Ground Investigation for

Natural Terrain Hazards

Mark Wallace
Associate Director
Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd

Contents
Extent of Ground Investigation and determining the
extent and type of work
How much is enough?
Focused GI to Define Hazard Models
GI for Mitigation Design
Typical GI techniques
Logging

Extent of Ground Investigation Works

What questions need answering after the API and Field
Mapping has been carried out :
What parts of the geological or ground model need to be
verified?
What previous landslide events do I need to prove /
justify / gather data from ?
What hazards models need to be better defined ?
Are my source area assumptions correct ?
Are the entrainment assumptions correct ?
Where are the deposition areas ?

Extent of Ground Investigation Works

What questions need answering:
What will the Checker / Regulator / Client accept ???
Mitigation measures designs what do I need to know to
do the design ?
How much of this can be obtained from existing data?
Where do I not have enough data ?
What type of investigation techniques will best achieve
the desired goal ?
What will the budget allow ?

How much existing data do you already have?

Carefully review the Desk Study Information
Consider mapping and nearby slope record
information
Where and what are the existing GI records ?
Are they useful and relevant ?
Are they detailed enough ?
Are they too old and possibly unreliable ?

Extent of Ground Investigation Works

How can I obtain the information I need?
Field Mapping
Boreholes
Trial Pits / Trenches
In-situ Field Testing
Sampling & Laboratory Testing
Geophysical Methods

The amount and type of work will typically controlled by the

allowable budget and timeframe for the project

Field Mapping
Walkover the study area
Identify and inspect exposures
Accurately record location and details

Field Mapping using DGPS Units,

Handheld PCs and GPS Camera to
accurately record Data

Field Mapping Hazard Models Objectives

Should provide the most information to validate the Hazard
Models
Develop GI Strategy based upon the Field Mapping and API
All other GI for the Hazard Models should be supplementary
or validate the Ground and Geological models

Boreholes
Provide deeper profile of geological conditions
Facilitate sample collection and groundwater monitoring
Definition of deeper rockhead
Important for Mitigation Designs such as Soil nails,
ground anchors, minipile designs, mitigation
foundations etc

Boreholes for Landslide Hazard Models

Objectives / Requirements
Appropriate for deep seated landslide hazards
Appropriate for areas of distressed hillside
Instrumentation installation if required (inclinometers,
piezometers ?)
If area distressed then continuous mazier sampling useful to find
reasons for distress (must split and log accurately)
Soil and Rock properties at depth
Rockhead definition
Groundwater definition
Refine and develop ground model for better Hazard Definition

Should not need many Boreholes / rely more on TP and

Mapping

Boreholes for Mitigation Designs

Objectives / Requirements
Targeted at actual and likely mitigation locations
Soil and Rock Properties at all depths
In-situ testing and samples for Lab Testing
Rockhead definition
Groundwater definition
Refine and develop ground model for Mitigation Design

More Boreholes to ensure compliance with Design

Criteria and ensure cost effective mitigation designs.

Boreholes Example from Distressed Ground

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

Boreholes Example from Distressed Ground

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

Boreholes Example from Distressed Ground

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

Trial Pits / Trenches

Allow detailed inspection of near
surface soils

Trial Pits / Trenches for Hazard Models

Objectives / Requirements
Soil layering (recent landslide debris, colluvium etc)
Observations of distressed ground (old and recent)
Observations of geological features leading to distress
Identification of similar geological features that may lead to
redefining Hazard models
Depositional environment and possible age dating
Undisturbed samples (block samples) of near surface soils
Entrainment assessment and channel definition
Refine and develop ground model for Hazard Model

Trial Pits / Trenches for Mitigation Design

Objectives / Requirements
Targeted at actual and likely mitigation locations
Soil and Rock Properties
Site formation information (grading, recompaction etc)
Rockhead definition (maybe if shallow)
Groundwater definition (maybe if shallow)
Refine and develop ground model for Mitigation Design

Trial Pits / Trenches

Ground Movement Features Compression / Thrusting

Tension Cracks

From Steve Parry (GRS)

10

From Steve Parry (GRS)

From Steve Parry (GRS)

11

From Steve Parry (GRS)

From Steve Parry (GRS)

12

Topsoil

Boulders
of H-MD
Tuff

Colluvium

CD Tuff

Quartz
Vein

MD Tuff

From Steve Parry (GRS)

From Steve
Parry (GRS)

13

Tension Crack

Colluvium
clayey silt

Colluvium

CD Tuff

clayey silt with

some gravel
cobbles &
boulders

Landslide
Debris

Old Colluvium
clayey silt

clayey sand with

much gravel
cobbles & boulders

Stone line
CD Andesite
HD Andesite
Shear Surfaces

From Steve Parry (GRS)

Topsoil

Colluvium

Andesite
From Steve Parry (GRS)

14

SERVICE RESERVOIR
APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF
THE AUGUST 2005 LANDSLIDE

NURSES QUARTERS
BLOCK A

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

15

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

16

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

17

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

18

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

19

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

20

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

FSW, LIC Study into Queen Mary Hospital Landslide

21

Vegetation / Slope Strips for Hazard Models

Objectives / Requirements
Identify surface evidence of distress
Ridges
Tension cracks
Ground creep

Check slope angles and surface soil types

Check boulder embedment
Also observe trees for bending (soil creep)
Vegetation type for near surface water seepage

Ground Investigation Logging

Logging of boreholes, trial pits and vegetation / soil strips
etc should be independently logged by an Engineering
Geologist or Geologist from the Consultant
The Detail needs to be included in the logs
Persons undertaking the Field Mapping should really do
the GI logging
Borehole maziers should always be opened and logged if
not needed for Lab Testing

22

In-situ Testing
Permeability Tests
- Falling Head / Rising Head / Constant Head

Density Tests
- typically Sand Replacement Tests

Discontinuity Surveys
- Acoustic Televiewer Survey
- Impression Packer Tests

SPT etc
Falling Head
Permeability Test

Sampling
Disturbed or Undisturbed?
Disturbed = characterisation testing only
Undisturbed = detailed geotechnical testing
& In Trial Pits or Trenches = identification of features
of interest

How Frequent and Why?

Depends on the degree of detail and objectives
required, consult the Engineering Geologist for the
Hazard Definition and the Geotechnical Design
Engineer for the Mitigation Designs.

Handling & Storage

Samples cost considerable amounts of money to
obtain and should be treated with great care.
Maziers should be opened and logged.

23

Laboratory Testing (mostly for Mitigation Design)

Soil and Rock Strengths (undisturbed)
Normal index tests
Superficial soils grading and
compaction properties
Chemical Testing for Soil Aggressivity
and Concrete Durability etc
Age Dating ??

Geophysical Methods
Potentially good ways of investigating large areas or
cross sections and identifying areas of interest for
Borehole or trial pit construction
Needs some trial pits or Boreholes to act as a control
for the results
Seek specialist advice to ensure appropriate techniques
are used and results correctly interpreted
Landslide Crown

Landslide Toe

Elevation (+mPD)

Line DB

Colluvium with boulders

Inferred Geological Boundary

III

IV

24

Geophysical Methods
Possible Techniques
Resistivity (Gradient Array / Schlumberger)
Tension Cracks and Fissures
Soil profiles / Rockhead maybe
Depositional zones and soil layering
Groundwater
Microgravity
Rockhead definition / contours
Shallow Seismics
Refraction
Reflection
Soil layering (maybe only for thicker deposits)

Others (Ground Penetrating Radar, Electromagnetics ??????)

H8

Example - Existing Ground Investigation Records

271.

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340

268.

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M H
A

400

S3

268

280

380

27 1.9

.5

4
H4

2 55.8

260
266

360

414/BH6

25 4.1

CU

.1

TH E

TE RR

AC ES

H3

414/BH8
414/BH7
H2

H1

FNS 4
300

248

.2

VILL

320

41530/BH2
EV

UE

232
25 2.4

25 2.4

2 46.7

2 8
0

BE LL

FNS 1a

23 5.3
253.

260

2 53.6

n Peak
n
loo
Ko w b sta tio 2 26.5
Su

lla

11

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e

Hi

lls
id

2 37.0

Pod

ium

229.

48 0

240

340

FNS 1
41528/B1
41528/B3
41530/BH3
41528/B5

228

.3

2 21.5

er

en

2 21.0

217.

2 23.8

Vi
lla

460

222.

um

20

2 25.8

23 0.0

Po
di

41528/TP2
41528/B2
41528/B8
41530/BH1
41528/TP1
41528/B12
26825/BH7 41528/B4
FNS 2a
41528/B7

26825/BH8
.3

um

226

FL AM

.4

2 18.0

219.

2 20.1

28
0

26825/BH3

DS

OR

CA ST

2 26.2

41528/B10
26825/TP8 41528/B6
26825/TP7A
41528/B11
26825/TP7
W IN

2 05.8

10

LE

.4

226

Podium

440

22
0

Po

diu

di
Po

226

30

Po
di

um

FNS 2

2 26.1

2329/BH4

2 17.1

216.

Po

diu

21 4.8
.9
213

41528/B9
26825/TP5
26825/BH10
216

22 6.8
227
22 7.1

.1

.2

5C

2 10.2

5G

5F

40

30

20 4.5

ad

Ro

AN

LEN

A HE

IG HT

19 0.8

o urt

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NG

is C

SH

HE

FE

220

841300

841400

RO

AD

8
2
360

841200

841100

80

2329

as

2329/BH1

2 17.2

ill

20 7.0

.7

.0
206ESS

Trial Trench

2 17.2

5A

Trial Pit

an

20 8.2

224

0
24

Sw

26825/BH9
26825/TP6
26825/BH5
26825/TP3
26825/BH4
26825/TP2A
26825/BH1
26825/TP4
26825/TP2
26825/TP1

Borehole

2 06.1

5E

5D

5B

Legend

2329/BH2

.7 12.5
212 2

841500

420

2 14.8

ium
Pod

2 26.3

186
187

.8

1 82.9
1 93.3

180

25

Legend
Concave, Rounded
Convex, Rounded
Ridge, Rounded
Valley, Rounded
Slip Scarp, Recent
Debris Trial, Flow, Recent
Debris Trial, Slide, Recent
Open Hillslope Colluvium
Valley Colluvium
Saprolite <5m
Saprolite >5m

Example API Morphographical Map

Legend
Hazard Type
Open Hillslope
Channelised Debris Flow
Source Initiation
Large (400-1,600m3) Landslide
Medium (200-400m3) Landslide
Small (<200m3) Landslide
Entrainment (100 - 400m3)
Entrainment (<100m3)
Rock/Boulder Fall

Example API Hazard Map

26

Legend
Proposed GI Station
Drillhole (Hazard)
Trial pit (Hazard)
Drillhole (Mitigation)
Trial pit (Mitigation)

Layer in C1000 map

DDBOUND-L
EASEMENT-L
PERMITLN-L
PARK-L
LOT-L
LICENCE-L

Example API Proposed GI Plan

Thank You

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