Presented by W.Morgan NeSmith (P.E),
Director of Engineering, Berkel & Company, Atlanta, USA
Liquefaction induced settlement or structure movement due to lateral spread are two significant design challenges in seismically active areas. In deep liquefiable sands (e.g. 9 m and deeper), traditional vibration or soil mixing techniques may prove to be financially and operationally inefficient. Drilled displacement systems that densify the sands by mechanically displacing them laterally can be an efficient alternative in this scenario. The presentation will provide background on drilled displacement piles/elements and their modification to ground improvement systems including for liquefaction mitigation.
Morgan is the Director of Engineering at Berkel & Company and has more than 20 years of experience in geotechnical contracting and consulting. Since 2004, he has specialized in the design and installation of cast-in-place piles and ground improvement systems for Berkel & Company Contractors. Morgan is a Deep Foundation Institute (DFI) trustee and the immediate past chair and current trustee liaison of the DFI ACIP and DD Pile Technical Committee.
Please register on line HERE
An overview of the types of structures used for rockfall protection constructed away from source. These includes ETAG27 certified dynamic fences, hybrid or attenuator fences and GTM reinforced soil bund.
Case studies in Christhchurch and Kaikoura. This talk will take you through an overview of rockfall protection problems and the general considerations when it comes to available solutions and approaches. Passive protection structures are very cost effective and technically feasible solutions especially when the problems are large scale and complex morphology in nature. The three main types of passive protection structures recommended in the NZ MBIE published guide. Project case studies in NZ especially around Christchurch and Kaikoura will also be showcased.
Presented by James Molloy
James Molloy will give a brief Presentation on some of his more interesting work in the Otago area.
Following on from James Molloy’s Presentation, as we were all looking forward to our colleagues from around the country coming to visit in mid-October that has been interrupted by Covid-19, it seems an opportune time for the local geotechnical community (and any other interested parties) to get together for a couple drinks, some networking and a catch up.
Please join us at Terra MDC’s office at 82 Bond Street on the evening of Thursday 15th October. We look forward to seeing you all there.
*A selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, along with nibbles will be provided
Kindly sponsored by
Terra MDC
Presented by Christchurch City Council, Engineering Services Team, Consenting and Compliance Unit
Geotechnical engineers, structural engineers and their associates are invited to a technical forum on regulatory compliance with clause B1 of the New Zealand Building Code. Speakers from the Christchurch City Council’s regulatory unit will present on updates to geotechnical guidance, structural materials, quality assurance, acceptance of producer statements/peer reviews and changes to building work exempt from building consent.
A question and answer session will be held after the presentation. Please submit questions via this google sheet on or before Monday 19th October. HERE
To help us in planning for this event, please register to attend using the following link: HERE
Presented by David Hepburn
Business Development Manager
This is an introduction to Redi-Rock retaining systems which are now being supplied in NZ for land development and infrastructure applications. David Hepburn of Duracrete Products will provide an introduction to the suite of design resources and free software analysis for geotech engineers. Some case studies of local and recent projects in NZ will be featured. The challenges of the applications and the variety of solutions for them will be highlighted. Feedback from clients, contractors and geotech engineers who have used it will shared.
An earthquake-induced landslide forecasting tool, and its application in Hawke’s Bay
(Chris Massey)
GNS Science has developed an earthquake-induced landslide (EIL) forecasting tool, initially using the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake landslide dataset, but subsequently working in other EIL datasets (e.g. 1929 Murchison and 1968 Inangahua). The tool has been applied in Hawke’s Bay to understand the local rockfall hazard to tsunami evacuation paths on Bluff Hill, and where the regional landslide hazards are so this can be assessed against existing and planned asset development. The talk will cover off the development of the tool, its application in Hawke’s Bay, and its current limitations.
GNS Science Urban Geological Mapping Project – Napier-Hastings
(Julie Lee)
An updated geological map has been completed for the Napier-Hastings urban areas and a geomorphological map and subsurface 3D model will soon be released as part of a nationwide project that is mapping urban areas in New Zealand. 3D software and LiDAR data has enabled us to improve differentiation of Holocene units that form the Heretaunga Plains. This presentation will describe these products and the results.
HBRC Council Chambers
Back Entry, Vautier Street
Refreshments 5.30pm
Presentations 6.00pm
*Doors will be locked at 6pm for security and entry is not possible after this time.
RSVP: tgrace@rdcl.co.nz
Presented by Phaedra Upton, Senior Scientist, Geodynamics Team Leader, GNS Science
The Southern Alps of New Zealand – An integrated picture of an evolving plate boundary
The central South Island has long been a favourite site to study and model oblique continental collision, because the orogen is young, narrow, and a single structure, the Alpine Fault, takes up >70% of relative plate motion. The orogen is highly asymmetric and varies along strike as the nature of the two colliding plates change along the boundary. I will explore the 3D structure and kinematics of the orogen, and discuss how regional deep-seated tectonic processes of mountain building are geodynamically interconnected with climate, landscape, and near-surface geological processes that create local fluid flow, effective stress, and temperature anomalies.
Presented by Phaedra Upton, Senior Scientist, Geodynamics Team Leader, GNS Science
The landscape serves as a link between the solid Earth and the atmosphere. At many spatial and temporal scales, landscape morphology and topography provide a constraint on the tectonics of the Earth and processes active within it. To unravel these, we need to understand the complex relationships between surface processes, their drivers and the rocks upon which they act. I will explore recent developments in modelling tectonics and surface processes within a single deformational framework. I will focus on collisional settings such as New Zealand’s Southern Alps, SE Alaska and the Himalaya where rapid uplift combines with vigorous climate regimes to create dynamic landscapes.
Supporting Lecture: The Southern Alps of New Zealand: An Integrated Picture of an Evolving Plate Boundary (This will be from 5.30pm at the same venue)
The Southern Alps of New Zealand – An integrated picture of an evolving plate boundary
The central South Island has long been a favourite site to study and model oblique continental collision, because the orogen is young, narrow, and a single structure, the Alpine Fault, takes up >70% of relative plate motion. The orogen is highly asymmetric and varies along strike as the nature of the two colliding plates change along the boundary. I will explore the 3D structure and kinematics of the orogen, and discuss how regional deep-seated tectonic processes of mountain building are geodynamically interconnected with climate, landscape, and near-surface geological processes that create local fluid flow, effective stress, and temperature anomalies.
Presented by Eva Sutter
Ground investigations are there to make sure the ground we build on is suitable for the structure anticipated. Traditionally, this is assessed with common geotechnical tools such as machine boreholes, CPT’s, hand auger or scala testing. While these are great tools to get an accurate understanding of the ground properties at one single location per test, often an area-wide overview of geological, geotechnical and environmental property variations in the underground would be valuable to get a comprehensive image of a site and site performance. This is where geophysical methods have a huge advantage and are used with great benefit to a project in terms of risk reduction, as well as cost and time saving. The talk will provide an overview of the benefits arising from using geophysical investigations, the basic geophysical principles and present a few applications to projects around New Zealand.
Eva is a Geophysicist with 4 years’ experience in the geophysical consulting industry in Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand. She specialises in near-surface exploration techniques for applications in the engineering and environmental sectors. She has also more than 4 years of experience in geophysical research & development. With her strong can-do attitude towards difficult projects she is always keen to find a solution to solve even complex underground problems to help her clients reduce project risks, save money and time. Eva is a member of the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society (EEGS), NZGS and holds a PhD and MSc in Applied Geophysics.
Online Presentation open to all NZGS Members
The presentation will comprise a selection of brief landslip case studies across Northland (and a couple in Auckland). The case studies will review how the landslips may have been identified and include a summary of some of the tools available for land stability assessment. A brief overview of use of terrain models in QGIS (open source software) and on-screen viewing of aerial photo stereo pairs will be given. The case studies also serve as a reminder of the regular occurrence of landslips across Northland, not just affecting roads but also in areas of both older and more recent development, most of which are not publicly reported.
The presentation will be followed by a chance for questions/discussions.
Bio – David is a geotechnical engineer and has been Northland based for 4 years prior to which he worked for T+T in Auckland for 10 years. David has been involved in assessing landslips from Dunedin to the Far North, but particularly in Auckland and Northland, primarily associated with EQC claims.
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