Slope instability can be manifested as landslides—including mudflows ("mudslides") and rockfalls—or by more subtle processes such as soil creep. Slope instability is a complex phenomenon that can occur at many scales and for many reasons. Landslides can be fast or slow, wet or dry, small or large, shallow or deep, old or recent. Examples of triggering mechanisms include earthquakes, grading, poor surface drainage, erosion, rainstorms, landscape irrigation, or broken utility lines. Fast-moving mudflows and debris flows are of particular concern in wildfire burn areas and in areas that have previously experienced landslide activity.
Buildings and infrastructure located on or in the path of a landslide can be seriously damaged or destroyed. Slope movements do not need to be large to be destructive—even slope creep or small, early-stage landslide movements can cause substantial structural damage to critical facilities such as dams, resulting in major economic damage and loss of life. Conversely, earth movements initially suspected to be caused by landslides might instead be the result of other processes such as fill settlement, shrink-swell action of expansive soil, or hydrocompaction of collapsible soil.
Our engineers utilize many tools to investigate all aspects of slope instability. Key elements in the investigation include determining the boundaries of the slope instability, establishing a history of previous slope movement, assessing landslide causation, modeling landslide initiation as well as the travel paths taken by moving landslide debris, assessing the damage to affected buildings and structures, and preparing recommendations for stabilizing slopes.
Our services include:
Emergency response and evaluation of imminent landslide and rockfall hazards and damage to buildings and structures
Analysis of the landslide cause
Determination of relative contribution of factors contributing to landslide cause
Field investigation of landslides
Installation and monitoring of instrumentation measuring slope movement and groundwater levels
In-house geotechnical laboratory testing for measuring rock and soil engineering properties
Analysis of the interaction of landslides with the built environment, including retaining walls, transportation infrastructure, fill placement, buildings, structures, and pipelines
Development of repair recommendations
Third-party review of landslide investigations and repair recommendations by others
Solutions for Geotechnical Engineering Professionals:
DeepEX: Deep Excavations Design Software
DeepFND: Pile Foundations Design Software
HelixPile Helical Piles Design Software
