Post-Wildfire Stability and Improvement of Hillslopes near PNW Transportation Infrastructure to Increase Mobility
PI: Idil Akin (WSU), idil.akin@wsu.edu, ORCID: 0000-0002-1946-4951
Co PIs: none
AMOUNT & MATCH: $40,000 from PacTrans; $40,000 Match
PERFORMANCE PERIOD: 8/16/2019 – 8/15/2021
STATUS: Completed
CATEGORIES: Wildfire, Slopes, Infrastructure, Stability
DESCRIPTION: The objectives of this proposed research are to (i) develop reliable methods to identify slopes that are prone to landslides post wildfire and (ii) develop reliable, environmentally friendly, efficient, cost-effective methods of stabilizing critical slopes. Identifying and stabilizing vulnerable slopes in critical locations near infrastructure systems post wildfire will prevent blockage or damage to infrastructure by landslide material and therefore will maintain mobility by preserving the corridors and reduce maintenance costs.
Specific Goal 1: Modify the slope stability routine used in LISA with a suction-based model.
Specific Goal 2: Use a data-driven approach to run suction-based LISA to estimate post-wildfire landslide susceptibility due to changes in infiltration rate and corresponding saturation both above (typical for shallow landslides) and below the groundwater table.
Specific Goal 3: Develop surficial field application methods for an environmentally friendly and cost-effective biopolymer (xanthan gum) to improve post-wildfire slope stability.
Post-wildfire wetting-induced shallow landslides and corresponding debris flows threaten mobility in transportation systems in all Pacific Northwest states. Therefore, all Pacific Northwest states will benefit from the outcomes of this research.
DELIVERABLE | DUE DATE | DATE RECEIVED |
Research Project Progress Report #1 | 4/10/2020 | 4/9/2020 |
Research Project Progress Report #2 | 10/10/2020 | 10/10/2020 |
Research Project Progress Report #3 | 4/10/2021 | 4/8/2021 |
No Cost Extension Request | 6/15/2021 | 6/7/2021 |
Draft Report | 9/15/2021 | 9/13/2021 |
Final Project Report | 8/15/2021 | 10/15/2021 |