Major Landslide Remediation in an Urban Setting-Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

David Salter of DRS Engineering presents a decade-long landslide remediation project in Bel Air, Los Angeles, undertaken for a private family. A waterline break reactivated part of an ancient landslide, damaging a house and threatening the property. The work involved excavating up to 100 feet to remove unstable material, installing extensive temporary shoring, and rebuilding the site to create new building lots.<br /><br />Because a neighboring owner would not allow tiebacks, engineers devised a two-stage excavation: a braced trench was excavated and backfilled, then its pipes served as dead men for the second excavation. Excess soil was used to fill a nearby canyon, supported by a tall caisson-and-shotcrete wall with concrete dead men and tie rods. The project faced logistical constraints, complex wall interactions, changing house plans, and settlement concerns. Extensive monitoring and cooperation among the owner, contractor, and geotechnical team helped complete the work. The new lots were later sold and developed.

Keywords

landslide remediation

Bel Air Los Angeles

temporary shoring

deep excavation

caisson and shotcrete wall

geotechnical engineering