A Waikato Region Case Study Abstract This paper presents an innovative geotechnical design approach using patented Subsurface Compacted Rubble Raft (SCRR) technology to improve severe liquefiable ground. It’s exemplified through a case study in New Zealand’s Waikato Region, particularly the Ngahinapouri Village new development site…
Lessons from the Monitoring Period at Christchurch Northern Corridor Abstract Settlement monitoring of the Christchurch Northern Corridor included detailed road surveys completed using a Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) system. By combining survey control, a high accuracy Mobile LiDAR system and adapted processing techniques, the solution…
Progress Report 20/10/2023 Background The June 2023 NZ Geomechanics News contained an article outlining the justification and objectives behind this MPhil research program. This article provides a current snapshot of the research undertaken to date. The MPhil enrolment was motivated by observations made during…
In 1999, the late Dick Beetham and I wrote a short article for NZ Geomechanics News entitled “Geotechnical data at your fingertips”. In this article, we discussed how GIS data on the desktop can assist engineering and we outlined plans being formulated by our then…
Introduction Rockfall is a highly complex process that poses a major hazard to exposed elements such as transport corridors, infrastructure, services, and people (Chau et al., 2003; Corominas et al., 2005; Giacomini et al., 2009; Hungr et al., 1999; Zhao et al., 2017)2009; Hungr et…
Abstract We describe the development, curriculum content and pedagogic context of the Master of Engineering Geology (MEG) programme at the University of Auckland. This programme is in its 5th year, and is currently one of the few active postgraduate engineering geology programmes in Australasia. Since…
Key words: Cyclone Gabrielle, KiwiRail, geotechnical, civil 1. Introduction As with a large portion of the North Island’s transport infrastructure, KiwiRail’s network was heavily impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle that occurred in February 2023. The Palmerston North to Gisborne Line (PNGL) was the most severely affected,…
Keywords Drone, landslide, cyclone, global, imagery Abstract The interpretation of aerial photographs has long been a valuable tool in terrain evaluation and identification of geomorphological features at a site. Publicly available aerial images for some parts of New Zealand date back to 1936 (such as…
Abstract The recent update to the National Seismic Hazard Model has changed the approach to seismic site classification in New Zealand, with the time-averaged shear wave velocity over the top 30 m of the subsurface profile (VS30) at a site now being a key site…
Keywords Liquefaction, risk assessment, planning, regional New Zealand 1. Introduction Since the Canterbury Earthquake Sequences (CES), liquefaction and its effects have been a focus for engineers and councils. There has been a significant amount learnt from these events in New Zealand due to the disproportionate…
