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ARIZONA GEOHAZARDS RESEARCH CENTER

ARIZONA GEOHAZARDS RESEARCH CENTER. By Muniram Budhu Ph.D., PE. Professor, University of Arizona. OUTCOMES. Information about the planned activities of AGRC Identify groups to collaborate through AGRC in solving geohazards problems, particularly for the SW

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ARIZONA GEOHAZARDS RESEARCH CENTER

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  1. ARIZONA GEOHAZARDS RESEARCH CENTER By Muniram Budhu Ph.D., PE. Professor, University of Arizona

  2. OUTCOMES • Information about the planned activities of AGRC • Identify groups to collaborate through AGRC in solving geohazards problems, particularly for the SW • Research groups – seek funding, conduct research and share information solutions to mitigate damages • Informational groups – share data, experiences provide information to better understand geohazards • Educational groups – promote activities of the center, educating the community (political leaders, developers, etc.) appreciation of the problems of geohazards and the need for research and associated funding

  3. WHY WAS THE CENTER INITIATED? • NCS presentation • The Arizona Land Subsidence Group • White paper • http://www.agrc.arizona.edu/whitepaperfinal.pdf • Climatic changes Recommendation 1: Encourage research centers to embrace concentrated research on subsidence and earth fissures in Arizona. Recommendation 2: Establish a long-term commitment to obtain subsidence data Recommendation 3: Create a distributed network that can integrate inter-operable online sources for geohazard data. Recommendation 4: Partner with neighboring states who are experiencing similar problems Recommendation 5: Integrate new knowledge into earth fissure and land subsidence publications and mapping products.

  4. MISSION The mission of the Arizona Geohazards Research Center (AGRC) is to provide technology, expertise and services to understand and to mitigate damages from geohazards. EARTH FISSURE -Harquahala Plain Source: Ray Harris

  5. HOW WILL THE MISSION BE ACCOMPLISHED? • Conducting sponsored research on geohazards that will provide transfer of technology for the siting, design, construction, damage mitigation, operation and maintenance of infrastructures such as roads, bridges, dams, canals, buildings (residential and commercial), power plants, pipelines, gas lines, railroad and the like • Bring together the best talents from within and outside Arizona to focus on solving geohazards problems that affect lives and properties • Creating a partnership among educational institutions, state and federal agencies and private enterprise to collectively focus attention on the growing problems with geohazards and to maximize resources • Providing a comprehensive digital library on geohazards information available to all 24/7 through a web portal (www.grow.arizona.edu) • Providing educational services through seminars, workshops and conferences to the community, and content materials for undergraduate and graduate courses Irrigation canal in west Maricopa County broken and offset by subsidence (photo by L. Fellows) Aerial photo of debris flow deposits burying the end of the tram road in Sabino Canyon. Source: Arizona Geology, fall 2006

  6. WHAT IS THE INITIAL FOCUS OF THE RESEARCH CENTER? • Land subsidence, giant desiccation cracks and earth fissures resulting from groundwater decline REASONS: • Know very little about them to make good engineering decision • Growing hazards as demands for infrastructural works increase from population increases in the state • Climatic changes will potentially place more demands on groundwater   Differential displacement along fissure near Hunt Hwy in Pinal County (photo by Ken Euge) Giant desiccation cracks (Source: Ray Harris)

  7. WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF AGRC? AZ Geohazards Research Center THE BIG PICTURE RESEARCH SPONSORS State, counties, cities, private enterprises, fed. agencies ADVISORY BOARD ARIZONA GEOHAZARDS RESEARCH CENTER CENTRAL UNIT DISSEMINATION & EDUCATION APPLIED RESEARCH

  8. ADVISORY BOARD • Mix of academia, industry and government agencies • ALSG – 4 members (industry and government agencies) • Sponsors – depend on contribution ($50K = 1 member; possible limit: 2 members) • UA, ASU and NAU – 1 member each • Director – non voting member • Role • Provide guidance on research priority • Assist in evaluating proposals • Assist in obtaining funding

  9. RESEARCH SPONSORS • Annual membership = $50K one member on the advisory board • Sponsor a particular research topic • State, local and federal governments • Foundations, etc. • CURRENT SPONSOR • Salt River Project (SRP)

  10. CENTRAL UNIT • Director – oversees operation of the center • Current director: Muniram Budhu • One program coordinator each at ASU and NAU • ASU – Prof. Ramon Arrowsmith • NAU - Prof. Charlie Schlinger • Program manager – day to day operations • Secretary • Programmer – data base; library

  11. RESEARCH PROGRAM • Multi-disciplinary, multi-institutions basic and applied research • Initial emphasis will be on applied research • Mechanisms • Modeling • Monitoring • Measurements • Mitigation • Education Apache Trl Superstition / US60

  12. CURRENT RESEARCH • RISK REDUCTION FROM LAND SUBSIDENCE AND EARTH FISSURES FOR SITING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE • M. BUDHU, R. HARRIS, R. BABBITT (MS student), A. SHELKE (Ph.D. student) Sponsor: SRP • ENGINEERING MITIGATION MEASURES FOR EARTH FISSURES • M. BUDHU, R. LUNA (MS student), ABRAHIM (Ph.D. student) Possible sponsor: (under discussion) • PREDICTIONS (ANALYTICAL, NUMERICAL AND EMPIRICAL METHODS) OF LAND SUBSIDENCE AND EARTH FISSURES DUE TO GROUNDWATER DECLINE • M. BUDHU, A. SHELKE (Ph.D. student) • INVESTIGATIONS OF THE FORMATION AND GROWTH OF EARTH FISSURES DUE TO GROUNDWATER DECLINE • M. BUDHU, A. SHELKE (Ph.D. student), AMEC, RAY HARRIS, MIKE CARPENTER AND RICHARD WILSON (NSF proposal under preparation) • THE EFFECTS OF RECHARGE ON LAND SUBSIDENCE AND EARTH FISSURES • M. BUDHU • MECHANICS OF EARTH FISSURE FORMATION AND GROWTH • M. BUDHU, A. SHELKE (Ph.D. student)

  13. DISSEMINATION • CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, PUBLICATIONS • GROW DIGITAL LIBRARY (www.grow.arizona.edu) – FUNDED BY NSF AND IS PART OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE DIGITAL LIBRARY (www.nsdl.com)

  14. GET INVOLVED – SPONSORING RESEARCH AND BENEFITS TO YOU Land subsidence/earth fissure issue. • SPONSORING RESEARCH • Contribute financially either to a pool of funds or to support your special research needs • Contribute data, equipment and personnel • SOME BENEFITS • Return on investment is maximized as research results from all projects are shared to reduce time and effort • Focusing on the needs of the sponsors • Opportunities for leveraging resources within and outside the State of Arizona • Interaction of sponsors with experts to enhance the effectiveness of the research outcomes to practice • Leveraging and assembling the best expertise to conduct the research and transfer developed technologies to the sponsors and the community as a whole • Satisfaction knowing you have contributed to improving education and reducing loss of lives and properties.

  15. GET INVOLVED – RESEARCH • WORK WITHIN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM TO COLLECTIVELY UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF GEOHAZARDS AND TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR PRACTICE • GET ACCESS TO A DATA BASE • BETTER POSITIONED FOR LEVERAGING RESEARCH SUPPORT • IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY Suggested Research Approach Take a holistic (system) approach to undertake research that includes environmental, sustainability, risk analysis and life cycle issues. Proposal Join with neighboring states and seek an NSF supported center

  16. THANKS QUESTIONS?

  17. GROUPS • Identify groups to collaborate through AGRC in solving geohazards problems, particularly for the SW

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