December 2024 General Update KiwiRail is engaged in a multi-year transformation to reshape its business and to focus on delivering the reliable services that customers want, at competitive rates. As we configure our services to meet the changing demands of the markets we serve, our…
Long-term rockfall observations post-Kaikōura earthquake Abstract Helicopter sluicing is an uncommon, and relatively novel active landslide mitigation approach. Following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, the resulting helicopter sluicing campaign was the largest use of this technique to date in New Zealand, and possibly globally. The aim…
Introduction & Summary NZGS is currently preparing a Slope Stability Guidance Series. At the time of writing (September 2024), Unit 3 – titled Slope Stability Analysis – has a completed draft and has been sent to the peer reviewers. One of the new things to…
Thoughts on Auckland North Shore East Coast Bays Formation rock slope stability and engineering design from field investigation and laboratory test results Abstract As New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland faces various natural hazards, including landslides. The East Coast Bays Formation (ECBF) slopes along Auckland’s North…
Introduction Large earthquakes pose significant risk to life and livelihood in seismically active locations across the globe. Whilst it is widely accepted that earthquake events are responsible for significant economic loss and fatalities, the cascade of secondary hazards instigated by seismic events can be equally,…
1939 – 2024 John Read graduated from Canterbury University with an MSc in Geology in 1964. His lasting professional legacy from 60 years of engineering geology practice for civil and mining primarily includes the Large Open Pits (LOP) Project, a programme…
Prepared by Graham Scholey, Rolando Orense, Meenakshi Patel The ISSMGE (https://www.issmge.org/) is the pre-eminent professional body representing the interests and activities of Engineers, Academics, and Contractors all over the world who actively participate in geotechnical engineering. The ISSMGE is a global organisation that provides a…
The 2024 ISRM Council meeting was held in the 13th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium (ARMS13) in New Delhi, on the 23rd of September. 43 National Groups were represented at the Council meeting, which was also attended by the Board members, the Past President Resat Ulusay, and observers from…
Report for New Zealand – November 2024 1 What is IAEG and how do we fit? All NZGS members also join one (or more) of the three international societies that NZGS represents in New Zealand; the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG),…
Christoph Kraus – Young Geoprofessionals Representative 2024 feels like it has flown by, with lots of YGP events and activities. I’ve provided an update on some of the highlights below. As always, if you are keen to be involved or have ideas for future events…