PLANNING SLOPE STABILIZATION PROGRAMS BY USING DECISION ANALYSIS

Maintenance funds are rarely sufficient for all needs, and this requires that decisions be made as to the most effective allocation of these funds. In the case of slope stabilization, these decisions will be based on the frequency and location of failures, the consequences of failures (i.e., the cost of accidents), and the cost of stabilization. Decision analysis is a simple but useful tool to determine the most cost-effective stabilization program. The expected costs of slope failures are calculated for different stabilization programs, and these costs are added to the costs of the stabilization work to determine the expected total cost. The program that has the minimum total cost is likely to be the most cost effective. An example of the use of decision analysis is given that shows the variation in expected total cost for rockfalls along a section of highway for no stabilization work, a limited scaling program, and a more-comprehensive ditching, scaling, and bolting program. It is shown that the frequency of rockfalls must be substantially reduced before there is any significant reduction in the cost of accidents and that this requires an extensive stabilization program. The example also illustrates how the probability values used in the decision analysis can be related to the design of the stabilization measures. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/749/749-007.pdf
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Exploration and Classification of Earth Materials. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Wyllie, Duncan C
  • McCammon, N R
  • Bramund, W
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 34-39
• Monograph Title: Embankment Stabilization and Soil Mechanics
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 749
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Analysis; Construction; Cost effectiveness; Costs; Decision making; Planning; Rockfalls; Slope stability; Slopes; Soil stabilization; Strategic planning
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Cost analysis
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00319354
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 03090305905
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 30 1980 12:00AM