Landslide Monitoring

by Kris Baker

Click on image to see slide features.


History of Landslide

The landslide that is being monitored in the Environmental Geology Lab is located near the town of Mansfield, Pa, at the intersection of route 15 and route 6. This landslide was first noticed in 1994 by Dr. Hobart King when it was in its early (beginning) stages of movement. However, the study of this slide did not begin until Febuary 1997. From the data that has been collected over the past year it is evident that the slide is moving at an average rate of 7.57 inches per year. This speed is typical for landslides in this area. The landslide has been estimated to be 5,000 cubic yards. Fortunately no dwellings or important structures are being damaged.






Procedure of Data Collection
The fifteen monitoring stations were selected along the toe and scarp of the slide (see figure 1). The stations A through H are along the toe of the slide. At each of these stations, one 3 foot section of rebar was driven into the toe of the slide and another was driven into stable ground directly infront of toe. The other points of measurement (I through O) are along the scarp of the slide. All these points with exception of "O" measure the scarp movement. As the slide moves the distance between the stakes at the top of the slide should become greater. While, the distance between the stakes at the toe grow smaller.

The actual process of recording the data after the pegs were in place is simply a matter of recording field measurements and subtracting them from the previous week in order to find the amount of movement.



Click on the Stations
to see measurement data

A's measurements B's measurements C's measurements D's measurements E's measurements F's measurements G's measurements H's measurements I's measurements J's measurements K's measurements L's measurements M's measurements N's measurements O's measurements



MOVEMENT AT THE TOE

Stations Movement (March 10, 1998 to April 21, 1998)
A's measurments1.875"
B's measurments2.625"
C's measurments3.625"
D's measurments3.5"
E's measurmentsabandon
F's measurments5.125"
G's measurments2.125"
H's measurments1.125"



MOVEMENT AT THE SCARP

Stations Movement (March 10, 1998 to April 21, 1998)
I's measurments1.25"
J's measurments2"
K's measurments1.25"
L's measurments0.125"
M's measurments0.5"
N's measurments0.375"



SHEAR ZONE MOVEMENT FROM 2-19-97 TO 4-21-98

O's measurments = 1.625"