An online tutorial providing instruction on the design of passive rockfall protection structures is now available on the IPENZ website. This tutorial covers structures such as rockfall fences and embankments that act to reduce the effects of falling rock on people and infrastructure.

The tutorial will be available free to all geotechnical professionals and is part of a wider geotechnical education programme. Continuing Professional Development points can be gained from watching the presentation and completing a quiz.

The tutorial is based on the rockfall guidance document MBIE has developed in collaboration with the New Zealand Geotechnical Society and the NZ Transport Agency, and is part of the broader guidance on geotechnical engineering MBIE has developed in response to issues arising from the Canterbury earthquake.

You can access the online tutorial on the IPENZ website

The full guidance document is available in the NZGS library at Rockfall: Design considerations for passive protection structures.

The MBIE Geotechnical education page has further information on the geotechnical education programme.