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Sponsored by ASCE's Geo-Institute's Technical Committees
INSTRUCTORS:
Bret Lingwall
Caleb Douglas, Ph.D., P.E., PMP
Jason Kean, Ph.D
Ghada Ellithy, Ph.D., P.E.
Missy Setz, P.E.
Jamie Mercado, Ph.D., P.E.
Maria Limas, P.E.
Purpose and Background
“Railroad Responses to Extreme Events” by Caleb Douglas, Ph.D., P.E., PMP (28 minutes)
This presentation examines the vulnerabilities of railroad infrastructure to extreme events such as floods, hurricanes, and landslides, and the strategies employed to restore service. The presentation provides a historical overview of railroad washouts and failures, highlighting the challenges posed by flat grades and alluvial settings that make railroads susceptible to these events. Key topics include the rapid mobilization of contractors, equipment, and materials, as well as the importance of observational geotechnical methods for immediate decision-making. Case studies, such as the 2013 Colorado floods, illustrate the complexities of managing large-scale repairs under challenging environmental conditions. This session equips its audience with insights into emergency response planning, material logistics, and the integration of long-term resilience measures into railroad design and maintenance.
“Fire, flood, and mud: Assessing postfire debris-flow hazards across Western U.S.” by Jason Kean (16 minutes)
This presentation explores the increasing frequency and impacts of debris flows following wildfires in the region. The presentation highlights the mechanisms behind postfire debris flows, including reduced soil infiltration and sediment loading, and their triggers, such as short-duration, high-intensity rainfall events. Using real-world examples, the speaker discusses the challenges of predicting debris-flow hazards, emphasizing the development of hazard maps, runout models, and rainfall intensity thresholds to aid emergency planning and response. The presentation also examines the tools and methodologies used by the USGS to assess and mitigate risks, including collaboration with local agencies to manage infrastructure and public safety. Civil engineers will gain insights into the role of topography, burn severity, and climate trends in debris-flow formation and the importance of integrating these factors into hazard mitigation strategies.
“Geotechnical Laboratory Testing Considerations and Best Practices For Embankment Dam and Levee Remedial Projects” by Missy Setz, Jamie Mercado, Maria Limas (36 minutes)
This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of laboratory testing programs tailored for dams and levees. The presentation emphasizes the importance of intentional sample collection and testing to address data gaps, reduce uncertainty, and inform failure mode analyses. Key topics include index property tests, shear strength evaluations, and advanced tests for erodibility and dispersivity, with a focus on their application to slope stability, seepage, and internal erosion issues. The session highlights the best practices for assigning confining pressures, understanding stress distributions in embankments, and ensuring compatibility between field investigations and laboratory analyses. This presentation equips the audience with practical insights for designing efficient, reliable testing programs to enhance the safety and performance of critical infrastructure.
“Considerations of compacted clay strength under extreme wetting- drying cycles” by Ghada Ellithy, Ph.D., P.E. (17 minutes)
This presentation explores the impacts of climate-driven wetting and drying cycles on the strength and behavior of compacted clay soils. The presentation discusses the effects of matrix suction, desiccation cracking, and volumetric changes on the undrained shear strength of compacted soils, emphasizing the significance of the first wetting-drying cycle in strength reduction. Innovative testing methodologies, such as unsaturated triaxial tests, are proposed to better capture the response of compacted clays under cyclic environmental conditions. The speaker highlights the implications of these changes for infrastructure resilience, particularly in the design and maintenance of clay-based structures exposed to fluctuating moisture levels. The audience will gain valuable insights into optimizing material selection, understanding soil behavior, and addressing challenges in infrastructure subjected to extreme climate conditions.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of these sessions, you will be able to:
- Describe tools and methodologies, such as hazard maps and runout models, used to predict and mitigate debris flows.
- Analyze case studies, such as the 2013 Colorado floods, to understand emergency response planning and resilience measures.
- Explain the role of matrix suction and desiccation cracking in influencing soil strength.
- Describe the role of laboratory testing in addressing failure modes such as internal erosion and slope instability.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Achievement of the learning objectives will be assessed through a short post-test.
Who Should Attend?
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Engineering Geologists
- Owners and Operators of Civil Infrastructure
- Consultants
- Public Agency Staff
- Specialty Contractors
How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion
This course is worth 2 PDHs. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short post-test online and receive a passing score of 70% or higher.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]