Highway rock slope management program.

PDFTech ReportKTC-03-06/SPR177-98-1FLandslidesGeotechnical engineeringDatabasesRisk managementSoftwareRock slopesSoilsRocksData processingKentuckyUniversity of Kentucky Transportation CenterHopkins, Tommy C.Beckham, Tony L.Sun, LiechengButcher, BarryUniversity of Kentucky Transportation CenterKentucky. Transportation CabinetUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionDevelopment of a comprehensive geotechnical database for risk management of highway rock slope problems is described. Computer software selected to program the client/server application in windows\ue2\u20ac\u2122 environment, components and structure of the geotechnical database, and some of the primary factors considered in constructing the database are discussed. In the establishment of a large database that will be used widely, it is extremely important to select development software that will allow simultaneous use of the database by numerous users. Major integrated components of the database include rock slope, landslide, and soil and rock engineering data. This report mainly focuses on the rock slope component. The rock slope database program provides procedures for gathering field data and rating the hazardous conditions of rock slopes. Secondary components of the database include statistical analyzers and engineering applications for performing \ue2\u20ac\u153on-line\ue2\u20ac? analysis of data, developing correlations between different soil parameters, and performing engineering analysis and designs. Procedures for entering historical soil and rock engineering data have been developed and programmed. Methods for \ue2\u20ac\u153capturing\ue2\u20ac? geotechnical data in a \ue2\u20ac\u153real-time\ue2\u20ac? mode, which will allow the storage of geotechnical data as it is generated, are currently being programmed. Issues concerning database security, engineering units, and storing and displaying maps, graphics, and photographs are discussed. The database contains procedures for dynamically overlaying the locations of landslides, rock slopes, and borings onto embedded roadway and digitized geological maps. Latitudes and longitudes of rock slopes and landslides were determined using Global Positioning System equipment (sub-meter accuracy). Strategies and illustrations of graphical user interfaces for data entry and retrieval are discussed. About 2086, potentially hazardous, rock slopes were rated numerically using the Rock Fall Hazard Rating system developed by the Oregon Department of Transportation and sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). A priority list of hazardous rock slopes can be generated rapidly