Engineering Measurements and Monitoring

Abstract

At this stage of the site characterization some geotechnical data has already been obtain which may include soil and rock samples, STP blow counts, and RQD values. Geophysical logging data has provided additional geotechnical details from borings. Some laboratory analysis may have been made on selected samples from borings. With a refined conceptual model of conditions in hand, the engineering measurements and monitoring is now focused upon obtaining very site-specific measurements and data to address specific engineering questions and quantify additional engineering parameters. This is a broad range of measurement types and data. Within this chapter, we will focus specifically on the engineering measurements and monitoring of subsidence and collapse. We summarize some of the common methods for measuring and monitoring land subsidence and potential collapse, cover the general applications, some considerations and provide a few examples. As always, each technique or measurement has an associated scale of measurement, advantages and limitations.While the many details for making these geotechnical measurements are beyond the scope of this book, further details can be found in Dunicliff (1988), Hunt (2005) and by specialty conferences (DiMaggio and Osborn 2007) who all provide a solid foundation for these types of measurements. Due to the advances that continue to occur in geotechnical instrumentation this information should be supplemented with recent manufacturers literature and recommendations.