for general corporate purposes, as well as funding for possible acquisitions.

[Editor] Layne Christensen is the parent company of Layne GeoConstruction – a specialty foundation construction company offering services such as jet grouting, drilled micropiles, vibratory ground improvement, and construction drilling, grouting and anchor technologies. They are also the parent company of COLOG Borehole Geophysics, which does nondestructive testing, borehole geophysics and downhole camera logging of boreholes. Click through for the rest of the press release. [/Editor]

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Geologic Hazards

Devil’s Slide Tunnel Construction Kicks Off

September 19, 2007 rockman 1

On September 17, CALTRANS and Kiewit Pacific held a "tunnel excavation celebration" to kick off the start of tunnel construction on The Devil’s Slide Tunnels project on California State Route 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) in San Mateo County between the town of Montara to the south and the city of Pacifica to the north. The project involves the creation of a separated two-lane road, one lane in each direction. This road will pass through twin tunnels, over twin bridges and connect with an existing non-separated two-lane road at each end. The new road will be approximately 6,500 feet long, made up of the roughly 4,000-foot twin tunnels, the 1,500-foot north approach road (which includes the 1000-foot parallel bridges), and the 1,000-foot south approach road. Upon completion, the new road will bypass geologically unstable portions of existing Route 1, sections of roadway subject to lengthy closures, high maintenance costs over the years, and risk of permanent failure. Thanks Geology.com for the heads up. [Read on for more background, photos, maps, and movies!] (Images by CALTRANS)

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Geologic Hazards

DBM Completes Landslide Repair in Oceanside

September 18, 2007 rockman Comments Off on DBM Completes Landslide Repair in Oceanside

Oceanside, Calif.— DBM Contractors, Inc. performed emergency landslide repair for the Sprinter Mainline in the city of Oceanside. The slide occurred during earth moving to build a retaining wall at the base of a steep […]

Geoarchaeology

World War II Prisoners Tunnels Discovered with GPR

September 13, 2007 rockman Comments Off on World War II Prisoners Tunnels Discovered with GPR

Remember the 1963 movie "The Great Escape" starring Steve McQueen, James Gardner, and Charles Bronson about Allied prisoners planning a mass escape from a German POW Camp? Ok, me neither, but in the movie, the prisoners dug 3 tunnels to escape from the German POW camp Stalag Luft III in Zagan (formerly in East Germany, now in Poland). A recent archeology study used ground penetrading radar or GPR to uncover not 3 but over 100 different tunnels. Read more…

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Miscellaneous

Senate OKs $1B to repair US bridges

September 13, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Senate OKs $1B to repair US bridges

From AP by way of CentreDaily.com and the ADSC:  The Senate approved $1 billion on Monday to speed repair and replacement of America’s crumbling network of bridges, six weeks after the Interstate 35W span collapsed […]

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Available Resources

Rockfall Protection Installation Video

September 11, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Rockfall Protection Installation Video

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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