NEWS 2006

Posted June 02, 2006

Event June 05, 2006

2006 AGM - SITE CHARACTERIZATION FOR SLOPE STABILITY ASSESSMENT

This year's presentation will be the 2006 Richard Jahns Distinguished Lecturer in Engineering Geology - Dr. Jerry D. Higgins (Department of Geology & Geological Engineering Colorado School of Mines)

Stability and designs for stabilization are usually determined on the basis of modeling of the slope. The accuracy of the modeling is highly dependent upon an accurate three-dimensional geologic model and interpretations/predictions of ground-water conditions, etc. A flawed investigation and characterization of the geology is likely to lead to a flawed analysis of stability and design for stabilization.

This presentation will examine several case histories of landslide investigations at various scales that will be used to illustrate both good and poor practices in engineering geologic investigations for slope stability studies.

About the speakers:

Jerry D. Higgins, Ph.D., P.G. has been named the 2006 Jahns Distinguished Lecturer. The Association of Engineering Geologists and the Engineering Geology Division of the Geological Society of America (GSA) jointly established the Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lectureship in 1988 to commemorate Jahns and to promote student awareness of engineering geology through a series of lectures offered at various locations around the country throughout the year.

Dr. Higgins has served on the Geology and Geological Engineering faculty at the Colorado School of Mines since 1986. He received a B.S. Geology degree from Missouri State University and M.S. Geology and Ph.D. Geological Engineering degrees from the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Dr. Higgins has taught many engineering geology courses and short courses. His major areas of research are slope stability, rockfall analysis and mitigation, debris flow mechanics, seismic hazard assessment, geotechnical design in loess, characterization of expansive bedrock, construction materials characterization, and engineering geologic mapping. He has completed over $1.4 million in funded research from government and private industry. He was a contributing author to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) publication "Landslides: Investigation and Mitigation", coauthored the internationally known Colorado Rockfall Simulation Program (CRSP), authored testing standards for flexible fence rock-fall barriers, and has published numerous technical papers on engineering geology. Presently, he is part of a TRB task force preparing a book on rockfall science.

Location: Petroleum Club (11110 - 108 Street)
Time: Drinks 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Date: Monday, June 05, 2006
Cost: Students: $25, GSE Members: $40, Non-members: $50 Space limited. Please confirm attendance by noon, Thursday June 01
by emailing rclementino@thurber.ca