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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Miscellaneous

New Device for Detecting Bridge Damage from 30-ft away

June 13, 2007 rockman Comments Off on New Device for Detecting Bridge Damage from 30-ft away

Engineers at MIT have developed a new technique for detecting damage in concrete bridges and piers that could increase the safety of aging infrastructure by allowing easier, more frequent, onsite inspections that don’t interfere with traffic or service.

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Press Releases

UW to develop specifications for large ocean observatory off coast of Washington

June 13, 2007 rockman Comments Off on UW to develop specifications for large ocean observatory off coast of Washington

The University of Washington has been allocated $2.2 million for a planning phase to develop detailed engineering specifications for a cabled underwater research facility to be built off the coast of Washington and Oregon, and associated with the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate. The facility will extend continuous high-bandwidth (tens of Gigabits/second) and power (tens of kilowatts) to a network of instruments widely distributed across, above and below the seafloor. (Image by University of Washington)

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Geologic Hazards

Earth Fissures on Phoenix PBS Affiliate “Horizon” Show

June 5, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Earth Fissures on Phoenix PBS Affiliate “Horizon” Show

Phoenix Arizona’s PBS affiliate, KAET-TV, Channel 8 had a segment on Earth Fissures on their May 30th episode of "Horizons". They interviewed one resident of the Chandler Heights area that has problems with earth fissures on her property. They also interviewed Todd Shippman with the AZGS in the field. Todd is the project manager for the AZGS’ earth fissure mapping program. The bulk of the program was an interview with Lee Allison, the head of the AZGS and the Arizona State Geologist. He explains the earth fissure mapping program, and the planning scale maps that were just released this week on the AZGS Website. Click through for embedded video of the segment from the Horizon Website. You can also download it as a podcast if you wish. (Photo courtesy of NCS Consultants, LLC.)

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Standards and Codes

Lawsuit could prohibit geologists from making maps

May 31, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Lawsuit could prohibit geologists from making maps

On his blog, Arizona State Geologist, Lee Allison reports: A lawsuit filed against the federal government by four trade associations could prohibit geologists, geographers, and many other professionals from making maps using federal funds, according […]

Failures

Tunnel Repair Begins on CO I-70

May 31, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Tunnel Repair Begins on CO I-70

ENR reports that repair work has begun on a portion of the Hanging Lake Tunnel on I-70 in Glenwood Colorado after a crack opened up in the tunnel bore ceiling slab. Read on for more info. (CDOT Photo)

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Geologic Hazards

Allstate to Stop Underwriting Houses in California

May 31, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Allstate to Stop Underwriting Houses in California

Allstate Insurance company will no longer be underwriting houses effective in July. No changes will occur for existing customers. The move is supposedly to "limit its exposure to catastrophe" such as earthquakes. Allstate has also […]