ABSTRACT:

This paper focuses on the selection of soil slope stabilisation techniques. It considers the factors which influence the choice of technique through the development and use of a webbased decision support system and the examination of a landslide in Edinburgh, Scotland. The paper highlights the potential benefits of the integrated use of bio-engineering techniques and conventional stabilising methods

INTRODUCTION

The number of alternatives for soil slope stabilisation is large; ranging from simple drainage measures, through the use of bio-engineering techniques to the more traditional use of gravity and embedded retaining structures. The analysis of these alternative remedial measures for soil slope problems requires experience and sound judgement on the part of the engineer. In evaluating the alternatives, the engineer will be influenced by factors such as: nature of failure; ground & groundwater conditions; ground topography; environmental impact; availability of materials, labour and equipment; design life and maintenance requirements; adjacent and underground structures; confidence in design and construction; time constraints; and costs. The final decision will not normally be straightforward as it will be based on a number of these and other inter-related factors and will often have considerable cost implications and degree of success in terms of obtaining a practical and meaningful result. The purpose of this paper is to outline the selection of soil slope stabilisation methods and to discuss the recent developments of a web-based decision support system. Also presented is the integrated use of geotechnical and bio-engineering techniques which allow cost-effective and environmentally acceptable solutions without recourse to large and expensive geotechnical measures alone. Finally, an examination is carried out on a number of different methods for stabilising a landslide in Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, four proposals are described and examined to highlight the factors which influenced the choice of the adopted approach.

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