Interfacing with the industry needs euro geotecnica, s.a.

Transcription

1 Interfacing with the industry needs Avda. Corts Catalanes 5-7 2ª planta Sant Cugat del Vallès. Barcelona. Telèfon: / Fax:

2 Table of contents Introduction Natural hazards in Andorra The authorities responsibility Director plan Mitigation plan Vigilance plan The industry needs Current method used for protection design. Method results Conclusions Why do we participate in this project Expectancies from the project

3 Interfacing with the industry needs Introduction: Euro Geotecnica is specialized in risk management and therefore deals with prevention, protection and prediction of natural hazards. We are very concerned about Natural hazards due to Mountain risks are common in the eastern part of the Pyrenees. Most of Euro Geotecnica work has been carried out in Andorra by the demand of the Andorran government due to the high risk that threads the country.

4 Natural hazards in Andorra 468 km 2 It s capital located at the bottom of the Valira River Valley. Surrounded by mountains higher than 2000 m formed by rocky steep slopes. Geology: Granites affected by joints. Metamorphic rocks Urban expansion: high density Of population. Solà d Andorra la Vella 1000 m.

5 Most frequent mountain risks Most frequent mountain risks Rockfall Superficial landslides Debris flow Large mass movements Old Rock avalanches

6 Most frequent mountain risks Rockfall Racons, 14th June 2000

7 Most frequent mountain risks Superficial landslides

8 Most frequent mountain risks Large mass movements

9 Most frequent mountain risks Large mass movements

10 Most frequent mountain risks Debris flow

11 The authorities responsibility In January 1997 the rockfall of a 25m 3 rock block caused notable damage in a building located in Santa Coloma Town. This event made the administrations to start off a risk management policy 21/01/97

12 The authorities responsibility

13 Risk management policy This risk management policy consisted of three work plans: Director plan: the aim is to analyse the problem and to control the urban growth in the area. Mitigation plan: the need to produce projects and protective works of the most exposed buildings with the objective to reduce the existing risk. Vigilance plan: the objective is to produce an inventory of rockfalls that occur. This plan of vigilance is carried out by: examinations of the area by helicopter mapping the situation of the fallen blocks mapping the trajectory

14 Industry needs From the industry point of view we have a high demand on designing protective elements against rockfall and landslide and therefore we keep working with the aim to improve, and develop new techniques in order to find the most suitable protective methods. Work carried out for this continuous improvement: To form part of international research project: Mountain risk In 2002 we participated in another research project Rockfor. Due to the lack of methods of risk management Euro Geotecnica participated in the development of a software called Eurobloc.

15 Input data Characteristics of the slope surface: Starting zone, track zone, and run out deposition LITHOLOGY VEGETATION RUGOSITY

16 Output data Computer simulation of rockfalls through a numerical model which calculates the trajectory, rebounds and energy of the blocks. TRAJECTORIES ENERGIES HEIGHT OF REBOUNDS

17 Case studied 17/4/ Scar Main trajectories Minor trajectories Block position and volume m 3 Trajectories of 0 5 m 3 blocks Simulation made in October 1998 Experienced trajectory (17/4/2000)

18 Method results Up until today all the blocks that have fallen have stopped before the construction limit or have been stopped by the protective barriers. We have obtained positive results. However these results don't stop us from wanting to improve the method and trying to find new techniques.

19 Conclusions We understand the problem of European mountain areas exposed to natural processes and the need to establish strategies for living with risk. We want to collaborate to overcome the fragmentation of the research on mountain natural processes. We are willing to share our experience and to provide training to young researchers in order to produce a comprehensive risk management and prevention policy.

20 Expectancies from the project Acknowledgement of similar problems in other parts of Europe. To be able to learn from other risk management methods used in other parts of Europe. To be able to improve the risk management applied in Andorra. New strategies for living with risk. New quality guarantee in the execution of this type of work. To improve the technical experience to undertake new projects.

21 Thank you for your time.