COURSE DESCRIPTION:

As focus changes toward the asset management of our existing infrastructure, the value of maintaining and managing our embankment and cut slopes becomes more apparent. This course provides the essentials to slope maintenance and slide restoration for transportation field personnel with an asset management perspective. This course is not meant to be highly technical, and explains ¿ conceptually and in layman's terms ¿ the conditions and factors affecting slope movement, stability and deterioration, and the cost considerations of maintenance, stabilization and of slope failures. The course also provides the fundamental aspects of slope management systems and discusses the rationale of slope management considering the legal implications of slope failures and rock fall.

OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss common soil and rock slope movement and instability
• Describe common factors and conditions under which slopes deteriorate and become less stable
• Describe the affects of earth material properties on slope stability
• Discuss the influences of water on slope stability
• Identify failure-prone conditions
• Describe the importance of necessary communication and coordination with geotechnical specialists
• Discuss best maintenance practices
• Discuss methods of slope monitoring
• Describe key components of slope management systems
• Recognize common soil and rock slope stabilization techniques
• Compare cost differences between preventative measures for slope maintenance and slide restoration and costs associated with slope failures
• Discuss legal implications of slope failures, rock fall and management systems

TARGET AUDIENCE:

The target audience for this course includes a wide range of transportation personnel consisting of Federal, State and local maintenance, geotechnical, operations and asset management engineers, geologists, managers, supervisors and personnel involved in assessing, maintaining, managing and repairing cut-slopes, fill-slopes and associated features. Although the potential audience of this course is wide-ranging, the course is primarily provided for the State maintenance specialists.

If you have questions about this NHI training, please contact NHI at nhicustomerservice@dot.gov or 877.558.6873.