Search

With the rapid development of human society and the surge of engineering construction, the disturbance of the geological environment has grown substantial. The influence of extreme climatic factors and the frequency of geological disasters have increased. Landslide is an important geological disaster. The foundational research in geological disaster detection or monitoring involves studying the physical phenomena associated with the occurrence of landslides, analyzing their signal characteristics, and indirectly determining their development and changes. This scientific area is worthy of in-depth exploration. However, research on the key design and specific implementation of electromagnetic instruments tailored for landslide detection remains lacking. This study is based on the interdisciplinary theoretical system of electronic circuits, embedded computer science, digital signal processing technology, geophysics, and engineering geology. It independently develops a functional prototype of an electromagnetic detector for landslide detection. This design combines the current level of development of electronic disciplines and applies the embedded multicore Da Vinci industrial-grade computer system in the field of earth detection instruments. This study then designs and implements a landslide detection system with independent intellectual property rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classical Mohr–Coulomb criterion has an extremely wide range of applications in the field of engineering geology, while it cannot accurately characterize rock failure under high confining stresses. Therefore, a nonlinear modification is implemented based on the Mohr–Coulomb criterion for achieving wider usage in all stress environments. The cohesion and internal friction angle are firstly calculated by regression based on the triaxial experiments of diorite and other typical rocks in different confining stress ranges, and the variation modes of cohesion and internal friction angle are then formalized and integrated into the classical Mohr–Coulomb criterion. Using the experimental results of 435 triaxial compression tests in existing publications, the predictions of the modified criterion are compared with those of the previous nonlinear criteria, which show that the predicted values of the modified criterion are in good agreement with the measured strength. Compared with the previous nonlinear criteria, the modified criterion has a wider application range and always maintains a higher accuracy. Highlights: A modified nonlinear Mohr–Coulomb criterion is proposedThe accuracy of the proposed criterion is verified by 435 triaxial tests.The proposed criterion shows a higher accuracy than previous nonlinear criteria [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractures are considered the most characteristic property of expansive soils distinguishing it from other soils. The cause of many problems in engineering geology is directly or indirectly attributed to the existence of fractures, which makes the soil poor in mechanical properties and damages the overall structure. To this end, based on the detailed information obtained from on-site geological and engineering investigations, we studied the formation mechanisms of an expansive soil trench landslide under a roadbed and the resulting damages in the Ningming area of Guangxi, China. The landslide inversion was carried out with discrete element numerical simulation, and the relationship between fracture development and expansive soil slope instability was explored. The consistent results of field investigation and discrete element numerical simulation show that under alternating seasonal dry-wet stimulation, fractures appear at the surface of the expansive soil slope, which is then more conducive to rainwater infiltration. Under this cycle, the soil gradually softens, and its stability reduces. Additionally, the influence of human activities, such as traffic loading at the trailing edge, assisted in the formation of the landslide. The results of this study provide valuable references for the prevention of subgrade landslide and expansive soil-related damages in other expansive soil areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering rockmass classifications are an integral part of design, support and excavation procedures of tunnels, mines, and other underground structures. These classifications are directly linked to ground reaction and support requirements. Various classification systems are in practice and are still evolving. As different classifications serve different purposes, it is imperative to establish inter-correlatability between them. The rating systems and engineering judgements influence the assignment of ratings owing to cognition. To understand the existing correlation between different classification systems, the existing correlations were evaluated with the help of data of 34 locations along a 618-m-long railway tunnel in the Garhwal Himalaya of India and new correlations were developed between different rock classifications. The analysis indicates that certain correlations, such as RMR-Q, RMR-RMi, RMi-Q, and RSR-Q, are comparable to the previously established relationships, while others, such as RSR-RMR, RCR-Qn, and GSI-RMR, show weak correlations. These deviations in published correlations may be due to individual parameters of estimation or measurement errors. Further, incompatible classification systems exhibited low correlations. Thus, the study highlights a need to revisit existing correlations, particularly for rockmass conditions that are extremely complex, and the predictability of existing correlations exhibit high variations. In addition to augmenting the existing database, new correlations for metamorphic rocks in the Himalayan region have been developed and presented that can serve as a guide for future rock engineering projects in such formations and aid in developing appropriate excavation and rock support methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a comprehensive AI-centric review of deep learning in exploring landslides with remote-sensing techniques, breaking new ground beyond traditional methodologies. We categorize deep learning tasks into five key frameworks—classification, detection, segmentation, sequence, and the hybrid framework—and analyze their specific applications in landslide-related tasks. Following the presented frameworks, we review state-or-art studies and provide clear insights into the powerful capability of deep learning models for landslide detection, mapping, susceptibility mapping, and displacement prediction. We then discuss current challenges and future research directions, emphasizing areas like model generalizability and advanced network architectures. Aimed at serving both newcomers and experts on remote sensing and engineering geology, this review highlights the potential of deep learning in advancing landslide risk management and preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Block-flexure toppling failure is frequently encountered in interbedded anti-inclined rock (IAR) slopes, and seriously threatens the construction of hydropower infrastructure. In this study, we first investigated the Lean Reservoir area's geological setting and the Linda landslide's characteristics. Then, uniform design and random design were used to design 110 training datasets and 31 testing datasets, respectively. Afterwards, the toppling response was obtained by using the discrete element code. Finally, support vector regression was used to obtain the influence weights of 21 impact factors. The results show that the influence weight of the slope angle and rock formation dip angle on the toppling deformation among tertiary impact factors is 25.96% and 17.28%, respectively, which are much greater than the other 19 impact factors within the research range. For the primary impact factors, the influence weight is sorted from large to small as slope geometry parameters, joints parameters, and rock mechanics parameters. Joints parameters, especially the geometric parameters, cannot be ignored when evaluating the stability of IAR slopes. Through numerical simulation, it was qualitatively determined that failure surfaces of slopes were controlled by cross joints and that the rocks in the slope toe play a role in preventing slope deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water and sand leakage disasters are likely to occur during construction in water-rich sand layer areas, resulting in ground collapse. The stress-strain action characteristics of discontinuous graded sand under different internal erosion degrees, and the evolution mechanism of water and sand leakage disasters caused by the internal erosion need to be further explored. Therefore, this paper takes the discontinuous graded sand in a water rich sand layer area in Nanchang City of China as the research object. Considering the influence of different fine particle losses (0, 10%, 20% and 30%) under the internal erosion of sand, the salt solution method is used to realize the specified loss of fine particles in the internal erosion. The stress-strain behavior after the loss of fine particles due to internal erosion is studied by triaxial shear test. Meanwhile, the physical model test and PFC-CFD method are both used to study the evolution rules of water and sand leakage disaster considered the influence of internal erosion degrees. Results show that: (1) under the same confining pressure, the peak failure strength of sand samples decreases along with the increase of fine particle loss. (2) In the water and sand leakage test of saturated sand, a natural filter channel is formed above the observed soil arch. The greater the loss of fine particles, the steeper and wider the collapse settlement area. (3) The relationship between the cumulative amount of water and sand leakage and time is nonlinear. The total mass loss of sand increases along with the increase of internal erosion degree. (4) After the soil arch is formed around the damaged opening, the sand continues to converge above the soil arch under the action of water flow, resulting in the dense convergence of contact force chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global warming and intensified human activities, glacier instability in plateau regions has increased, and glacier debris flows have become active, which poses a significant threat to the lives and property of people and socioeconomic development. The mass movement process of glacier debris flows is extremely complex, so this paper uses the 2018 Sedongpu glacier debris flow event on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as an example and applies a numerical simulation method to invert the whole process of mass movement. In view of the interaction between phases in the process of motion, we use the fluid-solid coupling method to describe the mass movement. The granular-flow model and drift-flux model are employed in FLOW3D software to study the mass movement process of glacier debris flows and explore their dynamic characteristics. The results indicate that the glacier debris flow lasted for 700 s, and the movement process was roughly divided into four stages, including initiation, scraping, surging and deposition; the depositional characteristics calculated by the fluid-solid coupling model are consistent with the actual survey results and have good reliability; strong erosion occurs during the mass movement, the clear volume amplification effect, and the first wave climbs 17.8 m across the slope. The fluid-solid coupling method can better simulate glacier debris flows in plateau regions, which is helpful for the study of the mechanism and dynamic characteristics of such disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the small-scale regional engineering geological study of the Czech Republic was to evaluate the relationship between slope gradient and engineering geological zones. The research motivation was to determine the average slope gradient, 25%, 50% (median) and 75% quantiles related to the different engineering geological zones. This scientific information is critical from the perspectives of engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, and foundation engineering because an increasing slope gradient evokes the need to create a cut respectively foundation excavation or another excavation in the geological structure, which increases the probability of occurrence of the problem in terms of differential settlement and bearing capacity of the structures. The research was carried out in the territory of the Czech Republic in 8 Quaternary zones with soil foundation ground and 10 pre-Quaternary zones with rocks and semi-rocks and their eluvia. A significant difference in the statistical characteristics of slope gradients was found in the group of Quaternary engineering geological zones (evaluated group I) compared to the group of pre-Quaternary zones (evaluated group II). The value range of the average slope gradient was 1.65° (16.9%) to 5.89° (60.3%) for the Quaternary engineering geological zones (soil foundation ground), representing 43.4% difference. Whereas for the over-quaternary engineering geological zones (rocks, semi-rocks and their eluvia), the difference was much higher, 3.59° (36.8%) to 9.76° (100%—value determined as a referential because it was the maximum), which is also reflected in a more significant percentage difference of 63.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid societal development and increased engineering construction have exacerbated the disturbance of the geological environment. The impact of extreme climatic factors has grown, leading to a surge in geological disasters, with landslides emerging as particularly significant. Consequently, fundamental research in geological disaster detection or monitoring necessitates an in-depth study of the physical phenomena accompanying landslides' development, evolution, and occurrence. Exploring the signal characteristics associated with landslides is crucial to indirectly understanding their development and change processes—a scientific question deserving thorough exploration. Despite this research's importance, there is a notable gap in the investigation of the key design and specific implementation of electromagnetic instruments tailored for landslide detection. This gap is particularly pronounced in designing and implementing data acquisition software for electromagnetic instruments. This interdisciplinary research draws on theoretical frameworks from embedded computer science, software engineering, digital signal processing technology, geophysics, and engineering geology. It focuses on developing specialized data acquisition application software for landslide detection or monitoring, contributing to the scientific understanding of landslide development and providing independent intellectual property in the electromagnetic wave signal detection field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-dimensional (2D) cross-hole seismic computed tomography (CT) imaging acquisition method has the potential to characterize the target zone optimally compared to surface seismic surveys. It has wide applications in oil and gas exploration, engineering geology, etc. Limited to 2D hole velocity profiling, this method cannot acquire three-dimensional (3D) information on lateral geological structures outside the profile. Additionally, the sensor data received by cross-hole seismic exploration constitute responses from geological bodies in 3D space and are potentially affected by objects outside the well profiles, distorting the imaging results and geological interpretation. This paper proposes a 3D cross-hole acoustic wave reverse-time migration imaging method to capture 3D cross-hole geological structures using sensor settings in multi-cross-hole seismic research. Based on the analysis of resulting 3D cross-hole images under varying sensor settings, optimizing the observation system can aid in the cost-efficient obtainment of the 3D underground structure distribution. To verify this method's effectiveness on 3D cross-hole structure imaging, numerical simulations were conducted on four typical geological models regarding layers, local high-velocity zones, large dip angles, and faults. The results verify the model's superiority in providing more reliable and accurate 3D geological information for cross-hole seismic exploration, presenting a theoretical basis for processing and interpreting cross-hole data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the resurrection mechanism of retrogressive ancient landslide under cutting action, geological investigation and geological survey were used to investigate the stratigraphic structure characteristics and deformation characteristics of an ancient landslide in National Way S206. The evidence of the existence of ancient landslides was obtained by rock core. Stability analysis of landslide area was done by the investigation results. The analysis shows these as follows. Broken rock mass and weak interlayer in the regional structure provide the material basis for the formation of the retrogressive ancient landslide, and the front deep incision groove provide the space conditions. Rainfall promotes the formation of the ancient landslide revival, and the leading edge cutting is the traction effect. The calculation results show that the landslide is in an unstable state under rainfall conditions. The monitoring results show that the ancient landslide is in a creeping state after its resurrection, and enters the deformation and sliding stage in the rainy season. It is concluded that the geological background is the internal cause of the formation of the retrogressive ancient landslide, and the rainfall and the front edge cutting are the external causes of the resurrection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrain conditions and geological structure of the mountainous areas in western China are complex. To meet the design requirements for the expressway, the route adopts the design of deep-buried super-long tunnels in hilly areas. If the highway tunnel passes through faulty structures, such as improper selection of structure and foundation form, it can cause collapse and structural instability during construction. Therefore, basic characteristics of faults and information that is more accurate should be provided during the survey process to avoid subsequent problems. The frequency and magnitude of earthquakes in this study area are high and available data show that the Xiaojiang fault was still active during the Quaternary Holocene period, which is a high-risk area for earthquakes. Therefore, a set of comprehensive technologies, such as geophysical prospecting, geological survey, and drilling, and was used to identify faults and their characteristics and to visually display underground information within a certain depth range. Here, the magnetotelluric method was used to analyze the electrical characteristics and structure of the highway tunnel. In addition, the electrical characteristics and structure of the Xiaojiang fault were discussed. Geological surveys and drilling agree well with the analysis and interpretation of the research results and further proposed a processing and interpretation method for correcting the dip angle of the fault using the statistical results from the long axis dip angle of the tensor polarization map for the wave impedance. Thus, a large amount of information in the tunnel site can be effectively obtained for predicting and evaluating the Xiaojiang fault. Furthermore, our results provide strong technical support for designing and operating highway tunnels, with meaningful experience and reference for future geophysical processing and interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain Excavation and City Construction (MECC) represents a prominent anthropogenic endeavor aimed at facilitating urban expansion in the Loess Plateau of China. It is important to comprehend the long-term settlement behavior at MECC engineering sites to effectively assess the project's success in reshaping landscapes and expanding urban areas. In this study, a typical MECC project, specifically the upstream area of the Liujiagou Valley within the new district of Yan'an City, is selected as a case study to investigate long-term settlement characteristics. The research involved conducting creep tests on soil samples with varying dry densities and moisture content and continuous in-situ monitoring of ground surface settlement at 17 specific points. Furthermore, a numerical model was developed and calibrated using the in-situ monitoring data to predict the long-term settlement. The findings reveal that an increase in soil dry density and a decrease in soil water content contribute to reduced deformation. Notably, settlement primarily manifests within the filled areas, with greater soil thickness exacerbating settlement effects. Over time, cumulative settlement exhibits a progressively diminishing rate of deformation until it attains a stable state. These results provide insights for assessing the long-term stability of MECC projects, facilitating decision-making in future endeavors within this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Geoscience can play a significant role in achieving targets within this goal by developing a better understanding of geological properties and processes within urban environments, and by ensuring that this understanding is integrated into urban development. A key step in this process will be enhancing awareness of urban geology among non-geoscience decision-makers, so that inherent subsurface risks and benefits are understood and accounted for during all phases of development. Three-dimensional geological models are an effective tool for geologists to communicate with stakeholders in government and industry during that process. They can also provide a framework to enable geological data and information to be integrated into Building and City Information Models, and thus facilitate more effective infrastructure and utility asset management. This paper describes the modelling workflow adopted by a consortium of geoscientists from government, industry and academia to deliver the first 3D geological model of Kuala Lumpur - 3DKL v1.0. The modelling workflow involved: digitising borehole logs from site investigation reports and storing them in a dedicated geospatiallyenabled SQLite borehole database; viewing and interpreting that borehole data using QGIS software; generating multiple orthogonally oriented cross-section profiles across the modelled area using Groundhog Desktop software; and integrating the information derived from the interpreted boreholes, surface data and cross-section profiles to generate a 3D geological model in Leapfrog Geo software. 3DKL v1.0 has demonstrated proof-of-concept: we have developed a workflow, based largely on freely-available software, for transforming borehole information, previously captured in paper records, into a conceptual 3D model. The modelling process has also identified areas where geological knowledge and data need to be enhanced if 3DKL is to fulfil its potential to support more sustainable and resilient urban development in Kuala Lumpur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sources of aggregates for construction materials in the area surrounding Medellín, Western Colombia, are experiencing a significant decrease due to the depletion of their resources and reserves and the policies of land use in territorial planning. The objective of this study is to identify and assess the potential sources of aggregates for the construction industry in Medellín. A lithological characterization is made in the field and laboratory tests are performed to determine the physical and chemical behaviour of the rocks in the lithostratigraphic units. The study allowed us to define the properties and quality of rocks and to map sand and gravel in unconsolidated deposits in the weathering zone of granitic rocks and in stratified rocks. The results allowed us to define the preliminary physical and chemical quality of these rocks and assess their potential as raw material for use in the construction industry. This work constitutes a tool for civil and mining authorities in making decisions on land-use policies and the proper use of resources in the face of the growth and demand requirements of these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underground structures typically require deep excavation involving multiple stages. Each stage can significantly impact excavation support structures and the surrounding environment. The combination of various influencing factors resulting from the excavation stages typically has varying and considerable effects than a single factor. The combination of supporting structure and excavation-induced deformation critically influences soil pressure, significantly impacting the surrounding environment and structures. Currently, research exploring this combined effect is limited. Accordingly, an earth pressure calculation method is developed in this study. The method considers the combined effect of the excavation process and deformation mode of underground diaphragm walls. Different excavation processes result in different deformation modes in the walls, leading to variations in earth pressure distributions. Considering these differences, the proposed method is deemed suitable for engineering practice. The method was verified and improved using five existing practical engineering and numerical simulation cases. Results indicate that the theoretical calculation method accurately reflects the actual earth pressure distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately identifying soil texture and understanding soil behaviour in terms of plasticity is a crucial initial step in properly characterizing a site, which in turn facilitates appropriate sampling and scheduling of laboratory tests. Soil identification techniques in literature are effective at assessing pure clays and silt–clay mixtures. This paper presents a comparative study between field tests, soil plasticity classifications, Atterberg limits, mineralogical and chemical data, SEM imagery, and stereographical microscopy. Natural residual soils comprising varying quantities of clays, silts, and sands were used and subjected to the same field and laboratory protocols. The findings of this study demonstrate that a series of field tests can effectively characterize and classify soils ranging from coarse soils to fine soils exhibiting non- to highly plastic indices with particle sizes less than 2.00 mm. By employing a single list of field tests that only necessitate water and commonly available stationery materials on-site, the researchers have presented a valuable tool for on-site determination of soil texture and inference of the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). This approach streamlines the process and provides professionals with an efficient means of assessing soil properties and determining problem soils at an early stage of the investigation and during construction of high fills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are four essential stress thresholds for the progressive failure of rock subjected to compressive loading, i.e., the peak strength (PS), crack damage stress (CD), crack initiation stress (CI) and crack closure stress (CC). Accurate values for these stress thresholds have important implications for rock mechanics and engineering geology. Here, first, current approaches for determining stress thresholds of rock were introduced and systematically reviewed. Subsequently, uniaxial compression was used in a series of laboratory tests on five common rocks including igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Additionally, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring was conducted to analyse AE-based methods for determining the CI. The current methods were then compared. The pros and cons of these methods were discussed from the five perspectives of computational simplicity, solution stability, solution objectivity or uniqueness, clarity of physical meaning and universal applicability. The results showed two cases according to whether the volume strain curve had an inflection point. In both cases, the CD was calculated as the applied stress to the rock at the maximum volume strain. Among all ten methods, the lateral strain response (LSR) and the relative compression strain response (RCSR) were recommended for evaluating the CI. Among the five current methods, the compression coefficient response (CCR) was recommended to calculate the CC. The relationships between the CD, CI, CC and UCS values were strongly linear for different rocks. Ratios of stress thresholds for common brittle rocks, namely, CC/PS, CI/PS and CD/PS, were on average approximately 0.93, 0.60 and 0.17 based on the results of linear fits. These findings could be helpful in studies to select an appropriate approach for determining rock stress thresholds and, hence, to better evaluate the stability of rock-related engineering structures. Highlights: A comparison of current methods for determining rock stress thresholds was made from the five perspectives of computational simplicity, solution stability, solution objectivity, clarity of physical meaning and universal applicability. Regardless of whether the volume strain curve had an inflection point, the crack damage stress was calculated as the applied stress to the rock at the maximum volume strain. Among all ten methods, the lateral strain response and the relative compression strain response were recommended for evaluating the crack initiation stress. Among the five methods, the compression coefficient response was recommended to calculate the crack closure stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of high slope of hydropower station is one of the key geological issues that need to be paid attention to in the process of engineering construction. The stability analysis is more complicated due to the influence of structural plane type, occurrence and scale. In this paper, the right bank slope of a large hydropower station was taken as the research object. According to the characteristics and position of the internal structural plane, the possible block combinations of each structural plane were analyzed, and the slope stability was preliminarily judged. According to the specification requirements, the limit equilibrium analysis was calculated through Rocscience software, the strength reduction was further introduced into the discrete element method to verify the calculation results of the limit equilibrium method, and the dangerous sliding surface was given. The results show that the sliding blocks of some sections are slightly thinner, and the slope is in a stable state, but on the whole, reinforcement measures need to be taken. It is suggested that dynamic design should be carried out according to the relevant information of geological conditions and safety monitoring feedback during excavation during construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new architecture of a fiber phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometer (φ-OTDR, i.e., a distributed acoustic sensor) suitable for engineering geology application is proposed. The sensor is based on a double-pulse scheme in which a pair of pulses is formed using an unbalanced Michelson interferometer. A symmetrical 3 × 3 coupler built into the Michelson interferometer is used to obtain the phase delay needed for the demodulation of the backscattered light. Using the unbalanced Michelson interferometer in the circuit for dual-pulse probe signal generation, it is possible to reduce the requirements for the degree of coherence of the light source, since the delay line introduced between the dual-pulse parts is compensated in the φ‑OTDR fiber under test. As a result, it is possible to use a laser with a wide spectral line (~1 GHz) and generate short (7-ns-wide) laser pulses by directly modulating the laser-diode injection current. In order to reduce the signal fading in the φ-OTDR and to improve the linearity of its response, responses are averaged over 16 optical frequencies. The efficiency of the proposed distributed acoustic sensor has been demonstrated by detecting a strong impact on a cable that was horizontally buried in the ground as well as by detecting seismic waves using a cable inserted in a well at the sea bottom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-locality landslides are located on slopes at high elevations and are characterized by long sliding distances, large gravitational potential energy, high movement velocities, tremendous kinetic energy, and sudden onset. Thus, they often cause catastrophic damage to human lives and engineering facilities. It is of great significance to identify active high-locality landslides in their early deformational stages and to reveal their deformational rules for effective disaster mitigation. Due to alpine-canyon landforms, Mao County is a representative source of high-locality landslides. This work employs multisource data (geological, terrain, meteorological, ground sensor, and remote sensing data) and time-series InSAR technology to recognize active high-locality landslides in Mao County and to reveal their laws of development. Some new viewpoints are suggested. (1) Nineteen active high-locality landslides are identified by the time-series InSAR technique, of which 7 are newly discovered in this work. All these high-locality landslides possessed good concealment during their early deformational stages. The newly discovered HL-16 landslide featured a large scale and a great slope height, posing a large threat to the surrounding buildings and residents. (2) The high-locality landslides in Mao County were mainly triggered by three factors: earthquakes, precipitation, and road construction. (3) Three typical high-locality landslides that were triggered by different factors are highlighted with their deformational rules under the functions of steep terrain, shattered rocks, fissure-water penetration, precipitation, and road construction. This work may provide clues to the prevention and control of high-locality landslides and can be applied to the determination of active high-locality landslides in other hard-hit areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional ore rock classification method based on rock mass stability cannot meet the construction requirements of the cantilever roadheader.In order to find a suitable ore rock classification method for the construction of the cantilever roadheader, this paper establishes a set of ore rock classification methods based on the tunneling performance of the cantilever roadheader. Taking Lingshan mining area of Linglong Gold Mine as the engineering background, the adaptability classification is carried out by analyzing the engineering geological conditions and tunneling speed and other factors, and then the BQm model of the cantilever roadheader ore rock classification is proposed, and the tunneling amenability classification is divided. Finally, the ore rock classification method based on the performance of cantilever roadheader is obtained by integrating the 2 classification methods, which can effectively predict the construction speed.The comprehensive ore rock classification verification in Lingshan mining area of Linglong Gold Mine is carried out, and the verification results are reasonable and reliable, providing a strong reference for on-site construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Big data has provided new opportunities for landslide research, but in-depth mining of landslide data is still limited due to complex data types, diverse semantic relationships, and unclear sharing mechanisms. And it is difficult to give full play to the advantages of big data in landslide research. In this paper, a landslide knowledge graph construction method for the field of engineering geology is proposed, which extracts, fuses and structures multi-source heterogeneous landslide knowledge to realize the inquiry, correlation and reasoning of landslide knowledge big data. The combination of top-down and bottom-up methods was used to divide the concept and ontology of landslides. A knowledge graph model layer was formed based on 10 categories of knowledge, including landslide field investigation, landslide evaluation, landslide type, landslide geomorphological characteristics, landslide morphological characteristics, landslide disaster information, states of activity of landslides, landslide genesis mechanism, landslide stability analysis method, and landslide prevention and control measures. The knowledge graph model layer includes concept layer, attribute layer, relationship layer, rule layer, and instance layer, and it is constructed by extracting landslide knowledge information from broad data sources, establishing semantic networks and integrating redundant knowledge. The Neo4j platform is used to store landslide knowledge, realize knowledge visualization and retrieval, and provide new ideas and methods for landslide mechanism research and disaster prevention and mitigation. The proposed construction method of landslide knowledge graph can be extended to the research of other types of disaster knowledge graph, and is linked with other disciplines to promote the deep intersection and integration of disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of reservoirs is a crucial method for humans to store and utilize water resources. Losing water resources due to reservoir leakage will hinder urban growth and jeopardize public safety. This paper investigated the leakage on the left bank of a reservoir with a high earth-filled dam in Shaanxi Province, China. Two springs erupted from the left bank’s slope toe of the neighboring valley following the impoundment of the reservoir. At the same time, a large amount of leakage was also discovered at the downstream drainage channel. Leakage continued after the reservoir stopped impounding. Electrical resistivity measurements along seven lines with Wenner arrays and three groups of dye tracing tests were carried out. The stratigraphic distributions of the river bed upstream of the dam and the mountain on the left side were revealed through the interpretation of electrical resistivity images. The high permeability zones corresponding to low electrical resistivity were found in the gravel and weathered sandstone stratum, which was supported by geological drilling data. The dye tracing test findings determined the groundwater velocities and hydraulic connectivity between the reservoir and the leakage outlets. Gravel stratum seepage was confirmed to be excessive. The joint investigation results of electrical resistivity imaging and dye tracing tests revealed three possible leakage paths from the reservoir, serving as a guide for the design of a seepage control plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shanghai three-dimensional (3D) urban geological information system provides a good basis for geological modeling. However, owing to the complexity and uncertainty of geological data and their application, there is still a gap between the established 3D geological model and actual geological conditions. By combining geological conditions and drilling data from Shanghai, this study decomposes the process of the current automatic drilling modeling method and analyzes the defects in the realization process. Analysis of geological engineering conditions, data preprocessing methods, and modeling algorithm optimization were performed. Fine optimization of the modeling process was performed based on the three aspects. A typical Zhongshan Park site was selected for modeling verification and accuracy analysis. Good construction was achieved by evaluating the accuracy of the modeling results and artificially generated result maps. The findings could inspire future modeling research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiences with the application of the needle penetrometer test in marlstone The correct assessment of Unconfined Compressive Strength represents one of the core tasks in the context of the planning and execution of civil engineering, tunneling and geotechnical engineering works. However, in weak and non‐durable rock types, sampling, preservation of the natural water content, sample preparation and finally testing with standard laboratory testing methods, such as the Uniaxial Compressive Strength test, is challenging, if not impossible. As early as 1980, the needle penetrometer was developed in Japan as a field test method for estimating the Unconfined Compressive Strength of such rocks. Although the procedure is presented in an ISRM Suggested Method published in 2014, the use of the needle penetrometer and the needle penetrometer index (NPI) is rather unusual in Germany and Central Europe. The paper resumes the results of a large number of tests carried out in the course the geotechnical investigation of pile drilling works in marlstones of the Upper Cretaceous in the vicinity of Münster/Germany. Based on this experience, the article presents an analysis of the potential area of application and comments on the correlation of testing results and Unconfined Compressive Strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roof collapse is the most frequent production accident in the mine production process, which seriously threatens the efficient and safe production of the mine. Therefore, it is urgent to carry out practical research on the roof collapse tendency of the roadway. After searching and analyzing the relevant documents, the primary influencing factors of roof collapse risk based on AHP are determined, namely engineering geology, rock mass support, construction management and natural environment. After refining the main influencing factors, the evaluation factor set is obtained, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation relationship matrix is established, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model of roof collapse risk is obtained. Finally, the quantitative evaluation of no collapse risk, weak collapse risk, medium collapse risk and high collapse risk is carried out. Taking a metal mine as an example, the risk of roof collapse of its C11 haulage roadway is selected for fuzzy evaluation. The evaluation result is high collapse risk, which is consistent with the evaluation result of the current specification, indicating that the model can be used for mine roof collapse risk evaluation. This method of estimating roof collapse has been applied on-site, which is consistent with the actual situation and has achieved good results. It has guiding significance for predicting the stability of tunnels and supporting operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small town of Weyer is located in Upper Austria on the B121 Weyerer Straße. The B121 leads through the historic market square of Weyer, which is characterised by confusing bottlenecks that can only be passed in one lane. For decades, these bottlenecks have caused congestion, mainly due to heavy traffic. For residents, the burden of air pollution and noise is high. The roads department of the Upper Austrian Government has been planning the construction of a bypass for many years. Construction finally started in the summer of 2022. The Weyer bypass construction lot is 1.2 km long and includes the construction of two NATM tunnels, a vertical escape shaft, a bridge over the river Dürnbach, two roundabouts, and one traffic junction. The tunnel construction works are carried out in urban areas, in loose material with little overburden and partly under existing buildings. These boundary conditions make the project a challenge for all involved at every stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the earth pressure balancing technique on hard rock tunnel boring machines (TBMs) is an efficient way to overcome engineering geological hazards that disrupt the application of these machines. Considering that geomechanical and engineering geological conditions of soil and rock are dramatically different, proposing a suitable conditioning design for earth pressure balance (EPB) hard rock TBMs requires particular attention to the characteristics of the excavated material and ground conditions. In this paper, foam application providing a favourable support medium for EPB hard rock TBMs is evaluated based on the experience of the Tehran metro line 6 southern expansion sector project, using laboratory and actual data. TBM muck, with different water contents, was used as the test specimen after granulometry correction. The trend of changes in the workability of foam conditioned mix was obtained by performing 350 slump tests. The pressurized permeability cell test (PPCT), a testing device capable of applying high water pressures to the conditioned material, was used to evaluate the impermeability of workable mixes. Results indicate that although foam can efficiently increase the workability of dry and moistened specimens, the presence of a separated liquid phase in the test specimen disrupts its application; moreover, foam conditioned mix is permeable even against low water pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open-pit mining is mostly carried out in large-scale mines, which leads to the destruction of the original terrains and landscapes in the mining area and occupies a large quantity of land resources, which may trigger geological disasters. Taking the Bachagou Mine in Inner Mongolia as an example, through the analysis of engineering geology and hydrogeological conditions in the slope area, the main landslide modes of the slope are determined to be planar failure, arc-shaped failure, wedge-shaped failure, dumping failure, and collapse failure. A technical scheme of "slope unconsolidated body and debris removal, passive mesh demolition, prestressed bolt, bolt, frame beam, shotcrete-bolt-mesh, drainage holes, and curtain grouting" is proposed for implementation and treatment. Practice has proved that this treatment technology is advanced and proactive, with small investment and good results, greatly saving infrastructure costs, providing technical support for mine safety production, ensuring the safety of platform workers and vehicle equipment, and ensuring the smooth operation of open-pit mining projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the concentration of geological gas emissions in the atmosphere and particularly the increase of methane is considered by the majority of the scientific community as the main cause of global climate change. The main reasons that place methane at the center of interest, lie in its high global warming potential (GWP) and its lifetime in the atmosphere. Anthropogenic processes, like engineering geology ones, highly affect the daily profile of gasses in the atmosphere. Should direct measures be taken to reduce emissions of methane, immediate global warming mitigation could be achieved. Due to its significance, methane has been monitored by many space missions over the years and as of 2017 by the Sentinel-5P mission. Considering the above, we conclude that monitoring and predicting future methane concentration based on past data is of vital importance for the course of climate change over the next decades. To that end, we introduce a method exploiting state-of-the-art recurrent neural networks (RNNs), which have been proven particularly effective in regression problems, such as time-series forecasting. Aligned with the green artificial intelligence (AI) initiative, the paper at hand investigates the ability of different RNN architectures to predict future methane concentration in the most active regions of Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, by using Sentinel-5P methane data and focusing on computational and complexity efficiency. We conduct several empirical studies and utilize the obtained results to conclude the most effective architecture for the specific use case, establishing a competitive prediction performance that reaches up to a 0.7578 mean squared error on the evaluation set. Yet, taking into consideration the overall efficiency of the investigated models, we conclude that the exploitation of RNN architectures with less number of layers and a restricted number of units, i.e., one recurrent layer with 8 neurons, is able to better compensate for competitive prediction performance, meanwhile sustaining lower computational complexity and execution time. Finally, we compare RNN models against deep neural networks along with the well-established support vector regression, clearly highlighting the supremacy of the recurrent ones, as well as discuss future extensions of the introduced work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid disasters caused by surface deformation in urban areas, monitoring and analyzing the mechanism of surface deformation in urban areas on a large scale and in long‐term series is mandatory. Based on PS‐InSAR technology and using 157 Sentinel‐1A images, the surface deformation in Shenzhen was monitored from 2015 to 2022, and the obtained deformation rate ranged from −22.8 to +23.2 mm/year. In this paper, analysis is presented by integrating urbanization, climate, and geology data from Shenzhen. The analysis indicates that surface deformation caused by natural factors is typically observed in regions with unique geological characteristics, such as seasonal deformation in sedimentary areas and uplift along reverse fault zones. Human factors chiefly cause subsidence, and the areas with greater subsidence are generally urbanized areas (∼10 mm/year), industrial areas (∼20 mm/year), and reclamation areas (∼15 mm/year). The deformation of the reservoir dam is subject to multiple factors. The differential subsidence of 2–8 mm/year at both ends is due to the engineering geological conditions. In comparison, the weak rotation with a linear velocity of 18 mm/year is due to hydrostatic pressure and its structural characteristics. The research results of this paper systematically explore the phenomena and the intrinsic mechanism of surface deformation in Shenzhen, providing a safety basis for urban development and emergency disaster prevention in Shenzhen. Key Points: Monitored surface deformation of Shenzhen during 2015 and 2022Urban development and land reclamation activities contribute to surface subsidenceClimate factors lead to seasonal deformation in sedimentary areas. Reverse fault zones have a stable uplift trend [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate evaluation of shale oil and gas reservoirs is of great significance to the integrated development of geology and engineering. Based on the core analysis, conventional logging, and array acoustic logging data, the total organic carbon, hydrocarbon generation potential, brittleness, and anisotropy of shale reservoirs were calculated. The p-wave time difference curves calculated by the artificial neural network (ANN) method and the conventional logging curve fitting method were compared. The multiresolution graph-based clustering (MRGC) method was used to classify shale reservoirs into three categories and evaluate the classification results. Brittle minerals such as quartz and feldspar were mainly found to be present in shale reservoirs and clay minerals which mainly consisted of illite. The Chang 73 reservoir is rich in organic matter and has great potential for survival. The p-wave time difference calculated by the fitting formula of the shear wave time difference meter demonstrated high accuracy and did not require a complex ANN model. MRGC method can well classify shale reservoir types. The classification results reduce the interference of human factors and are more scientific and reasonable. This research method is of great significance for the scientific classification and evaluation of shale reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a large amount of geological drilling data from the west coast of the Bohai Bay in Huanghua City, the distribution and hydrogeological characteristics of the Quaternary paleochannels in the region were studied through borehole profiles and stratigraphic analysis. Methods used included electrical resistivity measurement, field investigations, topographic map interpretation, and drilling. The physical and mechanical parameters of the paleochannel soil and rock masses were statistically analyzed, and characteristic values of the foundation bearing capacity and pile foundation recommendations were proposed. The results showed that the distribution of paleochannels in the region formed a combshaped paleochannel network trending southwest to northeast, and their distribution was closely related to sea-level fluctuations, which affected the burial depth of the saline water interface. Their formation is influenced by climate and sealevel changes, mainly through loess and fine sandstone lithology, and shallow groundwater is mostly fresh to brackish with a moderate degree of salinity, making it a key area for the utilization of shallow brackish water resources in the region. In addition, paleochannels in the region reflect the geological history of the Bohai Bay coastal plain. It is necessary to continue research on hydrogeology, Quaternary geology, and geological resources to provide an important scientific basis for the rational development and utilization of resources and the selection of engineering construction sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the concept of geoethics and its application in the professional practice of geosciences. Geoethics involves research and reflection on the values and principles that underpin appropriate behaviours wherever human actions interact with the earth system. It advocates for solutions to the problems of human-Earth interaction and contributes to protecting humanity and citizens in the professional field and everyday life. After evaluating the common geoethical problem in Latin America, provide examples from three South American countries: Peru, Chile and Brazil. The synergistic action of the geoscientific community in promoting a geoethical framework is discussed. The need for transparent, quantitative, rational and repeatable analyses is highlighted to ensure high professionalism in conducting studies. The importance of providing role models for young and beginning geoscientists and correctly disseminating geoscientific information to the public is further emphasized. The ability to communicate effectively is a fundamental requirement to train engineers, geologists and geoscientists capable of addressing global issues such as environmental management, geological hazards, and energy transition. Additionally, the implementation of geoethics in geological engineering and geoscience careers is proposed to promote social and environmental responsibility among young graduates and scientists starting their careers to prevent unethical professional practices and improve the visibility of geosciences and its benefits to society. The article concludes by calling for the involvement of geoscientists in public policies for the protection of geological heritage and the promotion of geoethical values, as well as the creation of a professional group to develop and promote geoscience didactics to improve educational quality in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two significant uncertainties that are crucial for landslide susceptibility prediction modeling are attribute interval numbers (AIN) division of continuous landslide impact factors in frequency ratio analysis and various susceptibility prediction models. Five continuous landslide impact factor interval attribute classifications (4, 8, 12, 16, 20) and three data-driven models (deep belief networks (DBN), random forest (RF), and neural network (back propagation (BP)) were used for a total of fifteen different scenarios of landslide susceptibility prediction studies in order to investigate the effects of these two factors on modeling and perform a landslide susceptibility index uncertainty analysis (including precision evaluation and statistical law). The findings indicate that: (1) The results demonstrate that for the same model, as the interval attribute value rises from 4 to 8 and finally to 20, the forecast accuracy of landslide susceptibility initially increases gradually, then progressively grows until stable. (2) The DBN model, followed by the RF and BP models, provides the highest prediction accuracy for the same interval attribute value. (3) AIN = 20 and DBN models have the highest prediction accuracy under 15 combined conditions, while AIN = 4 and BP models have the lowest. The accuracy and efficiency of landslide susceptibility modeling are higher when the AIN = 8 and DBN models are combined. (4) The landslide susceptibility index uncertainty predicted by the deeper learning model and the bigger interval attribute value is comparatively low, which is more in line with the real landslide probability distribution features. The conditions that the environmental component attribute interval is divided into eight parts and DBN models are used allow for the efficient and accurate construction of the landslide susceptibility prediction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep mining of resources has destroyed the stress balance of original rock, formed water gushing channel, and caused the outburst of confined water, thus causing disaster. At present, "Ground Controlled Directional Bedding Branch Drilling (GCD-D)" grouting has achieved remarkable results in controlling water disasters. However, "what is the scientific design principle of GCD-D?" This key scientific question has not yet been answered by systematic science. According to the regional engineering geology and hydrogeological conditions of North China-type coalfields, this study uses the methods of analogy, theoretical analysis, and model analysis to demonstrate and analyze and obtains six basic principles for the selection of the target layer for the layout of "GCD-D." The design principle of "GCD-D" was put forward for the first time. The results can provide a scientific theoretical basis for the control of confined water disaster in deep mining of North China coalfields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gully erosion is serious in the tableland area of the Loess Plateau due to high-intensity human activities and extreme rainfall, which cause serious soil loss and an increasing tableland shrinkage rate. Severe gully erosion has exerted a notable negative impact on local agriculture, human life and socioeconomic development. In recent decades, progress has been made in soil and water conservation with the goal of reducing soil erosion and protecting loess tableland, but basic research on gully consolidation and tableland protection (GCTP) is lacking, especially regarding the mechanisms of gully erosion and expansion in loess tableland under the interactive impacts of hydrodynamics and human activities. In addition, there is a lack of a deep understanding of the underlying mechanisms of soil-water disasters and controlling factors of unreasonable GCTP projects. Currently, the problems of headcut erosion and tableland fragmentation remain serious. Based on this situation, the Dongzhi tableland, the largest tableland on the Loess Plateau, was adopted as an example, and we studied gully erosion and expansion mechanisms in the loess tableland and the scientific basis of GCTP projects. We obtained a series of novel findings, including the following: (1) vertical joints are widely developed in loess and impose a controlling effect on tableland edge erosion; (2) rapid urbanization and road network expansion intensify headcut erosion and are the main reasons for severe erosion and tableland shrinkage in the Dongzhi tableland; and (3) unreasonable drainage of surface runoff and a rise in the groundwater level are the key factors affecting GCTP project stability. Moreover, the mechanisms and modes of erosion disasters in the project driven by these two factors were explained. The systematic remediation idea of retention, storage, drainage and consolidation for the GCTP project was introduced, and the core is water control, which emphasizes the combination of soil and water conservation and geohazard prevention measures. As a systematic remediation project, GCTP in loess tableland requires multidisciplinary and multimethod approaches and multiple measures involving ecology, soil and water conservation, geology and engineering to ensure project feasibility and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mountainous areas, rock avalanches swarm downslope leading to large impact forces on structures. Baffle systems are usually set up in torrent channels to dissipate the flow energy and reduce the destructive effects. In this paper, a crown-like baffle system is proposed to better dissipate the flow energy. The energy dissipation mechanism of this system was investigated based on DEM. The results reveal more than 90% of the kinetic energy of the granular flow was dissipated by particle-particle interaction. Two effects, the impedance effect and the deflection effect, were identified. The influence of these effects leads to the formation and growth of cushions behind the baffles, and these cushions enhance the particle-particle interaction. Two crown-like baffle systems were compared with a conventional baffle system based on the typical avalanche model. The results reveal the cumulative residual kinetic energy of the crown-like baffle system with square baffles decreased by 18.75% with the same concrete consumption as the conventional baffle system. For the crown-like baffle system with triangular baffles, the cumulative residual kinetic energy decreased by 6.22% with 83.94% of the concrete consumption of the conventional baffle system. Hence, the proposed baffle system is more cost-effective compared with the conventional baffle system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the joint effects of earthquakes and driving factors on the spatial distribution of landslides is helpful for targeted disaster prevention and mitigation in earthquake-prone areas. By far, little work has been done on this issue. This study analyzed the co-seismic landslide of the Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 and 2014. The joint effects and spatiotemporal characteristics of the driving factors in seismic regions were revealed. Results show that (a) between 2008 and 2014, the dominant driving-factor for landslides has changed from earthquake to rock mass; (b) driving factors with weak driving force have a significant enhancement under the joint effects of other factors; (c) the joint effects of driving factors and earthquake decays with time. The study concluded that the strong vibration of the Wenchuan earthquake and the rock mass strength are the biggest contributors to the spatial distribution of landslides in 2008 and 2014, respectively. It means that the driving force of the earthquake is weaker than that of the rock mass after six years of the Wenchuan earthquake. Moreover, the landslide spatial distribution can be attributed to the joint effects of the Wenchuan earthquake and driving factors, and the earthquake has an enhanced effect on other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study is conducted to describe rate-dependent shear strength in a submerged granular medium to understand the mystery of submarine landslides with extremely small slide angles and long run-out distances. The experimental apparatus allows a long-span shear strain rate, γ̇, for five orders of magnitude from 10−4 to 101 s−1. It is observed that (a) submerged sand under higher shear tend to have bigger yield strength; this positive response of rate effect is significantly affected by the magnitudes of shear strain rates. (b) the residual strength of soil is clearly affected negatively by shear strain rate, decreasing as shear strain rate increases; even small variations under lower rate cause notable differences in residual strength, indicating a novel weaking rate-dependent. The yield strength and residual strength are corresponding to the shear state of soil. Hence, it is enough experimentally to explain that as long as the submarine mass flow speeds up, the slope sliding can be kept by only a small amount of force along the slide direction, which can be calculated as the gravity component even with a small slide angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a numerical approach for assessment of the structure settlement problems in liquefied soils. The fluid dynamics theory was applied to model the liquefied soils and the rigid body dynamics theory was applied to compute the structure's translational and angular motions in six degrees of freedom. The dynamic mesh method was applied to modify the deformed mesh due to structure settlement. Shaking table tests were carried out to reproduce the structure's subsidence behavior and provide validation for the numerical simulations. Results show that the settlement of the structure occurred most rapidly at the very beginning of liquefaction, and then it decreased gradually. Main structure settlements occurred within 10 s after liquefaction. Regarding different structure weights, structure with larger weight yielded larger amount of settlement and higher peak settlement velocity. The results obtained in this study are beneficial for assessment of structure settlement problems in liquefaction prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]