Increasing Resilience of the San Francisco Waterfront with Engineering Innovation-Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The presentation describes shoreline resilience measures for the Potrero Power Station redevelopment on San Francisco’s waterfront. The former industrial site faces significant sea-level-rise and earthquake hazards, including lateral spreading, alongside contaminated soils, variable historic fill, and weak Young Bay mud. The design planned for roughly seven feet of sea-level rise by 2100 and raised shoreline grades while limiting excavation.<br /><br />Key measures included deep-soil-mixing buttresses to reduce seismic shoreline displacement; grouted tiebacks to stabilize an existing seawater intake structure beneath new fill; a new pile-supported seawall to address settlement and rising water levels; and a tiered, pile-supported wharf that provides public access while resisting lateral spreading. Designs were tailored to existing structures, utilities, and construction constraints. The speakers concluded that this site-specific combination of ground improvement, anchors, and pile-supported structures strengthens the shoreline’s resilience to both seismic events and future sea-level rise.

Keywords

shoreline resilience

sea-level rise

seismic hazards

pile-supported seawall

deep-soil-mixing