Engineering Commons^™

Age Dating Of Karst Forms Upon Regional Assessment Of Karst Hazard (A Case Study Of The Tatarstan Republic, Russia), V. A. Yolkin

Geohazards

The detailed investigations accompanied by collection of forty samples for radiocarbon and palynological analyses from six poorly and well-marked in a relief karst and karst-suffosion sinkholes, have shown, that the largest of them (diameter more than 30 m) are up to 5 - 10 thousand years, and the smaller size up to 2 - 3 thousand years. The marked karst forms - lakes, hollows and the depression reaching in diameter 200 - 300 m and more, were formed due to merging of separate forms and, most likely, have a long pre-Holocene history. The general procedure of regional probabilistic-deterministic assessment of …

Warning System For Natural Threats, Herbert Einstein, R. Sousa

Geohazards

Warning systems are an essential component of risk management for natural threats. They trigger active and/or passive countermeasures. This paper introduces the need for and use of warning systems through the review of recent major natural disasters (the Sumatra Tsunami, the 2005 Alpine Flood, the 2005 Hurricanes, Katrina and Rita) but also the potential flu pandemic. Positive and negative lessons are drawn from these cases. This is followed by a review of two specific warning systems which together with the preceding cases leads to a list of requirements for warning systems.

These reviews also show that it is desirable to …

3d Visualization For Urban Earthquake Risk, S. Kemec, S. Duzgun

Geohazards

Visualization is the graphical presentation of information, with the goal of improving the viewer’s understanding of the information contents. As today’s world is getting richer in information, visualization of the information is important for effective communication and decision making. In this study, generation of a 3D city model in CAD environment and its use in a spatial decision support system for earthquake risk in an urban area is presented. As CAD products’ quality is more enhanced than the other tools the 3D city model is generated in CAD environment. In CAD environment, a 2D building foot print vector layer is …

Tsunami Relief Work - Biopesticide Spray Operations - A Case Study, Kadarkarai Murugan

Geohazards

Tsunami occurred on 26th December, 2004 and in India more than 8000 people were killed due to the massive attack. The worst affected districts in Tamil Nadu were Viz., Velankanni, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India. Official sources said that due to massive death of animals and human beings, the public health has been affected/spoiled and it will cause further outbreak of infectious diseases like diarrhea, cholera and mosquito transmitting diseases. After a week there were incidents of outbreak of mosquito transmitting diseases such as malaria, and dengue. Tsunami had caused a mixing of animal debris in the breeding ground …

Hydrodynamics And Rheology: Key Factors In Mechanisms Of Large Landslides, L. Bonzanigo, P. Oppizzi, M. Tornaghi, A. Uggeri

Geohazards

When checking the behaviour of large landslides, deterministic stability analysis has little sense. Stability coefficients can only be seen as the relationship between acting and reacting forces. In fact, large landslides simply move in any case, more or less quickly. When stable, the displacements are actually so small that they aren't detectable. Thus the so called security factor could always be set to unity, and the computations performed as back analysis. The transition from a very slow viscous displacement to a catastrophic failure is better described in a change of rheological behaviour than in an overtaking of a stability coefficient. …

Integrated Database For Rapid Mass Movements In Norway, Christian Jaedicke, Karstein Lied, Halvor Juvet, Kalle Kronholm

Geohazards

Rapid mass movements include all kinds of slides in geological material, snow or ice. Traditionally, information about such events is collected separately in different databases covering selected geographical regions and event types. In Norway the terrain is susceptible to all types of rapid mass movements ranging from single rocks hitting roads and houses to large avalanches and huge rock falls where entire mountainsides collapse into fjords creating flood waves and endangering large areas. In addition, quick clay slides occur in desalinated marine sediments in south eastern and mid Norway. For the authorities and inhabitants of endangered areas, the type of …

Prediction Of Complex Systems Using Grey Models, Dirk Proske, P. H. A. J. M. Van Gelder

Geohazards

Complexity is an inherent property of the world known. According to Kolmogoroff Randomness and Complexity are connected. Therefore the description of randomness using stochastical procedures has been widely used. Nevertheless other methods might be used to predict complex systems, such as Grey Models.

In this paper the occurrence of extreme water levels along the Dutch north-sea has been investigated using Grey Models. Other applications are possible and have been carried out by the authors, such as identification of damaged elements in reinforced concrete structural elements.

Risk Analyses And Risk Management - Slope Instabilities In Alpine Environments, S. Eder, G. Poscher, C. Prager

Geohazards

Two prominent deep-seated gravitational slope deformations in the Eastern Alps (Tyrol, Austria) have been activated in the last seven years and pose serious threats to the densely populated valleys. Based on multidisciplinary field investigations, different hazard scenarios of slope failures have been evaluated for risk management processes. These event scenarios, which are characterised by strongly varying volumes of the failing slide masses as well as by different probabilities of occurrence, and varying disintegration factors control different accumulation and damage scenarios. Finally, these evaluations and risk analyses aimed to define “design events”, i.e. which scenarios are relevant for the dimensioning of …

Quantitative Risk Assessment As Applied To Natural Terrain Landslide Hazard Management In A Mid-Levels Catchment, Hong Kong, Ian Muir, K. K. S. Ho, H. W. Sun, T. H. H. Hui, Y. C. Koo

Geohazards

This paper presents a case study of the application of quantitative risk assessment techniques to a site-specific natural terrain hazard study in Hong Kong. The development of the landslide hazard and susceptibility models is described and salient details of the consequence model are given, including the assessment of debris flowpaths and runout using state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and debris runout computer models. A synthesis of the risk quantification process and schematic design of risk mitigation works is presented.

Studies Of The Gaviota Slide Offshore Southern California, Mark Zumberge, Jeff Babcock, Hugh H. Banon, John Blum, C. D. Chadwell, Jeff Dingler, Neal Driscoll, Gerald D'Spain, Philippe Jeanjean, Graham Kent, Graham Openshaw, John Orcutt

Geohazards

We are engaged in a study of a seafloor landslide off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. A large scar there remains from the Goleta slide, a well studied feature (1.51 km3 of failed material) that likely failed several thousand years ago. A smaller neighboring feature, the Gaviota slide (0.02 km3 of failed material), was probably triggered during the 1812 Santa Barbara earthquake. Our investigations started in 2004 with a chirp sonar survey. The survey revealed a relationship between a “crack” in the sediment propagating from the Gaviota slide’s headwall and a thrust fault clearly seen in the subsurface layers. …

On The Acceptable Risk For Structures Subjected To Geohazards, D. Diamantidis, S. Duzgun, F. Nadim, M. Wöhrle

Geohazards

Geohazards such as earthquakes or landslides represent a major risk to structures. In this contribution risk acceptance criteria for structures subjected to geohazards are reviewed. Especially the implementation of human safety and cost benefit considerations are discussed. Current trends in the definition of target safety criteria for structures subjected to earthquakes and landslides are presented and conclusions regarding codified criteria are drawn.

A Hydrodynamics Perspective For The 2004 Megatsunami, Costas E. Synolakis

Geohazards

The megatsunami of 26 December 2004 was the first tsunami with transoceanic impact since the 1960 Great Chilean and 1964 Great Alaskan tsunamis. Because of the distribution of deaths among a large portion of the nations of the world, the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami is the first universal natural disaster of modern times. For the purpose of adequate mitigation of future tsunamis, it is important to understand which factors control most critically the final characteristics of the flooding, namely runup and inundation. Their successful modeling requires not only a credible database of inundation parameters, against which models can be tested …

Evaluation Of Liquefaction Susceptibility For Microzonation And Urban Planning, Atilla Ansal, Gokce Tonuk

Geohazards

Various procedures were developed to evaluate liquefaction susceptibility of soil layers for implementing engineering remediation measures. The approach that has gained wide acceptance within the framework of urban planning is to establish microzonation maps with respect to liquefaction susceptibility to mitigate possible earthquake damage related to liquefaction. In this context, microzonation maps were produced recently for six municipalities in Turkey as a part of a major Pilot Project. Two variables are required for the assessment of liquefaction resistance of sandy soil layers; the seismic demand expressed in terms of cyclic stress ratio, CSR; and the capacity of the soil layers …

Seismic Hazards For Lifelines, Farshad Vazinram, Reza Rasti

Geohazards

The response of lifelines against earthquakes and seismic hazard effects on them are studied in this paper. As lifelines pass through wide areas, it may be affected by many seismic hazards. These hazards are such as ground rupture, fault movement, landslides and large deformation due to liquefaction. Based on the experiences from past earthquakes, damages to the lifelines with attention to damaged parts are classified and illustrated. This classification is based on the damages of body, joints, facilities and serviceability. Since the buried lifelines are filled with some materials with almost same unit weight of soil, their seismic response characteristics …

The 1999 Colorado Springs, Colorado Landslides – Federal, State And Local Government Response; Public Involvement; And Future Long-Term Risks And Challenges, Mark W. Squire

Geohazards

In the spring of 1999, heavy rain precipitated landslides in over 12 developed areas in Colorado Springs. The landslide damage and destruction exceeded $80 million dollars. A combined federal, state and local response included active participation by property owners in an open and transparent public process. The resulting federally funded mitigation project was a success, but this can only be considered an interim objective for an inherent serious local problem. Colorado Springs is normally an arid environment but high moisture years, like 1999, can result in activation of new landslides and reactivation of existing landslides. Residential neighborhoods continue to expand …

Instrumentation Of Flexible Buried Culvert Subjected To Rockfall Loading, R. Ebeltoft, J. O. Larsen, S. Nordal

Geohazards

Natural hazards, like avalanches and rock falls, will always be a major concern for infrastructure, i.e. roads and railways, in mountain areas. Several measures are available to protect this infrastructure, but especially in areas with steep slopes, rockfall- or avalanche galleries are commonly used. These structures, which are made to withstand high impact forces, can be made of reinforced/pre-stressed concrete culverts covered with soil. A possibly cheaper and equally safe alternative could be to use a buried corrugated steel culvert.

To investigate the use of buried corrugated steel culverts as rock fall protection structures an experimental study has been carried …

Quantification Of Energy Consumption And Emissions Using Biodiesel In An Urban Bus Fleet, A. R. Branco, R. Silva, A Vasconcelos, T. L. Farias, L. T. Moura,

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Oleochemical Biofuel, Peter Reimers

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Biogas Potential In Chile, Rolando Chamy, Elba Vivanco

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Bioenergy Production: Econimics, Policies, And Environmental Considerations, Hosein Shapouri

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Biofuels Production In Portugal: An Overview, Ana Cristina Oliveira, Maria Fernanda Rosa

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Enhancement Of Cellulose Saccharification Kinetics Using An Ionic Liquid, Ananth Dadi, Sasidhar Varanasi, Constance Schall

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Conversion Of Lignocellulosics To Biofuels, Maria Costa-Ferreira, João Matos De Sousa

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Generation Of Biogenic Methane From Oil Shale , Song Jin

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Poster: Direct Bioconversion Of Brewers’ Spent Grain To Ethanol , Charilaos Xiros , Paul Christakopoulos

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Determination Of The Blend Level Of Mixtures Of Biodiesel With Mineral Diesel Fuel Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy, J.G. Pacheco Filho, M.F. Pimentel, L. Stragevitch, L .S. G. Teixeira, G. M.G. Ribeiro, R. S. Cruz

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Poster: Determination Of The Branching Ratio In Starch Based Raw Materials For Bioenergy By 1h Hr Mas Nmr Spectroscopy, David S. Himmelsbach

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Developing Herbaceous Energy Crops, Michael A. Cotta

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

State–Of-The-Art Production Of Fuel Ethanol Using Granular Starch Hydrolyzing Enzymes (Gshe) , Jay K. Shetty, Oreste Lantero , Nigel Dunn-Coleman

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.

Poster: Effect Of Sparger Design On The Hydrodynamics Of Anaerobic Digester Mixed By Gas Recirculation Using Advanced Measurement Techniques, Rajneesh Varma , Muthanna Al-Dahhan

Bioenergy - I: From Concept to Commercial Processes

No abstract provided.