CONTENTS

Top-up Course for TCP T3 on GIFW

and Building Works with Significant Background
Geotechnical Content Design Considerations
Construction Supervision
Lecture 4 : Slopes Landscaping
Maintenance
Presented by: Y C Koo

TOPOGRAPHY OF HONG KONG TOPOGRAPHY OF HONG KONG

Land area of about 1100 sq km, 60% of which Land area of about 1100 sq km, 60% of which
are natural slopes with 30% > 30 are natural slopes with 30% > 30
TYPICAL GEOLOGICAL SECTION OF HILLSIDE WHY DO WE HAVE SLOPE WORKS?

Forming platforms on sloping terrain for development;

Building infrastructures on or close to steep slopes/
hillsides;
Upgrading existing slopes, in particular those formed
prior to establishment of Geotechnical Control Office
(now Geotechnical Engineering Office); and
Mitigation of risk to existing developments close to
natural hillsides.
(Extracted from GEO Publication No. 1/2007)

WHAT CAUSE A SLOPE TO FAIL? WHAT CAUSE A SLOPE TO FAIL?

Sau Mau Ping on 25 August 1976 Kwun Lung Lau on 23 July 1994

Fei Tsui Road on

13 August 1995

Sau Mau Ping on 18 June 1972

Poorly compacted fill slope Leakage of drainage pipe

Liquefaction/flowslide of loose Masonry wall constructed
fill caused by surface infiltration without adequate geotechnical
and rise in groundwater input

(Photos extracted from CEDDs website) (Photos extracted from CEDDs website)
 WHAT CAUSE A SLOPE TO FAIL? WHAT CAUSE A SLOPE TO FAIL?
Fei Tsui Road on 13 August 1995
Presence of a weak kaolinite-rich layer,
and
Increase in groundwater pressure
following the prolonged heavy rainfall.

Shum Wan Road on 13 August 1995

Presence of weak layers, i.e. clay seams
Ingress of water during prolonged rainfall
Water overflow from blocked drainage
(Photos extracted from CEDDs website)
Earthquake Sichuan on 12 May 2008

WHAT CAUSE A MAN-MADE SLOPE TO FAIL? SLOPES MANAGEMENT IN HONG KONG

Inadequate design consideration (e.g. ground water
assumptions, geological model, faulty design, etc)
Surface water (e.g. poor drainage design, inadequate
maintenance, etc.)
Poor construction / Poor workmanship
Slope deterioration or local weaknesses in slope
Leakage from water-carrying services
Changes in surcharge loading (e.g. stockpiling at crest)
All designs have to go through the vetting/approval by the
Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO)
Government projects through project departments
Private projects (under Buildings Ordinance) through the
Buildings Department
Existing government slopes are being upgraded under the
Landslip Preventive Measures (LPM) Programme (now
LPMit Programme) instigated by the GEO since the late
1970s
Owners of existing private slopes are requested to
investigate and repair slopes that they are responsible to
maintain through the issue of Dangerous Hillside (DH)
Orders and Advisory Letters under the Buildings Ordinance
 RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS CLASSIFICATION OF SLOPES
Geotechnical Manual for Slopes PNAP 168 (ADV-8): Registration of Slopes and Retaining Walls
Geoguides Cut Slope and associated retaining wall denoted by C, R or CR:
Geoguide 2 Guide to Site Investigation >3m high cut slope including any associated retaining wall
Geoguide 3 Guide to Rock and Soil Descriptions
Geoguide 5 Guide to Slope Maintenance >3m high retaining wall
Geoguide 7 Guide to Soil Nail Design and Construction Fill Slope and associated retaining wall denoted by F or FR:
Geospecs >5m high fill slope including any associated retaining wall
Geospec 3 Model Specification for Soil Testing
Fill Slope and associated retaining wall denoted by F or FR:
Hong Kong Geological Survey
<5m high fill slope including any associated retaining wall posing a
Geotechnical Area Studies Programme
direct risk to life with C-T-L category 1 and 2
GEO Reports
Disturbed Terrain denoted by DT:
GEO Technical Circulars / GEO Technical Guidance Notes
BDs Practice Notes for AP, RSE & RGE natural slope containing repairs to landslip scars or a series of
composite cut and fill slopes where the ground surface has been
disturbed (e.g. terraced ground for cultivation)
(most can be downloaded from CEDD and BDs websites)

SOURCE OF INFORMATION
Civil Engineering and Development Departments Website
(http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/index.htm)
CEDDs Hong Kong Slope Safety Website
(http://hkss.cedd.gov.hk/hkss/index.htm)
Lands Departments Slope Maintenance Responsibility Information System
(http://www.slope.landsd.gov.hk/smris/index.html)
Buildings Departments Website (http://www.bd.gov.hk/english/index_e.html)
CEDDs Geotechnical Information Unit
BDs Building Information Centre
Building Records Access and Viewing On-line (BRAVA)
(http://bravo.bd.gov.hk)
Utility Companies / Water Supplies Department / Drainage Services
Department
Records kept by Private Owners
 FORMATION OF SLOPES
Fill Slope Soil Cut Slope Natural Slope

Rock Cut Slope

KEY SLOPE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS SITE INVESTIGATION

1. Geological Profile / Degree of Weathering of Rock Desk study (site history, aerial photograph
2. Topography / Slope Profile interpretation, existing ground investigation data,
previous geotechnical assessment, previous
3. Groundwater Level and Response to Rainfall landslide records, etc.)
4. Adverse Geological Features (e.g. Clay / Kaolin Site reconnaissance (walk over) inspection
Seam, Soil Pipe) Topographical survey
Ground investigation
5. Surcharge / Effects from Adjoining Foundations
a) Drillholes
6. Stabilization Measures b) Trial pits
c) In situ tests
d) Laboratory tests
e) Groundwater monitoring
 DESK STUDY TYPICAL GROUND INVESTIGATION FOR
SLOPE DESIGN
z Topographical maps and plans
Drillholes sunk to sufficient depths, ideally from slope crest and
z Aerial photos, geological maps and memoirs, past terminated beyond slope toe

SI records, past landslide records Piezometers (sometimes with Halcrow buckets or automatic loggers)
installed inside drillhole for monitoring of groundwater for at least a
z Past studies wet season
Retrieve undisturbed samples for laboratory testing
z Meteorological, Hydrogeological information
Continuous sampling in selected drillholes for identifying adverse
z Past records of construction activities geological features
Trial pits for shallow ground investigation, especially useful for
z Utility services and tunnels investigating existing loose fill slopes (by undertaking in-situ density
tests and compaction tests)
z Lease and engineering conditions
Existing hard surface covering should be stripped for confirmation /
identification of underlying materials
Where possible, inspection scaffolding be erected on existing rock
slope surface for rock joint mapping

A TYPICAL GROUND INVESTIGATION PLAN GEOTECHNICAL INTERPRETATION

How many holes/
Ground Investigation Geotechnical Interpretation
pits are enough?
Boreholes Geological profile
What field tests to
Trial pits Groundwater conditions
be carried out?
In situ tests (SPT, in situ Characterization of soils/rocks
What samples to be density, rock joint survey) Densities
taken? Laboratory tests (PSD, LL/PL, Strength parameters (c, , cu,
What lab tests to be density, water content, triaxial UCS, joint friction)
carried out and how compression, chemical, Deformation parameters (E, )
to specify? uniaxial compression, rock joint
friction,) Permeability (k, kv/kh))
How many Aggressivity (resistivity, pH,
piezometers?
Groundwater monitoring
concentration of soluble
At what depth? sulphate and choride ion)

Direct measurement/Interpretation
 A TYPICAL SITE FORMATION PLAN SITE FORMATION

Forming the site to the

required profile for sitting the
proposed development
May consist of a combination
of
a) Reprofiling -
Cutting/Filling
b) Stabilisation measure
e.g. soil nails
c) Retaining walls
d) Surface drainage
e) Subsoil drainage

SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS LIMIT EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS OF SOIL SLOPES

Soil slopes usually based on limit equilibrium analysis.
Commercial computer programmes readily available.
Numerical analysis using finite element/finite difference
method may be necessary for assessing ground movement
associated with the works.
Apart from the stability requirements, fill slopes require
adequate compaction and drainage provisions to prevent
liquefaction failure.
Rock slopes usually analysed by joint surveys and results
presented as detailed mapping and on stereoplot. Typical
failures by assuming either plane, wedge or toppling failure
modes. Require detailed site inspection for confirmation of
treatment works required.
Mostly based on method of slices (see Table 5.5
of Geotechnical Manual for Slopes)
Methods differ by statics equation and
assumptions in inter-slice forces
Janbu Rigorous method or Morgenstern & Price
method are commonly used
Factor of Safety: Ratio of the average available
shear strength of soil along the critical slip
surface to that required for maintaining stability
Recommended Factor of Safety against Failure
for New Cut Slopes for a Ten-year Return Period
Rainfall
(Extracted from PNAP APP-109)
TYPICAL SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS TYPICAL SLOPE DEFORMATION ANALYSIS

SOIL NAILS IN SLOPE FORMATION OR SOIL NAILS DESIGN PRINCIPLE

UPGRADING / IMPROVEMENT WORKS

(Extracted from Geoguide 7)

Allowable Tensile Capacity TT of soil nail: Allowable Pullout Resistance TSG provided by soil-grout bond:
TT = fy A/FT TSG = (cPL + 2DvL)/FSG
fy = characteristic yield strength of soil-nail reinforcement P = perimeter of soil nail
A = effective cross-sectional area of soil nail reinforcement c = effective cohesion of soil
FT = Factor of safety against tensile failure of soil-nail L = bond length of soil nail in passive zone
reinforcement D = diameter of soil nail
v = effective vertical stress
= coefficient of apparent cohesion (= tan)
FSG = Factor of safety against pull-out failure at soil-grout interface
 DETAILS OF SOIL NAILS FILL SLOPES
Components:
Soil nail reinforcement
Cement grout
Centralizer
Coupler
Nail head
Copper wire for TDR
Heat-shrinkable sleeve
Corrugated plastic
sheathing (for Class 1)

(Extracted from GEO Report No. 96)

Triggers and Contributory Factors of Fill Slope Failure

Failure modes:
Shearing failure along a sliding surface
Surface washout
Liquefaction of loose soil with collapse of soil structure

FILL SLOPES FILL SLOPES

Behaviour of Soil Element on Liquefaction Model

Debris Mobility for Different Mechanism and Scale of Fill Slope Failures in Hong Kong Failure Surface
(Extracted from HKIEs study report on (Extracted from GEO Report No. 96)
(Extracted from GEO Report No. 96)
Soil Nails in Loose Fill Slopes
 FILL SLOPES
Improvement by recompaction
Applicability
Design recommendations
Recompaction to a vertical
depth of not less than 3m
Provision of drainage blanket
Issues:
Steep temporary cuts
Destruction of vegetation
Slope at Sau Mau Ping (extracted from Housing Departments website)
(Extracted from CEDD Standard Drawings)
ROCK SLOPE
Rock Slope Formation - Kornhill
FILL SLOPES
Improvement by soil nailing
Relative degree of compaction of fill not
less than 75%
No significant sign of distress, history of
movement, heavy seepage, nor weak zone
Not located in an old valley where
groundwater level may be high due to
subsurface water flow or leakage from
water-carrying services (Extracted from HKIEs study report on Soil Nails
in Loose Fill Slopes
Design recommendations
Potential failure assuming minimum
steady state undrained shear
strength to be checked.
Soil nails to be bonded to competent
subsurface stratum
Nail spacing not more than 2m
horizontal and 1.5m vertical.
Grillage beams tying nail heads
together to be provided.
ROCK SLOPE
Rock Joint Mapping
 ROCK SLOPE ROCK SLOPE
Rock Joint Mapping Rock Joint Mapping

ROCK SLOPE ROCK SLOPE

Failure Mode Stereoplot
Siu Sai Wan Estate 11SE-D/C191 EQUAL AREA
LOWER HEMISPHERE

POLE LEGEND
POLES

W E

CONTOUR LEGEND
SCHMIDT POLE
CONCENTRATIONS
% of total per
1.0 % area
Minimum Contour = 4
Contour Interval = 4
Max.Concentration = 26.4

S
Findings from Stage 2 Study (BVHKL) 106 Poles Plotted
106 Data Entries

(Extracted from Hoek & Bray Rock Slope Engineering)

 ROCK SLOPE ROCK SLOPE STABILIZATION WORKS
Stereoplot Rock dowels (untensioned steel reinforcement bars similar to soil nails but
Siu Sai Wan Estate 11SE-D/C191 EQUAL AREA
LOWER HEMISPHERE
without the nail heads, designed to take shear loads from small overhangs)
N
Rock bolts and rock anchors tensioned steel elements installed to
unstable blocks or slope face (not recommended as permanent measure as
Slope
regular check on residual loads are required)
face
(75, 055)
Scaling removal of loose blocks on the slope surface
Toppling MAJOR PLANES
ORIENTATIONS
Buttress walls used to support large overhang rock blocks or large wedge
#
1
DIP/DIR.
83/308
or highly jointed rock mass
99 2 43/079
Friction 3 05/084

W 323
13
cone
(25 deg) E
12
23
33/035
00/090 Dentition infilling of concrete/shotcrete to minor imperfections on the rock
2 13
99
04/035
75/055 slope surface
12
Wire mesh PVC coated mesh to fix securely on slope surface to prevent
99 from minor rock falls
Daylight 1
Envelope
Shotcrete either reinforced or plain for protection on highly fractured rock
surface, but getting increasingly unpopular for their dull appearance
Raking drains installed at locations of where high seepage are evident
S
Findings from Stage 2 Study (BVHKL) 106 Poles Plotted
106 Data Entries

ROCK SLOPE STABILIZATION WORKS ROCK SLOPE STABILIZATION WORKS

Buttress wall

Typical Details of Dentition

Typical Details of Concrete Buttress

Typical Details of Rock Dowel
(Extracted from GEO Report No. 161)
 ROCK SLOPE STABILIZATION WORKS ROCK SLOPE STABILIZATION WORKS
Dentition
Rock Dowels

Fall of loose blocks protected

by wire mesh

NATURAL TERRAIN SLOPE SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS IN

Natural Terrain Hazard Mitigation HONG KONG
Superseded 2005
a) Open hillside landslide edition and became
effective from 31 Dec
b) Channelised debris flow 2010.
Incorporated
c) Rock fall/ Boulder fall amendments to cover
minor works.
Other minor
refinements, such as
basic values for
assessment of the
scale of works.

Boulder Fence

Checkdam
 Code of Practice for Site Supervision 2009
(a) Quality Supervision
Ensuring that the building works or street works are carried out in
general accordance with the provisions of the Buildings Ordinance
and Regulations and with the plans approved and any order made
or condition imposed.
Supervision Tasks:
(i) Checking that the works are carried out in general accordance with
provisions of the Buildings Ordinance and regulations;
(ii) Checking that the works are carried out in accordance with the
plans approved by the Building Authority and any order made or
conditions imposed; and
(iii) Checking that the design assumptions agree with the actual site
conditions.
SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS
General
Statutory requirements : PNAP 284 (APP-135)
Code of Practice for Site Supervision 2009 : Quality
Supervision for Soil Nailing Works
Geoguide 7 Guide to Soil Nail Design and
Construction
(i) Quality supervision of soil nailing works should be
provided by the RGE and his TCP T5 and T3, as
well as by the AS of the RSC (Site Formation) and
his TCP T4 and T1.
Code of Practice for Site Supervision 2009
(b) Site Safety Supervision
Controlling hazards from works so as to minimize the risk to:
(i) The workers on site;
(ii) All persons around the sites; and
(iii) Adjoining buildings, structures and land.
Supervision Tasks:
(i) Monitoring that the site operations and working methods meet
safety standards set out in the Building Ordinance and codes of
practice and that unsafe practices are not being followed;
(ii) Checking that general and minor safety aspects of the building
works or street works are properly carried out;
(iii) Checking that work carried out on site complies with the approved,
accepted or submitted method statements and precautionary and
protective measures.
SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS
(ii) For all soil nailing works, at least one TCP T3 of the
RGE and one TCP T1 of the RSC are required to be
resident full-time on site during every stage of works
for each soil nail. The RSC is required to notify the
RGEs TCP T3 before the commencement of any
stage of the works. The RSC is also required to
prepare detailed inspection, measurement and test
records for each soil nail as per the approved plan
requirements.
 SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS

(iii) Key records on supervision of soil nailing works

(Appendix IX) should also be prepared and certified by
the RGEs TCP T3 who carries out the inspection,
measurement or check. A full set of all certified
records should be kept on site for inspection by BD
staff.

Proforma from Appendix IX of the

Code of Practice for Site Supervision 2009

SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS

Duties of RGEs TCP T3 on Quality Supervision for Soil Nailing Works
Prepare and certify the Key records on Supervision of Soil Nailing Works
(pro forma from Appendix IX of the Code of Practice)
Report to RGEs TCP T5 concerning any anomalies during construction
Check setting out positions
Supervise drilling of soil nail holes
Check assembly of soil nail reinforcement
Supervise insertion of soil nail reinforcement
Supervise grout and preparation of grout
Supervise grouting of soil nail hole (Extracted from Code of Practice for Site Supervision 2009)
Supervise construction of soil nail heads
Setting-out
Supervise all pull-out tests Check whether any existing utilities, channels, trees, foundations, other structures
or proposed works would be affected.
 SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS

Drilling
Drilling by percussive drilling rigs, sometimes hand held rotary coring machine at
space restricted site.
Ensure diameter of drill bit compatible with the designed diameter of the soil nail
hole
Instruct the contractor to remove any smaller drill bits off site immediately.
Check control measures against dust, water, noise, etc.
Check location, orientation and inclination setting up of the drilling rod be
checked correctly. Generally alignment should not exceed 2 degrees.
Check for flushing medium and hole collapse in particular for drilling under water.
Temporary casing and dewatering measures may be necessary.
Drilling records for each nail to be prepared.
Check diameter and depth of the hole upon completion of drilling.

SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS

Soil nail assembly and insertion

Check threaded portions of steel bars are adequate for fixing the nut, couplers and
bearing plates.
Check centralizers, grout pipes, conducting wire (for NDT) are fixed securely onto
steel bar.
Check heat-shrinkable sleeves, corrugated plastic sheathing, washer and nut,
bearing plate.
If high groundwater exists, wait until water level drops or alternatively dewatering
measures have to be in place.
Final check on the galvanizing quality of all steel components.
Check diameter and length of steel bars before installation.
Ensure no obstruction during installation of steel bars.
 SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS
Grout Tests
Grouting
Flow cone test to test grouts fluidity. Normally 2 tests are undertaken per batch of
mix. Grout having an efflux time of <15 seconds should be rejected.
Grout usually comprises ordinary Portland cement and water, with Bleed tests are also carried out following mixing of grout. Tests are done to test
admixtures. Water cement ratio usually 0.38 to 0.42. the absorption characteristics of grout. Criteria for bleed tests are:
Water should be clean and uncontaminated. - bleeded water at 3 hours should be <0.5% by volume
Soil nails should be grouted within the same day of insertion. - maximum bleeded water should be <1%
- water should be re-absorbed within 24 hours
Mixers for grout shall be a high-speed colloidal type.
Compressive cube strengths of grout to the designed 28-day strength
Grouting commences from the lowest point and that grout is pumped
into the hole under a continuous and steady rate to prevent
entrapping air. A head of typically 1m shall be maintained above the
mouth of drillhole until initial set of grout.
Excessive grout leak should be monitored to verify validity of
assumed geological model, also to determine actions to be
undertaken, such as staged grouting, sleeving over grout leak by
using casing.
Grouting records to be prepared.

SUPERVISION OF SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS

SOIL NAILING WORKS

Construction of soil nail head

Check threads of reinforcement bar thoroughly cleaned and treated with hot-dip
galvanized coating or protected with zinc-rich paint.
Soil Nail Record Drilling and Grouting
Check concrete thoroughly compacted.
 SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS
Pull-out Test
General
To verify pull out capacity of soil nails, i.e. design assumptions
Undertaken prior to installation of permanent soil nails
Tested nails will be abandoned and not to be used as permanent nails
Designer to review test results and to revise length of soil nails accordingly
SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS
Pull-out Test
Equipment and Set-up
Ensure all apparatus used have been calibrated
Accuracy of pressure gauges and dial gauges be confirmed to required specifications,
usually having tolerances <2kN and <0.05mm respectively
Bearing plate/concrete pad should be firmly cast on soil surface
Jacking cylinder is positioned parallel to test bar and perpendicular to bearing
plate/concrete pad to ensure the soil nail is stressed in the right direction

(Extracted from Geoguide 7)

(Extracted from Geoguide 7)

SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS

Pull-out Test Pull-out Test Result
Procedures
Normal test load should not in any case
exceed 90% of ultimate tensile strength as
sudden failure would be dangerous to
testing crew.
All personnel should not be standing facing
the direction of the bar during stressing of
the soil nail bar.
Check test loads at each loading/unloading
cycle, the time that each load is held
constant, deformations measured from the
dial gauges. 3 loading/unloading cycles are
required to bring the soil nail to the required
testing load.
Record results accordingly.
 SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS SUPERVISION OF SOIL NAILING WORKS
Non-destructive Testing Determining Length of Soil Nails by Time Domain Reflectometry
Encourage high construction standards and promote self-imposed improvements.
Use as a construction audit tool. Build up overall picture of the integrity of the
installed soil nails.
Time Domain Reflectometry tests are usually undertaken. For detail procedures see
GEO Report No. 133 Non-destructive Tests for Determining the Lengths of Installed
Soil Nails and Guidelines on Test Procedure & Sample Test Results using Time
Domain Reflectometry (TDR) to Determine the Length of Installed Soil Nails.

(Extracted from GEOs Guidelines on Test Procedure using Time Domain

Reflectometry (TDR) to Determine the Length of Installed Soil Nails)

SUPERVISION OF SUPERVISION OF
SOIL NAILING WORKS SOIL NAILING WORKS
RESULTS OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING RESULTS OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY (TDR) TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY (TDR)
 FILLING WORK ON SLOPE FILLING WORK ON SLOPE
PNAP 55 (APP-15) : Site Formation Temporary or Permanent Soil filling cannot be adequately compacted during inclement
Filling Work weather, rock fill works are better than soil fill works under wet
PNAP 83 (APP-28) : Requirements for Qualified Supervision conditions.
Disastrous consequence of flowslides of loosely placed earth fill Temporary protection of earthwork is required, such as covering
resulting from inadequate compaction by tarpauline cover
RGEs TCP T3 be full- Source of filling materials to be approved, usually CDG and CDV
time on site are considered suitable materials
Carry out day-to-day QC tests on materials:
check on compliance with PSD, plastic index, etc
working procedures and Benching into the slopes
specifications is required prior to
receiving new fill materials

FILLING WORK ON SLOPE FILLING WORK ON SLOPE

Thickness of each filling layer is commonly
Details of Benching for Placement of Fill on Existing Ground
250mm to 300mm, depending on the output
power from the vibratory roller.
In-situ field dry densities of compacted fill shall
not be less than 95% of the maximum dry
density (Geospec 3: Model Specification for
Soil Testing).
All testing records must be kept on site
Monthly assessment report on the filling work
be included to the monthly T5 Report .

Relative compaction
Rc = d/max x 100%

where
d is the in situ dry density and
max is the maximum dry
density

(Extracted from CEDD Standard Drawings)

 FILLING WORK ON SLOPE FILLING WORK ON SLOPE
Determination of Dry Density/ Moisture Determination of In situ Bulk and Dry
Content Relationship Density

DRAINAGE PROVISION ON SLOPES

DRAINAGE PROVISION ON SLOPES
Drainages are provided as surface and/or sub surface measures
Reference: Geotechnical Manual for Slopes, GEO Surface provisions are by means of surface channels
Majority of slope failures are associated with drainage problems due Sub surface provisions are by means of horizontal or raking drains,
to intense rainfall during extreme weather counterfort drains, filter drainage blankets, weepholes (behind
retaining walls or hard surfaces)
Efficient and
adequate drainage
provisions on
slope are therefore
absolutely
essential
MONITORING MONITORING
GROUND MOVEMENT Groundwater Level

LANDSCAPING ON SLOPE LANDSCAPING ON SLOPE

Reference: Green solution is preferred even on rock slopes.
Shotcrete should be kept to a bare minimum.
 GREENING OF STEEP SLOPES
MAINTENANCE OF SLOPE
A few proprietary methods available in the markets, with varied degree
of success PNAP 189 (APP-79) - Geoguide 5: Guide
to Slope Maintenance
NFY Soil Panel System Typically an Engineer Inspection to be
undertaken once every 5 years (for slopes
having C-T-L of 1 and 2, or more frequent
where poor conditions warrant such
inspection)
Routine Maintenance to be carried out
annually, preferably before to the on set of
the wet season
Design and construction of slopes should
bear this in mind
Construction to cater for future access
considerations to undertake Engineer
Inspection and Maintenance of Slopes in
future

G&E Soil Panel System

Creat Toyo-Mulching
Geofibre

SAFE ACCESS TO SLOPE MAINTENANCE SAFE ACCESS TO SLOPE MAINTENANCE

 BURIED WATER-CARRYING SERVICES DETECTION OF LEAKY BURIED SERVICE
PNAP 183 (APP-79) Keep Buried Services out
of Slope Leak Noise Correlator Survey
Recommendations: Ground Microphone Survey
1.Buried services not be placed nearer to slope crest than CCTV Survey
a distance equal to the height of the slope.
Man Entry Survey
2.Re-route existing services to fulfill (1) if opportunities
arise.
3.In case impractical to site the buried services outside the
crest area, then
- Slope design to take into account possible
water leakage;
- Lay service above ground service;
- House service within ducting system;
- Provide stop valves for water mains.
4.In fill slopes, sewers and drains to be provided with
flexible jointing to accommodate differential settlement.

CLOSING REMARKS

Slope engineering is not purely analysis and

design. Field observation and construction
quality control are equally important.

Slope stability is affected by various factors. The End

Their assumptions requires dedicated on-site
verifications during construction.

Hence, adequate and close supervision of slope

works is absolutely essential.