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

New Publications from Transportation Research Board

April 30, 2007 rockman Comments Off on New Publications from Transportation Research Board

Two new publications have been released from the Transportation Research Board. Pavement Management; Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Storage; and Accelerated Testing 2006 and Geotechnical Challenges of the Interstate Highway System: The First 50 Years and […]

Geologic Hazards

Europe’s Nuclear Waste Connundrum

April 30, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Europe’s Nuclear Waste Connundrum

The German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources on Wednesday released a report indicating that a large chunk of northern Germany, and a bit of the south as well, is geologically suitable for the indefinite storage of highly radioactive nuclear waste. Read more for details.

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Geologic Hazards

Drillers target earthquake zone

April 30, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Drillers target earthquake zone

Drillers and researchers are attempting to drill up to 7km into an active earthquake zone off the coast of Japan. The  Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone is at a subduction zone boundary and is thought to […]

Geologic Hazards

Volcano Erupts in Colombia

April 28, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Volcano Erupts in Colombia

NEIVA, Colombia — Thousands of people were evacuated after a long-dormant volcano erupted provoking avalanches and floods that swept away houses and bridges. The Nevado del Huila volcano’s eruptions were its first on record since […]

Available Resources

New FHWA Publication: Design and Construction of Continuous Flight Auger Piles (GEC No. 8)

April 18, 2007 rockman Comments Off on New FHWA Publication: Design and Construction of Continuous Flight Auger Piles (GEC No. 8)

[Update October 24, 2007] And only about 6 months later, the FHWA has finally posted it on their website [/Update]

There is a new FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) Geotechnical Engineering Circular (GEC) publication. GEC Number 8 is titled "Design and Construction of Continuous Flight Auger Piles". Read on for more info and a link to download. (Photo from GEC No. 8)

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Miscellaneous

Seismic Firms see Business Booming thanks to “Big Oil”

April 18, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Seismic Firms see Business Booming thanks to “Big Oil”

"The age of easy oil is over," Schlumberger Chairman and CEO Andrew Gould said at a recent energy conference in New Orleans. This fact and rising oil prices has led to a dramatic surge in oil exploration, and therefore work for seismic firms. According to Yahoo! news, WesternGeco, Schlumberger’s seismic division has over $1.1 Billion (yep, Billion) in backlog work. (Image by EnviroScan Inc.)

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Geologic Hazards

Residents of Astoria Oregon Learn Hard Lesson on Landslides

April 18, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Residents of Astoria Oregon Learn Hard Lesson on Landslides

Update: Feds approve disaster relief funding for Astoria Slide

Some of you might remember Astoria Oregon as the picturesque backdrop for the movies Goonies or Kindergarten Cop. But now it might be known for something else: being the most landslide prone city on the northern Pacific coast. (Photo by ALEX PAJUNAS – The Daily Astorian)

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