Many of us have heard this famous expression: “All Politics is Local.” Incidentally, the same idea applies to the geotechnical and environmental engineering profession. In that sense, we can say “All Geotechnics is Local!” Local building codes, guidelines for work in the profession, and standards of care vary greatly by both region and local agency…
Considering some new construction on your home? Here’s something you should definitely familiarize yourself with: some jurisdictions (such as the city of Glendale) allow for analyses known as “modified soils reports” for small addition projects. So, what are modified soils reports? Typically these involve a short site visit by a soils engineer, followed by a…
With the ever-increasing value of land in metropolitan areas, property owners are encouraged to make improvements on underutilized properties. This generally involves making additions to dwellings or structures when ample land is available. Property improvements are typically done in coordination with remodeling projects. Sometimes, even the smallest dwelling addition can trigger the soils/geology report requirement…
The 2018 wildfire season in California was the largest and most destructive the state had seen to date, resulting in nearly 2 million acres of burned land, thousands of destroyed structures and the loss of 44 lives. Large fires have always been a part of California’s past, but experts believe that the increase in severity…
Geotechnical engineering plays an enormously important role in the building of any structure. The soil and rock the building sits atop will form the all-important foundation, and needs to be solid enough to support whatever is being built upon it. Without a proper foundation, a building could soon collapse and cause catastrophic damage or loss…
Geology and Climate Change – It’s A Lot More Than Just Studying Rocks People unfamiliar with our science might mistakenly assume that geology is little more than the study of rocks, minerals, dirt, and other such things. While some geologists do study the rockier aspects of our planet, the larger discipline of geology analyzes far…
Ever since the first farmers settled and began to cultivate fields of crops to feed themselves and their neighbors, they have been pressed to produce higher yield and better quality harvests. Early on, farmers developed the first fertilizers, and noted that by incorporating manure, bone meal, and other plant and animal products back into their…
Over the years, there has been a great increase in the number of residential and community gardens, as more families and neighborhood groups are realizing the benefits of growing their own crops. Indeed, in 2012, the U.S. saw a 4% increase in the number of households gardening, and a great jump in billions spent on…
“Precipitation whiplash” is the term used to describe a region that whipsaws back and forth between bone-parching periods of drought and catastrophic wet periods with flooding. As you can imagine, these conditions are highly problematic… and California is about to find out first-hand just how bad it can get. Precipitation Whiplash: A Recipe For…
A farm in Arkansas is trying some radical new tactics in an effort to improve sustainability while increasing production ahead of projected food shortages in the future. But are these efforts enough, and how exactly did this land become known as the “farm of the future?” The “Farm of the Future” Whether you know…
