Geo-Congress 2020
Minnesota Department of Transportation Slope Failure Risk Assessment
Publication: Geo-Congress 2020: Engineering, Monitoring, and Management of Geotechnical Infrastructure (GSP 316)
ABSTRACT
Slope failures such as rockfalls and landslides are one type of geohazard that affects state trunk highways. Previous research efforts that model slope failures are limited to one failure type, limited in geographic coverage, and are often subjective. This study presents a new slope failure risk model that accounts for all failure types while covering more ground than previous efforts. For this project, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) partnered with WSB to determine the risk of slope failure along state highways in three regions. This paper outlines the methods and results of this project including the new geographic information systems (GIS) model that can be implemented anywhere in the state. Vulnerability factors including slope, terrain curvature, and proximity to rivers and bedrock outcrops were statistically tested using multi-varaiate regression analysis. Model results were field validated and ranked into four proposed risk management categories: action recommended, further evaluation, monitoring, and no action recommended. Preliminary ranking results indicate that 826 of the 35,000 proposed management areas are recommended for mitigation. The results of this study are intended as the first step of actions required in minimizing the effects of slope failure including costly repairs and potential threats to public safety.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Geo-Congress 2020: Engineering, Monitoring, and Management of Geotechnical Infrastructure (GSP 316)
Pages: 659 - 666
Editors: James P. Hambleton, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Roman Makhnenko, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Aaron S. Budge, Ph.D., Minnesota State University, Mankato
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8279-7
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Feb 21, 2020
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Disaster risk management
- Engineering fundamentals
- Failure analysis
- Geographic information systems
- Geohazards
- Geomatics
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Highway and road management
- Highway transportation
- Highways and roads
- Infrastructure
- Landslides
- Project management
- Risk management
- Slopes
- Surveying methods
- Transportation engineering
Authors
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