Development of a GIS-based failure investigation system for highway soil slopes

Abstract

A framework for preparation of an early warning system was developed for Maryland, using a GIS database and a collective overlay of maps that highlight highway slopes susceptible to soil slides or slope failures in advance through spatial and statistical analysis. Data for existing soil slope failures was collected from geotechnical reports and field visits. A total of 48 slope failures were recorded and analyzed. Six factors, including event precipitation, geological formation, land cover, slope history, slope angle, and elevation were considered to affect highway soil slope stability. The observed trends indicate that precipitation and poor surface or subsurface drainage conditions are principal factors causing slope failures. 96% of the failed slopes have an open drainage section. A majority of the failed slopes lie in regions with relatively high event precipitation (P > 200 mm). 90% of the existing failures are surficial erosion type failures, and only 1 out of the 42 slope failures is deep rotational type failure. More than half of the analyzed slope failures have occurred in regions having low density land cover. 46% of failures are on slopes with slope angles between 20°and 30°. Influx of more data relating to failed slopes should give rise to more trends, and thus the developed slope management system will aid the state highway engineers in prudential budget allocation and prioritizing different remediation projects based on the literature reviewed on the principles, concepts, techniques, and methodology for slope instability evaluation (Leshchinsky et al., 2015).

Risk-averse rehabilitation decision framework for roadside slopes vulnerable to rainfall-induced geohazards

“…Achour et al [1] used the Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and information value (IV) methods to identify the slopes with high failure risk along the highway corridor; the relationship between landslide events and landsliderelated factors such as lithology, slope gradient, slope aspect, geotechnical parameter, and distance from fault was carried out in GIS (Geographic Information System) environment. Ramanathan et al [28] considered six factors (geological formation, slope angle, elevation, slope history, land cover, and precipitation) in the qualitative index overlay method to determine the failure susceptibility of slopes along highway corridors. Pantha et al [25] used a bivariate statistical model to determine the slope susceptibility indices of roadside slopes and used these indices to prioritize the slope rehabilitation works along the highway corridors.…”

The Work Flow and Operational Model for Geotechnical Investigation Based on BIM

“…At present, various approaches based on information systems have been proposed to increase the efficiency of geotechnical investigation. Some fruitful results have been achieved in research on these types of approaches [2], [3]. Based on the literature reviewed, all approaches can be broadly classified into CAD-based approach and GIS-based approach.…”