Abstract Counterfort drains provide a method of improving slope stability by controlling groundwater levels via subsurface drainage; they can provide significant improvement to stability at moderate cost. Published information on the design, initial effectiveness and, importantly, the long-term performance of such drainage is limited, particularly…
Abstract Bluff Road is a low use, single lane, coastal road linking two beach resorts on the north east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. It is a popular pedestrian short cut between the two beaches, is the access way to attractive fishing marks and provides…
ABSTRACT The application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and photogrammetry for bulk earthwork calculations is a recent development for ground engineering in New Zealand. The approach developed on the Deans Head Land Remediation Project has proven to be an innovative solution increasing workflow efficiency to…
Abstract Following the 2010 to 2012 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence, a number a lifeline structures were noted to be at risk from damage from rockfall. An electrical transmission pylon, serving as a lifeline to a coastal suburban community of approximately 5000 residents, had been hit by…
Abstract The Auckland Volcanic Field, which last erupted ~600 years ago, is a late Quaternary monogenetic basaltic volcanic field of approximately 500 km2. A recent study (Leonard et al., 2017) has improved the accuracy of eruption dates for 23 of the eruptive centres. Previously only 12…
Abstract The two-lane bridge on State Highway 6 (SH6) at Kawarau Falls near Queenstown is scheduled to open in the second half of 2017. Designed to withstand a 1/ 2500 hazard level earthquake, the new bridge will provide better access into the Queenstown area and…
Abstract Landslides are common in sensitive, weathered pyroclastic soils in the Bay of Plenty (BOP). The clay mineralogy of these soils is dominated by halloysite, an inactive 1:1 clay mineral. Manipulation of cation content within the pore water of sensitive soils has been shown to…
Abstract The moment-rotation response of shallow foundations is inherently nonlinear being controlled by the “elastic” stiffness at small rotations and the moment capacity of the foundation at larger rotations. Simple elastic soil structure interaction (SSI) does not model this rotational response and elastic radiation damping…
ABSTRACT Geological and geomorphological mapping provide evidence for three complex fault zones in the Hamilton Basin, an area with no previously mapped surface fault traces. Rectangular drainage patterns, stream knickpoints, and linear ridge and drainage systems all point to structural control on the path of…
Abstract There are few practical methods currently available for liquefaction mitigation beneath existing structures, despite a growing demand for this due to a significant number of structures being targeted for seismic upgrading. One such method that is viable for liquefaction mitigation beneath existing structures is…