Presentations & Speakers

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Payman Hajiani

Dr. Payman Hajiani is a licensed geophysicist with Caltrans, where he applies near-surface geophysical methods to support Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) for California’s highway infrastructure. Since beginning his professional career in 2017, Dr. Hajiani has specialized in the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), EM pipe and cable locators, and other electromagnetic techniques to improve subsurface utility detection and mapping. His work supports Caltrans projects statewide, enhancing safety and efficiency in transportation planning. He earned his PhD in Geophysics from Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST) and is an active member of SEG and AGU.

Geophysical Applications to Address Subsurface Utility Engineering Needs for California’s Highways

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) is essential for safe and efficient infrastructure projects. Geophysics offers tools to meet the challenge of successful SUE implementation. At Caltrans, the Geophysics and Geology Branch uses advanced geophysical techniques to locate underground utilities with accuracy and efficiency. Through the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2), Caltrans acquired a state-of-the-art step-frequency Multichannel Ground Penetrating Radar (MCGPR) system. This cutting-edge technology has dramatically enhanced our ability to map and manage subsurface utilities, improving safety, efficiency, and project outcomes. Combined with additional geophysical and NDE tools, such as time-domain electromagnetic systems, magnetometers, pipe and cable locators, soil conductivity meters and single-channel GPR, we deliver comprehensive and reliable subsurface surveys across California’s highways and maintenance stations. Here, I share real-world examples of how we apply these tools to locate subsurface utilities and avoid costly construction conflicts. I also discuss how our team overcomes challenging field conditions, leveraging geophysical innovation to improve results. From this presentation, geoprofessionals will better understand the critical contributions of geophysics to infrastructure projects and the innovative approaches employed by Caltrans to address subsurface challenges.

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Abstract:

Subsurface investigations currently rely on conventional soil borings with the aid of cone penetrometer test (CPT) soundings. However, these geotechnical explorations can be expensive, and information is not provided between boreholes. Geophysical methods can aid in providing some information between the boreholes at a lower cost for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). Geophysical surveys include other advantages, such as site accessibility, portability, operator safety, shorter project delivery times, and reduced construction delays.

This presentation will outline recent geophysical research by LTRC.

LTRC conducted an initial (Phase I) that evaluated available geophysical methods and technologies, then refined the list based on which techniques were most suitable for Louisiana soil conditions. A survey of DOTD Geotechnical staff indicated the need for following: mapping lithology, foundation integrity studies, landslide site evaluation, and detection of voids beneath pavement. The analysis included applicability, advantages/disadvantages, and a review of current practices across DOTD and other state DOTs. LTRC identified these geophysical methods as the most applicable to Louisiana DOTD: electrical resistivity (ER), seismic refraction, and cross-hole tomography.

Phase II research is ongoing and expanded on the previous work by conducting field-testing with specific geophysics devices identified in Phase I. The detailed field research helped determine device effectiveness, potential applications, and necessary implementation steps. The research analysis also includes cost-benefit scenarios, training requirements, pros and cons, and a quick-start guide for DOTD users.

Presenter:

Nicholas Ferguson

Received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University in 2016. Nick began working at the Louisiana Transportation Research Center (LTRC) in 2017. He earned his Professional Engineer (PE) license in 2021 and now serves as a Geotechnical Research Engineer. Nick is a current member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Standing Committee on Mechanics and Drainage of Saturated and Unsaturated Geomaterials. During his off time, Nick enjoys time with his beer-making wife, trying new craft beers, sand volleyball, and attempting to run for fun.

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Abstract:

Alternative types of deep foundations have been used for new bridge construction at Denali and Yellowstone National Parks to get close but not too close to an edge. At Denali National Park, the edge is literal; it is the lateral margin of the Pretty Rocks Landslide, which is a landslide moving so fast it must be spanned with a single span bridge, launched from one side to the other.

The bridge, at 475 feet in length is near the practical limit for such construction and to make it viable meant getting the bridge abutments as close to the margins of the landslide as possible. Speed was also important because the road had been severed and the public had lost access to the inner part of the park, where views of Denali, the mountain, are what drives a major local economy. At Yellowstone National Park, the challenge was to support a new 1200-foot-long bridge across the Yellowstone River near thermal springs and pockets of highly altered rock that show the presence of a thermal groundwater regime not far below the ground surface. The size and height of the bridge, and the seismic environment and steep slopes adjacent to the river meant that deep foundations were needed to support vertical and lateral loads. The ‘edge’ here is the deeper hydrothermal regime that needed to be avoided with the deep foundations.

Each of these is major bridge project where the alternatives to building at these locations had severe consequences, and the avoidance of these consequences is what drove the innovation needed at the chosen sites. At Yellowstone, large diameter drilled shafts, with innovative casings, were used to reduce the number and depth of penetrations above a hydrothermal resource and to minimize the surface area exposed to the environment. At Denali, micropiles and tiedown anchors were used in surprising ways to provide a reinforced rock foundation capable of supporting construction and long-term loads, including the continued evacuation by the landslide. Thermosiphons were added alongside these elements to keep ice in an abutment frozen and to mitigate the effects of changing climate. These were the technical innovations, but more was needed.

In both cases, it was necessary to have a good understanding of where the ‘edge’ is and to be able to communicate that understanding, and its shortcomings. Conventional rock drilling, sampling and testing was a part of the site characterization and so was downhole and surface-based geophysics. The downhole geophysics included optical and acoustic televiewing and surface methods included electrical resistivity and seismic refraction tomography in two and three dimensions. Collecting the data had its suite of challenges but so did communicating results so that they could be understood by the design and construction teams, and this is where digital data delivery was important. The data were all placed in three dimensional models, digital twins of the site, and these were viewed in augmented reality and other three-dimensional platforms. Multiple data types were combined in a similar environment, and with proposed structure elements. Allowing the best possible understanding of site geology, and just how close is the ‘edge’.

At Denali National Park, where speed was also an important consideration, a CMGC procurement method was selected by the Western Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration. This type of contract brings engineer and contractor into partnership earlier and can accelerate delivery. When considering that the construction season in Denali is less than half of the year, getting project understanding in the hands of prospective CMGC contractors in a hurry was important, so as not to lose another full year. Digital data delivery helped here, as well. Contractors were given access to the usual suite of project reports and drawings, but they were also given access to the cloud-hosted Cambio Earth platform, wherein all types of project data were housed, including the geophysics and drilling and the design files, but also the ever-changing site topography and remotely sensed data. In this platform, it is possible to view data in the spatial environment of other data and the project features, including the ‘edge’, and to do so in an environment that allows multiple views and interpretations because the data are digital.

The experiences presented here demonstrate the importance of digital data delivery. While these models mere not part of the legal contract document, one can imagine how that next step could be taken and the value it will bring.

Presenter:

Scott Anderson

Scott is a Senior Principal Geotechnical Engineer at BGC, a former member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering, a Steering Committee member of the National Science Foundation Geotechnical Extreme Event Reconnaissance Association, the former leader of the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s technical resources in geotechnical engineering and a former professor at the University of Hawaii, which is where the SW Geotechnical Engineering Conference was when he first presented. He has his doctorate from UC Berkeley, practices around the world and makes his home in Colorado.

Abstract:

In the Geotechnical Industry, data deliverables play a crucial role in enhancing project outcomes and supporting the decision-making processes. These deliverables, which include comprehensive reports, digital models, real-time monitoring data, and comprehensive investigation datasets, offer several key benefits for stakeholders. Beware, the increasing prevalence of contractually obligated data delivery and various standardized exchange formats (i.e. DIGGS) must ensure that your data is collected, calculated, and curated correctly.

As with any data manager, there have been times when we were a little nervous sharing data and “showing our work”. We’ve probably all been there at some point, questioning the level of confidence in our own data. Is it error-free? Is it complete? Did I perform those calculations correctly? Did I update the second spreadsheet before I blended it with the first? Why are there two B-1 locations?

In the geotechnical industry, we are moving into a new age of data dissemination. Data exchange standards are achieving industry acceptance, becoming contractual requirements. There are numerous data management, modeling, design, and visualization software systems in the market. Organizations are trending toward a platform-agnostic approach when working with a diverse array of business partners and clients. Thus, our data has been elevated to a new level of exposure, greatly reducing our ability to keep it hidden behind a summary table, or PDF report.

There are now a handful of viable enterprise GDMS solutions available to the Geotechnical Industry. However, not all databases are created the same. Standardized Query Language (SQL) databases, as opposed to NoSQL platforms, will leverage a predefined schema to enforce data integrity and consistency. This structure is ideal for applications requiring complex queries and transactions. SQL databases also adhere to ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) properties, ensuring reliable transactions and data integrity, where data accuracy and consistency are paramount. Additionally, SQL databases use a relational model, making it easier to manage relationships between different data entities. This benefits applications with complex data interdependencies.

As the industry evolves with long-term value of geotechnical data, it is critical to consider how that data is stored. This enables organizations to revolutionize their traditional data workflow and distribute their data deliverables with confidence.

Presenter:

Bob Day

Bob Day, Geotechnical Market Manager at EarthSoft. Bob is a Geotechnical Data Manager with more than 25 years of professional experience providing data management and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) solutions for the environmental and geotechnical industries. His broad technical expertise and ability to bridge communication gaps between technology and operations have enabled him to guide successful data strategy implementations. Using insights gained from implementing multiple enterprise Geotechnical Data Management System (GDMS) platforms for multiple organizations in the private and public sectors, Bob brings valuable contributions to the evolution of EQuIS Geotech for EarthSoft and its clients. Bob is a leader with a positive approach, emphasizing staff engagement and customer service. He adeptly interprets and negotiates strategies amongst operational leadership and information technology experts. As a progressive team leader, he embraces innovation to solve problems and achieve long-term strategic objectives.

Abstract:

The management and utilization of historical subsurface geotechnical data are crucial for modern transportation infrastructure projects, especially as these projects become larger, more complex, and constrained by limited resources. While advancements in geotechnical data collection and management have led to the development of cloud-based platforms, a significant portion of historical data remains trapped in non-digital formats such as PDFs and images. These static formats hinder the efficient reuse of valuable legacy data, preventing Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and engineering professionals from leveraging decades of accumulated geotechnical knowledge.

To address this challenge, Dataforensics has developed an AI-driven process to automate the digitization and management of historical subsurface data. This approach integrates mature technologies like Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Machine Vision (MV), and Large Language Models (LLMs) alongside with probabilistic algorithms to extract meaningful data from image-based geotechnical logs, tables, and graphs. By focusing on both the spatial positioning and morphological attributes of geotechnical data within these documents, the proposed system facilitates accurate and automated conversion of archived reports into DIGGS (Data Interchange for Geotechnical and GeoEnvironmental Specialists) compliant databases.

The AI-driven system enables efficient processing and organization of historical geotechnical information, transforming it into reusable, structured datasets. This transformation supports the creation of dynamic 3D models, improves predictive modeling, and enhances decision-making for infrastructure projects. Furthermore, by reducing the need for manual data re-entry and minimizing data loss, this approach streamlines workflows for DOT personnel, consultants, and contractors. The solution not only unlocks the potential of historical geotechnical data but also fosters a data-driven culture that improves project outcomes related to constructability, sustainability, durability, and resilience to climate change and geohazards.

The implementation of AI-driven digitization offers a scalable and cost-effective solution to harness the untapped potential of historical geotechnical archives. It ensures that valuable subsurface data can continue to provide critical insights, improving infrastructure planning, design, and maintenance for years to come.

Presenter:

Scott Deaton

Scott Deaton is President and Founder of Dataforensics, a software company that specializes in helping geo-engineers use technology to improve and streamline their data collection, data management, reporting, analysis and visualization processes. Dataforensics software has been utilizing geotechnical data interchange standards since 2004 and he has been an active member of the DIGGS Technical Committee since 2008. Under his guidance, Dataforensics has been responsible for most of the major implementations of OpenGround in North America for organizations like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisiana DOT, Ohio DOT, New Mexico DOT, WSP/Golder, Wood, ECS, Haley & Aldrich, S&ME, Braun Intertec and many more. He has guided Dataforensics to become the first software vendor that fully supports DIGGS data in their software and has pioneered the usage of DIGGS within the OpenGround environment.

Abstract:

A recent LADOTD project was under construction when the contractor observed settlement of the pile group supported footings. After multiple settlement predictions based on survey data and existing soil information, LADOTD decided to use ground improvement methods under four bents of the new LA 1 Intrascoastal Bridge. Low mobility grouting was used to stabilized four of the footings and mitigate future settlement concerns. This presentation will discuss design methodology for pile groups, issues that arose during construction, and low mobility grouting techniques used to alleviate settlement concerns.

Presenter:

Miranda Perkins

Miranda Perkins is a geotechnical engineer with the LADOTD. She has been with the department for 8 years and currently serving as the Geotechnical Engineering Manager. She is a registered PE in the state of Louisiana and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from LSU.

Abstract:

Backfilling of abandoned mine workings for subsidence mitigation and combating mine fires is nearly as old as mining itself. Common backfill methods that have been employed in such instances include hydraulic flushing, pneumatic injection, grouting, paste, foam, gel and foaming gel. Borrowing on technology developed for solids transport in pipelines and more recently fracking, engineered mixtures of foam and solids can be used to create a “Liquid Sand” for placing backfill material in mine workings and rubble (gob or goaf).

Traditional remote backfilling methodologies include hydraulic backfilling, which requires large volumes of water to transport the material, and grouting, which incorporates portland cement and/or fly ash with sand, resulting in a strong, but costly void filler.

Liquid-Sand technology was developed as a cost-effective alternative to traditional backfilling methods, by replacing the water, cement and fly ash, with pre-generated foam to transport the sand or other backfill material into open voids. The foam dissipates in 24 to 48 hours, leaving only the backfill material, which self-compacts. The foam can be engineered for greater or lesser persistence, depending on the dissipation requirements.

The presentation will go into some details Carlsbad Brine Well, in Carlsbad, New Mexico, operated between 1979 and July 2008, producing brine water for the oil and gas industries for nearly thirty years. In July 2008, those operations came to an abrupt halt due to concerns of a

potential collapse causing significant damage to surrounding properties. The fluid fill well had a 60psi surface pressure that had to be overcome to install the Liquid-Sand mix. The contractor was able to fill the 225,000 cubic yard void working 7 days per week 24 hours per day averaging over 100 CY of Liquid-Sand per hour.

A number of other projects will also be referenced such as the Glenrock Mies in Glenrock, WY; The Noonan Mine in Noonan, ND; Rapson Coal Mine in Colorado Springs, CO and some others.

For attendees, some learning objectives and topics to be discussed include:

Description of the technology and concept
Subsidence mitigation for AML applications
Gravity placement application without pumping
Placement application using pumping equipment
Underwater placement applications (inundated voids)
Potential for use in active mines for stope filling
Potential for transportation of mine tailings to tailings ponds
General and relative comparison of costs with other backfilling methods

Presenter:

Samantha McNerney

Sam is the National Sales Manager of Aerix Industries. She works in conjunction with the technical staff in providing her knowledge and experience with geotechnical, civil, and structural applications.

Sam has over a decade of experience in technical sales and project management within the construction and industrial sectors. Before joining Aerix she was a project manager, educational program director, and technical sales representative for traffic infrastructure and process automation.

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Morteza Mirshekari

With over 15 years of experience in industry and research, Dr. Mirshekari specializes in analysis, design, and construction of complex geotechnical projects. He has published more than 15 papers in highly regarded geotechnical journals and conferences and has delivered award-winning presentations at over ten prestigious geotechnical venues. Dr. Mirshekari has served as the lead engineer on numerous public and private sector projects involving complex foundation systems, slope stability analysis, seepage modeling, earth retaining structures, railways and roadways, airfields, and geotechnical instrumentation. His expertise in geotechnical earthquake engineering includes ground motion hazard analysis, site-specific response, seismic deformation modeling, soil-structure interaction analysis, and liquefaction hazard assessment.

Abstract:

The I-405 South Multi-Asset Design/Build project includes extensive improvements within the 11-mile project alignment in Orange County, CA. These enhancements include pavement rehabilitation, roadside safety measures installation, intelligent transportation management systems, ramp improvements, bridge improvements, and multiple new retaining walls. The project also includes the installation of a new park-and-ride facility featuring solar-powered electric vehicle chargers. As with any major public works project, the team had to balance the needs and requirements of multiple public entities to deliver the project successfully. A key constraint the project faced was the presence of an existing 36-inch diameter water line owned by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) contract set forth stringent requirements to minimize impact to the existing water line, allowing no more than ¼ inch of settlement over a 100-foot horizontal distance along the waterline. Initially, the Design/Build team believed that the construction of a new retaining wall and embankment for the park-and-ride would necessitate costly settlement mitigation, such as lightweight cellular concrete or geofoam blocks. Terracon worked closely with our design and construction team to develop a three-dimensional evaluation approach and perform a detailed settlement analysis based on soil boring and CPT data. The analysis was conducted with engagement and input from geotechnical professionals at MWD, and demonstrated that construction of the proposed improvements could be accomplished with a standard design approach without exceeding MWD’s strict tolerances for the existing pipeline. MWD’s acceptance of Terracon’s conclusions reduced schedule impacts and saved design and construction costs by eliminating the need for lightweight backfill material and non-standard retaining wall design.

Presenter:

Scott Lawson

Scott Lawson, P.E., G.E., Senior Engineer I Senior Associate Scott Lawson is a Senior Associate with Terracon, based in Orange County, California. He is a licensed geotechnical engineer (G.E.) and a licensed civil engineer (P.E.) in the State of California focused on management of delivery teams, providing technical leadership, performing engineering analysis and design, and project management for both conventional and alternative delivery projects. Scott has over 25 years of progressive experience with geotechnical, environmental, and construction materials testing services for both public and private sector clients. Projects have included bridges, highways, port facilities, railroads, grade separations, airports, pipelines, buildings and warehouses, schools, and public works facilities. Clients have included big box retailers, developers, public works agencies, school districts, and numerous public transportation agencies including Caltrans, OCTA, RCTC, Los Angeles METRO, SBCTA, SANDAG, the Port of Long Beach and multiple cities throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.

Abstract:

Post-wildfire debris flows pose significant risks to transportation infrastructure by inundating drainage systems, scouring culverts and structures, and causing roadway embankments to overtop and fail. Federal and state agencies play a critical role in rapidly predicting debris flow hazards to mitigate damage and ensure public safety. Enhanced post-wildfire debris flow response efforts have significantly improved the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) capacity to anticipate and proactively address these hazards. During the 2020 El Dorado Fire, approximately 20,000 acres of steep, debris flow-prone watersheds within the San Bernardino National Forest were burned, directly adjacent to fifteen miles of State Route 38 (SR-38). United States Geological Survey debris flow hazard data identified fifty-three potential debris flows threatening SR-38, with eighty-five percent of these ranked as moderate to high hazard. This data enabled Caltrans to promptly evaluate and assess highway vulnerabilities and develop risk assessments, design parameters, and mitigation measures. Within one year of the fire, several large flexible debris flow barriers were installed at high-risk site locations. These barriers were tested during high-intensity rainstorms and debris flows, successfully protecting the road. Drainage systems remained functional, assets were undamaged, and the road remained operational. This case study highlights a proactive and effective approach to emergency debris flow mitigation and demonstrates the versatility and success of flexible debris flow barriers in managing such hazards.

Presenter:

Demian Nelson

Demian Nelson earned his PhD in Geological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barabara, and is a Certified Engineering Geologist with over six years of experience in the Caltrans Office of Geotechnical Design South. Demian services all Southern California and specializes in emergency response including rockfall, debris flow, post-fire, and landslide hazards. Demian is a licensed FAA Part 107 drone pilot, a member of the Caltrans Climbing and Scaling Team, and serves on the Geotechnical Services Rockfall Technical Team.

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Abstract:

Anna Sojourner, Senior Engineering Geologist, Caltrans Office of Geotechnical Support

Tom Shantz, Senior Bridge Engineer, Caltrans Office of Earthquake Engineering, Analysis and Research

Approximately 500 roadway bridges owned by the State of California or local jurisdictions lie in Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones – areas designated by the California State Geologist as susceptible to surface fault rupture. This talk presents an overview of how Caltrans assesses the surface fault rupture risk for individual bridges and turns this information into design recommendations.

At the center of the Caltrans fault rupture procedure are several questions that are answered using relatively simple probabilistic-based models: (1) how often can we expect large earthquakes on the fault to occur, (2) will it rupture to the surface, (3) how large are fault offsets likely to be, (4) will fault offset extend to secondary faults, and (5) does the rupturing fault lie underneath the bridge?

Most roadway bridges lie in developed areas where geologic evidence of faults and previous earthquakes is absent or imperfectly preserved. We will discuss procedures for collecting and evaluating geologic inputs to the models, and how the information is used to calculate design offset. A design example will be presented to highlight some of the challenges faced in real-world application.

Presenters:

Anna Sojourner

Anna Sojourner, M.Sc., C.E.G., is a Senior Engineering Geologist with Caltrans Geotechnical. She collaborates with Caltrans Office of Earthquake Engineering and Research to assess fault rupture and other seismic hazards for bridges and tunnels on the California State Highway System. She developed Caltrans fault rupture investigations manual. She is part of the Caltrans Geotechnical Asset Management team.

Tom Shantz

Tom Shantz, P.E., G.E., is a semi-retired Geotechnical Engineer with Caltrans Office of Earthquake Engineering, Analysis and Research. Tom’s primary focus is seismic hazard and geotechnical engineering. In his past life, he managed Caltrans’ participation in the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER)-Lifelines Program. Tom was the primary developer of the web-based ARS Online design spectrum tool and worked closely with PEER researchers to write a Caltrans design guideline for lateral spreading analysis.

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Abstract:

With potentially close to 100,000 earth retaining walls currently in-service within the TxDOT system, and approximately 1,000 constructed each year, the state requires a well-oiled machine to meet the increasing demands of the transportation network. Department Materials Specification (DMS) 4800 is that machine which Bridge Division Geotech Branch has developed over time and is now used to evaluate proprietary MSE concrete panel walls and concrete block permanent walls for long term installation.

Very similar to the ASCE Geo-Institute IDEA Evaluations; the state requires rigorous testing results, drawings, manuals, and procedures. Unlike IDEA, TxDOT takes the evaluation a step further by weeding out systems based on demonstrated experimental performance or judgement of geotechnical staff. Those systems which remain are published on the Approved Systems Lists for use on most bridge and retaining wall contracts.

Why only concrete panel and concrete block walls for most permanent walls? What are our specific criteria for acceptance? Happy to share our specification and experience after implementation.

Presenter:

Edward Galbavy

Edward (Eddie) Galbavy has been tirelessly working for the Texas Department of Transportation, Bridge Division, Geotechnical Branch since 2019. He enjoys designing and investigating safe and efficient foundations and retaining walls and he hopes you do too. Prior to TxDOT, he received degrees in Environmental Engineering, Geology, and Atmospheric Science; and has transitioned his career from environmental systems to transportation projects with 20+ years private industry experience in Texas, Florida, Colorado, and California.

Abstract:

As climate continues to change, many owners of infrastructure and government agencies are seeing the impacts of warming temperatures, unpredictable precipitation conditions, and extreme weather influencing slope instabilities, landslides and other geohazards across the globe. Asset management is becoming more important and more challenging with the rapidly changing environment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sees a need to better understand and catalog landslide risk to infrastructure within our portfolio. After considering several frameworks for characterizing our slope instability risks, USACE has decided to apply a variation of our screening portfolio risk assessment process that was initially established for our dam and levee safety portfolio several years ago. This process involves establishing standardized potential failure mode event trees that can be applied to both soil and rock slopes to determine likelihood of a damage-inducing landslide, assigning qualitative estimates to each of those nodes to define an overall likelihood of failure, in addition to cataloging consequence categories to include consideration of the potential environmental, operational, and life safety impacts. This process will be systematically applied to approximately 160 identified landslides within the Corps portfolio to create a relative risk matrix that characterizes the landslide hazard and consequences in order to understand and communicate risks and prioritize funding for mitigation, where appropriate. This talk will highlight two example projects to demonstrate this process.

Presenter:

April Fontaine

April Fontaine has nearly 25 years of experience in geology and geotechnical engineering and is currently the National Policy Advisor for Geotechnical Engineering at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at their Headquarters. She is the current Chair for the USACE Landslide Committee and an instructor for several courses internal to the Corps of Engineers. She has a master’s degree from Southwestern College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis and is a Licensed Professional Geologist in the State of California.

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