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Landslide Hazards Program

Landslides constitute a major geologic hazard because they are widespread, occur in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and cause $1-2 billion in damages and more than 25 fatalities on average each year. Expansion of urban and recreational developments into hillside areas leads to more people that are threatened by landslides each year. Landslides commonly occur in connection with other major natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, and floods.

The primary objective of the National Landslide Hazards Program (LHP) is to reduce long-term losses from landslide hazards by improving our understanding of the causes of ground failure and suggesting mitigation strategies.

The LHP has operated since the mid-1970's in gathering information, conducting research, responding to emergencies and disasters, and producing scientific reports and other products for a broadly based user community including geologists and engineers in government, academia and private practice, planners and decision makers from governmental entities at all levels, and the general public.

The results of these efforts have led to significant improvements in understanding the nature and scope of ground-failure problems nationally and worldwide. Such improvements are central to the role of the program, because opportunities remain for fundamental advances in understanding that promise to save lives and dollars.

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Bob de Bilde gets his 15 minutes of fame...

on IS A C*NT...

http://isacunt.blogspot.com/2010/01/bob-de-bilde.html

Thanks to GOT & the crew

in reference to: Bob De Bilde (view on Google Sidewiki)

My Disgust at Blogger

Blogger has marked one of my blogs (Prequels, Sequels & Trilogies) as spam...

It will be deleted within 20 days if I do not lodge a review

WTF Blogger... I am seriously considering moving all my blogs to the more versatile Wordpress !

I am reposting this on ALL my other open blogs using the sidewikibar thingy!!!

in reference to: My Sony Ericsson Sucks: My Disgust at Blogger (view on Google Sidewiki)

Buying an apartment in China?

Reposted from my title blog.
Lesson one in buying an apartment in China : make sure the building has a foundation.

YES, IT IS A 13 STORY BUILDING LYING ON THE GROUND.

(1) An underground garage was being dug on the south side, to a depth of 4.6 meters

(2) The excavated dirt was being piled up on the north side, to a height of 10 meters

(3) The building experienced uneven lateral pressure from south and north

(4) This resulted in a lateral pressure of 3,000 tonnes, which was greater than what the pilings could tolerate.

Thus the building toppled over in the southerly direction.

First, the apartment building was constructed
Then the plan called for an underground garage to be dug out.

The excavated soil was piled up on the other side of the building.
Heavy rains resulted in water seeping into the ground..


The building began to shift and the concrete pilings were snapped
due to the uneven lateral pressures.

The building began to tilt.
And thus came the eighth wonder of the world.

If the buildings were closer together there would also have been a domino effect.











They built 13 stories on grade, with no basement, and tied it all down to hollow pilings with no re-bar.

Brought to you by the same folks that make your kids' toys, who want to build your car and are currently flooding our retail arena with extremely cheap produce...

Saturday, 23 January 2010

Haiti devastated by massive earthquake...


A massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake has struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti.
The extent of the devastation is still unclear but there are fears thousands of people may have died.

Saturday, 9 January 2010

Frozen Britain seen from above


WEATHER AND TRAVEL INFO
  • Get the latest on school closures and travel problems via your BBC Local website
  • Check if snow is forecast in your area at BBC Weather
  • Details of motorway and local road closures and public transport disruption are available at BBC Travel News
  • For advice on handling difficult driving conditions, see the Highways Agency website
  • For information about severe weather warnings, see the Met Office website
  • For information about staying healthy in the current cold snap, see the NHS Winter Health website

Thursday, 24 December 2009

BOB SAYS...

"A very merry Christmas and a happy new year to everybody and may next year bring joy and happiness to you"

Bob de Bilde (aka Bill de Dashe)

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Taiwan Earthquake December 19th 2009: 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake

Taiwan was hit by an earthquake in the late hours of December 19th 2009, when a 6.4 earthquake struck at 9:02pm local time. The epicenter was located about 145 kilometers south of Taipei.

There was some damage caused and five aftershocks reported. Buildings in Taipei shook with the earthquake and Taiwan's subway system and the high-speed rail line were halted, while some phone lines went down.

About four people were reported injured in Taipei due to falling debris, and some buildings were damaged. There has not been a tsunami alert issued.