Throughout early 2022 across Southeast Queensland rainfall events caused significant damage to the region’s roads causing several landslips and rockfalls. The State Road authority identified 132 sites across the region for remediation works, presenting a unique challenge with the sites located over a 1000km2 area that required large digital data exports for geotechnical remediation solutions.
The scope of this study encompasses multidisciplinary slope remediation design, incorporating scaling, hydromulch, rock anchors and soil nailing treatments along with pavement, drainage and safety improvements. With a vast number of sites to address, efficient data capture and analysis were critical. The challenges posed by the volume of sites necessitated the rapid collection and processing of publicly available information.
Leveraging Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) project specific service tools were created, that allowed the team to export data into the required Australian standard format. The user-friendly interface allowed exports of up to 3km2 including state control lines, one metre contours, digital elevation model tiles and state government aerial imagery that was compiled and assembled as project ready data in a few minutes, versus traditional approach of few days / weeks.
This streamlined digital approach to data collection and processing allowed the geotechnical team to progress the urgent remedial designs with one metre contours and digital elevation model tiles being utilised to generate cross sections and 2D plans for each site. The information was critical to optimising the assessment of the sites that required engineered solutions.
This project showcases the successful implementation of digital data capture, GIS analytics, and FME scripting within project delivery, specifically slope remediation design. The results achieved demonstrate the potential of these techniques to revolutionise geotechnical engineering practices and expedite project delivery. The automation within GIS holds promise for continued enhancements, making it an exciting prospect for the engineering / geoscience community.
