Geotechnical Tools for Rapid Response to Site Characterization following Extreme Events Impacting Highways

Extreme events generally occur without much advance warning, and certainly without enough lead-time to schedule and budget for repair projects as part of typical long-term highway investment programs. In addition to roadway and structure damage, roadway detours and closures result in inconvenience to the traveling public. Decision makers look for quick answers and rapid solutions as there are frequently substantial pressures to reduce the design time. Project teams are tasked to let emergency repair contracts quickly, and the incentive to rely on historic information and observations from initial forensic site visits is strong. The merits of geotechnical investigation are often debated, under pressure for designers to make foundation selections and estimates of material quantities with immediately available information. Newer geotechnical tools and investigation capabilities need not delay a project. Depending on the site, a well-planned emergency-response investigation plan may result in faster overall project delivery by reducing project uncertainties, accelerating decisions on appropriate project means, methods, and scope. Several proven technologies provide rapid characterization of sites that have experienced failure due to geohazards. This paper explores the risk-reward relationship that effective site characterization provides when speed and timeliness are overriding goals. Examples illustrate today’s tools and techniques can enhance quality and minimize performance risks, even when time is critical, for risk reduction and significant project benefit.