Geotechnical Engineering
Eon has extensive experience
in international geotechnical projects, ranging from landfill development to dewatering
for landslide stabilization. Our team members are experienced with the implementation
of dewatering and pressure relief wells, drives, injection curtains, and monitoring
and testing systems, as well as the preparation of documentation and presentations
for local authorities, international panels of experts and symposia.
The importance of proper
landfill site selection and development cannot be overstated in today’s environment.
Hydrogeological mapping, the design of testing, monitoring and engineering measures,
and all sets of permitting and compliance measures are inevitable requirements
for this highly sensitive sub-specialty of geotechnical engineering. Our expertise
was critical to the evaluation of the Manukau Sanitary Landfill, in Auckland,
New Zealand. When proposed, the Manukau Landfill was the largest landfill project
in New Zealand. The hydrogeologic report provided by our professionals enabled
government officials to make informed decisions with respect to the risks versus
the benefits of the proposed site.
Eon professionals selected
locations and provided conceptual engineering designs for three emergency hazardous
waste landfills in Europe. Avoiding incidental secondary pollution during emergency
cleanup operations resulted in millions of dollars of cost savings.
Eon’s experience with
landslide stabilization and dewatering is evidenced by the work performed on
the Clyde Power Project, in New Zealand. Valued at roughly three billion dollars,
the project involved stabilization work on the surrounding mountains of the
largest concrete gravity dam and lake in New Zealand. The work involved a geotechnical
investigation and an assessment of the landslide characteristics. Eon engineers
helped to stabilize the slides and prevent a catastrophic wave generation that
would have toppled the dam and inundated the city of Alexandria, with over 30,000
inhabitants.
Typical Geotechnical Projects:
Name of Project: "Clyde
Power Project" Roughly a three billion
dollar project that involved stabilization work on the surrounding mountains
of the largest concrete gravity dam and lake in New Zealand. Work involved geotechnical
investigation, assessment of the landslide characteristics and the effect of
the toe inundation. Major landslides with toes at sea level and crests more
than four thousand feet (4000 ft) above sea level were discovered along the
dam site at river Clutha, upstream of Alexandra (over 30,000 inhabitants). If
triggered, landslides would generate a wave topping the dam and inundating Alexandra.
Highly complex groundwater conditions in Cromwell Gorge were shown to exert
a major controlling effect on the landslides.
Development of geotechnical
and hydrogeological conceptual and numerical models and the visualization of
those models became one of the indispensable tools for predictive stability
analyses. The models were based on a wide range of data collected from piezometers;
drilling records; drainage response; geotechnical, permeability and hydraulic
testing; seismic profiling; resistivity surveys; groundwater chemistry monitoring;
and field measurements, as well as interactive numerical modeling. The remedial
measures included extensive drainage via tunneling and inclined drilling, buttressing,
and slope trimming. These were designed and implemented to offset the lake filling
effect and to mitigate hazards such as reservoir blockage and wave generation.
Accomplishments:
Selection and design of
emergency hazardous waste landfills in Central Bohemia involving desk study,
sampling and field measurements and laboratory testing for water soil and bedrock
quality, geotechnical parameters testing, geobotanical investigation, remote
sensing, geophysical investigation, hydrogeological mapping, evaluation of climatic
conditions and compilation of thematic maps. Detailed studies targeting selected
areas included determination of urban, socioeconomic, geologic, geomorphologic,
pedologic, geotechnical, hydrologic and hydrogeological impacts of the landfill
development and engineering design of preventive and construction measures.
The measures included retention and supporting dams, geotechnical work, collection
drains, retention pits, liners, monitoring systems, liquidation of retained
leachates, recultivation, future land use options, and detailed budgets for
government approval.
Accomplishments:
Client: Electricity Corporation of New Zealand and Works Consultancy, New Zealand
Name of the Project: "Central Bohemia Region - Emergency Hazardous Material
Landfills"
Client: Central Bohemia Region Government