The topography of the Butte Mining District, Montana, has been extensively altered by placer, underground, and open-pit mining since 1864. The earliest known large-scale topographic mapping showing the Butte area was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1895 and published in 1897. In 1903, the map coverage was extended several miles east and west, cultural features were revised where necessary, and the map was published in 1904. The most detailed elevation mapping was produced with photogrammetric techniques in 1989 and 1991 by Horizon, Inc. This study uses these two sets of topographic data to measure and visualize volumetric changes of the landscape. Patterns of change associated with the relatively small volume of material filling Butte9s Missoula Gulch and earthworks for highway construction unrelated to mining closely match expected locations, patterns, and thicknesses. The model also estimates the area and allows for visualization of large areas of altered landscape, such as the Berkeley open-pit copper mine and the Yankee Doodle tailings dam. This model provides a visual overview and first-pass assessment tool for an area with multiple environmental concerns, including groundwater and soil contamination, leaching of metals from mine tailings and waste rock, and associated impacts on surface water from runoff.

Research Article| May 01, 2011 Modeling Compartmentalized Groundwater Systems Using Reliability Methods RAYMOND YOST; RAYMOND YOST 14688 Altadena Avenue, San Diego, CA 92115 1Corresponding author email: ryost@fsrengineering.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar KIRSTIN GIRDNER KIRSTIN GIRDNER 24260 North Camino Arco, Tucson, AZ 85718 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information RAYMOND YOST 1Corresponding author email: ryost@fsrengineering.com. 14688 Altadena Avenue, San Diego, CA 92115 KIRSTIN GIRDNER 24260 North Camino Arco, Tucson, AZ 85718 Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 Copyright © 2011 EEGS Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2011) 17 (2): 155–163. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.17.2.155 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation RAYMOND YOST, KIRSTIN GIRDNER; Modeling Compartmentalized Groundwater Systems Using Reliability Methods. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2011;; 17 (2): 155–163. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.17.2.155 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract A method to model compartmentalized groundwater systems is described. The method is based on the evaluation of a data set of pore pressure measurements from vibrating wire piezometers and open standpipe piezometers. Measurements were obtained from an area of approximately 5 mi2 (13 km2). The method was developed in light of the prohibitive cost of installing instruments in each of the approximately 300 groundwater compartments in the study area. Modeling pore pressure across the groundwater compartments is accomplished through the use of reliability methods that account for the range of pore pressures by elevation and material type. The method is most applicable for modeling extensive, highly compartmentalized groundwater systems in heterogeneous material types. As the method relies solely on pore pressure measurements and does not take into account pumping rates, boundary conditions, aquifer characteristics, or other aspects for modeling a transient system, only limited forward projection of the pore pressure distribution is possible. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

It's not often that a technical-book author in our profession creates a second-edition revision of a basic treatment that is nearly 40 percent longer (from 368 pages) than the (1993) first edition. Over the years of his active technical book publishing (since 1975, 20 titles authored or edited, including this book), Prof. Bell has tenaciously tried to bring forth a systematic approach toward defining and dealing with geologic constraints (Robert Leggett's favorite terms for natural-ground conditions that most affect the successful outcome of engineered construction) in the conduct of our professional practice. By way of introduction, Fred Bell, formerly of the University of Natal (Durban, South Africa), now works with the British Geological Survey at Keyworth near Nottingham in the United Kingdom. In 1996, Bell published two papers in the pages of this journal—one on contaminated land …

Book Review| February 01, 2011 Groundwater Geophysics: A Tool for Hydrogeology Peeter E. Pehme Peeter E. Pehme 1Waterloo Geophysics, Inc. 386 Parkgreen Place, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 5S6 Canada, and University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Peeter E. Pehme 1Waterloo Geophysics, Inc. 386 Parkgreen Place, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 5S6 Canada, and University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 Canada Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online Issn: 1558-9161 Print Issn: 1078-7275 Copyright © 2011 EEGS Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2011) 17 (1): 96–98. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.17.1.96 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Peeter E. Pehme; Groundwater Geophysics: A Tool for Hydrogeology. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2011;; 17 (1): 96–98. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.17.1.96 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search This book is a collection of independent chapters written by 27 contributing authors, most of whom have academic or research backgrounds. The stated aim of the volume is “to demonstrate the application of geophysical techniques to provide a database for hydrogeological decisions like drillhole positioning or action plans for groundwater protection,” and it is targeted toward both students and professionals. The 539 pages of text are divided into two parts: The first two thirds are devoted to describing individual geophysical techniques, including some data to illustrate key points, and the latter third emphasizes field examples of the use of various... You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Research Article| November 01, 2010 Signal-to-Noise Ratios of Geophysical and Environmental Time Series SEAN W FLEMING SEAN W FLEMING 1Generation Resource Management, BC Hydro, 6911 Southpoint Drive, Burnaby, BC V3N 4X8, Canada 1Also at: Geography Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; phone: 604-528-2242; email: sean.fleming@bchydro.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information SEAN W FLEMING 1Also at: Geography Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; phone: 604-528-2242; email: sean.fleming@bchydro.com. 1Generation Resource Management, BC Hydro, 6911 Southpoint Drive, Burnaby, BC V3N 4X8, Canada Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Received: 01 Jun 2009 Revision Received: 01 Dec 2009 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 Copyright © 2010 EEGS Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2010) 16 (4): 389–399. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.16.4.389 Article history Received: 01 Jun 2009 Revision Received: 01 Dec 2009 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation SEAN W FLEMING; Signal-to-Noise Ratios of Geophysical and Environmental Time Series. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2010;; 16 (4): 389–399. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.16.4.389 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract An observational time series can normally be viewed as consisting of two general components: one that we are interested in (signal), and another that we are not (noise) and that usually obscures the signal. For analysis of data sets capturing the temporal evolution of complex, open, multi-faceted systems—such as those routinely encountered in environmental and engineering geoscience—the operational definitions of signal and noise will frequently be extremely context-dependent, reflecting whatever happen to be the scientific interests of, or the societal questions posed to, a particular researcher. As such, either signal or noise may be mechanistic, random, or both in origin. Further, signal and noise may often be of comparable strength. In this paper, existing concepts are compiled and integrated to offer a flexible and general metric for the strength of an arbitrarily defined signal embedded within an observational time series. One potential application is the estimation of the relative importance or clarity of a specified physical process or effect. Brief, illustrative examples are drawn from geoscientific trend analysis. The results of these preliminary studies suggest that signal-to-noise ratios can be a useful, robust, and readily applied descriptive aid to support experimental characterization of geophysical patterns (as applied here to ecological low-flow data from the Cowichan region of British Columbia), exploration of fundamental relationships (suggesting a non-linear relationship between data set length and trend clarity on the basis of numerical experiments), and science communication (following from a straightforward analogy to consumer electronics). You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Landslides are common natural hazards in Malaysia. These landslides can be systematically assessed and mapped through traditional mapping frameworks using geoinformation technologies (GIT). The aim of this study was to apply, verify, and compare an artificial neural network model and its cross application of weights for landslide susceptibility analysis in three Malaysian study areas, namely, Penang Island, Cameron Highland, and Selangor, using a geographical information system (GIS). Landslide locations were identified in the study areas from interpretation of aerial photographs, field surveys, and inventory reports. The landslide-related spatial database was constructed from topographic, soil, geologic, and land-cover maps. The 11 factors that influence landslide occurrence were extracted from the database, and the weight of each factor was computed. Different training sites were selected randomly to train the neural network, and nine sets of landslide susceptibility maps were prepared. Landslide susceptibility maps were drawn for the study areas using weight derived not only from the data for that area, but also using that of each of the other two areas (nine maps in all) as a cross-check of method validity. The verification results show that among the nine cases, the best accuracy (83.99 percent) was obtained in the case of the Cameron-based Cameron weight, whereas the Penang-based Cameron weight showed the worst accuracy (70.58 percent).

Research Article| May 01, 2010 Mapping Landslide Hazards in Western Nepal: Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches NETRA R REGMI; NETRA R REGMI 1High Alpine and Arctic Research Program (HAARP), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX 77843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JOHN R GIARDINO; JOHN R GIARDINO 1High Alpine and Arctic Research Program (HAARP), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX 77843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JOHN D VITEK; JOHN D VITEK 1High Alpine and Arctic Research Program (HAARP), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX 77843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar VISHNU DANGOL VISHNU DANGOL 2Department of Geology, Tri-Chandra Campus, Tribhuvan UniversityKatmandu Nepal Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information NETRA R REGMI 1High Alpine and Arctic Research Program (HAARP), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX 77843 JOHN R GIARDINO 1High Alpine and Arctic Research Program (HAARP), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX 77843 JOHN D VITEK 1High Alpine and Arctic Research Program (HAARP), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX 77843 VISHNU DANGOL 2Department of Geology, Tri-Chandra Campus, Tribhuvan UniversityKatmandu Nepal Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 Copyright © 2010 EEGS Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2010) 16 (2): 127–142. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.16.2.127 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation NETRA R REGMI, JOHN R GIARDINO, JOHN D VITEK, VISHNU DANGOL; Mapping Landslide Hazards in Western Nepal: Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2010;; 16 (2): 127–142. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.16.2.127 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract Each year dozens of people are killed in Nepal as a result of landslides. To promote safe human occupation of this dynamic landscape, a priori understanding of the geologic circumstances of landslides, and knowledge of the characteristics and locations of landslides are essential. Furthermore, a method of constructing maps of natural hazards is necessary that is simple, efficient, and, above all, accurate. This paper assesses two different methods to identify landslides in western Nepal and demonstrates the capabilities of each technique. Eighty-eight landslides were mapped in the Andhi Khola River watershed in western Nepal. Instability in this area is influenced by joint patterns, rock weathering, shallow soils, and geomorphic, geodynamic, and groundwater conditions. The major triggers of landslides are excessive rainfalls, road cuts, and undercutting of slope toes by rivers. Two approaches, a qualitative approach and a statistical or quantitative approach, have been developed to identify landslide hazards. The qualitative map of hazards classified 23 percent of the area as high hazard, 22 percent as medium hazard, and 55 percent as low hazard. The statistical map of hazards classified 10 percent of the area as high hazard, 70 percent as medium hazard, and 20 percent as low hazard. The prediction accuracy of the statistical hazard map is better than that of the qualitative hazard map. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Research Article| February 01, 2010 Challenges in Peer Review of Fault-Rupture Hazard Studies for Engineering Mitigation CHRISTOPHER J SEXTON; CHRISTOPHER J SEXTON 1GeoDynamics, Inc.558 Saint Charles Drive, Suite 116, Thousand Oaks, CA 91306 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar THOMAS F BLAKE THOMAS F BLAKE 2Fugro West4820 McGrath Street, Suite 100, Ventura, CA 93003-7778 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information CHRISTOPHER J SEXTON 1GeoDynamics, Inc.558 Saint Charles Drive, Suite 116, Thousand Oaks, CA 91306 THOMAS F BLAKE 2Fugro West4820 McGrath Street, Suite 100, Ventura, CA 93003-7778 Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 Copyright © 2010 EEGS Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2010) 16 (1): 41–46. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.16.1.41 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation CHRISTOPHER J SEXTON, THOMAS F BLAKE; Challenges in Peer Review of Fault-Rupture Hazard Studies for Engineering Mitigation. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2010;; 16 (1): 41–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.16.1.41 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is currently re-evaluating policies for implementing the California Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act originally passed in 1972. A significant change under consideration would allow construction of habitable structures across the traces of minor faults where the age of last displacement cannot be determined. Special engineering mitigation designs would be required in lieu of a setback. Such policy changes, unaccompanied by specific guidelines for the investigation, identification, and evaluation of such faults, and for specific allowable mitigation measures would result in an untenable mix of approaches to the problem that would greatly complicate both the conduct and the review of fault-rupture hazard studies. Over time, this would likely result in a gradual erosion of the standards that exist today. A guidelines document similar to the guidelines for implementing SP 117 should be prepared to outline a workable approach to identifying minor faults suitable for engineering mitigation. The approach needs to be based on field characteristics readily evaluated in simple trench excavations logged at a reasonable scale and in reasonable detail. Guidelines need to consider the realities of the professional environment and how that environment differs from a research setting. If such a system is judged to be too simplistic to allow reasonable estimates of suitability for engineering mitigation, the TAC should consider maintaining the status quo. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Impervious cover signifies buildings, roads, sidewalks, and parking lots of low permeability (assumed nearly zero), and it is a consideration in estimating aquifer recharge in urbanized areas. It is commonly assumed that increasing impervious cover decreases direct recharge from precipitation, but observations of most roads, sidewalks, or parking lots reveal abundant fractures that may permit infiltration. We estimate the secondary permeability of pavements using a double-ring infiltrometer. Linear extrapolation determines the infiltration rate as the water depth approaches zero, which is used as a hydraulic conductivity proxy. Data were collected on pavements in Austin, Texas, at fractures or expansion joints intersected along sixteen 30-meter scan lines. By dividing the sum of the discharges for each fracture by the scan-line area, we determined an equivalent-porous-media hydraulic conductivity. For discrete fractures, these ranged over three orders of magnitude from >10 −2 to −5 cm/s; scan-line hydraulic conductivities ranged from >10 −4 to 10 −6 cm/s; permeability along the scan lines tended to be dominated by a few highly conductive fractures; and hydraulic conductivity of the entire paved surface was approximately 5.9 × 10 −5 cm/s. By multiplying the paved surface hydraulic conductivity by the time the surface was saturated, we estimate that 21 percent of mean annual rainfall (170 mm) is available as potential recharge. Coupled with enhanced subsurface permeability structure from the installation of utilities and reduction of vegetation and, consequently, evapotranspiration, the net effect of impervious cover on recharge is uncertain, but, in many cases, there is likely either little effect or an increase in recharge from precipitation.

Earth fissures are approximately vertical cracks in the ground. They are caused by natural events such as earthquakes or by human activities such as groundwater level decline due to pumping. The latter has become a major worldwide issue in areas where groundwater is pumped for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use. Various theories, mostly conceptual, have been proposed to describe the formation of earth fissures due to groundwater level decline. Here a new theory is proposed for earth fissure formation in an unconfined aquifer based on fundamental soil mechanics principles, continuum mechanics, and fluid flow in porous media. This theory shows that the most efficient mechanism for earth fissure formation is a combination of bending and shearing. An earth fissure can form at the surface and propagate downwards or it can form beneath the surface and propagate upwards. The cause of earth fissure formation in the sediments within the aquifer differs from that of sediments above the aquifer. Earth fissures are initiated in aquifer sediments from bending and shear failure on vertical planes. Earth fissures are initiated in the sediments above the aquifer when the shear strains cause the soil to fail along vertical planes. Geological discontinuities are the preferred location for the formation of earth fissures. The findings from this model are in contrast to current conceptual models, which are based on tensile strains observed in existing earth fissures.