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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

Incorporating Precipitation Data into Geotechnical Asset Management.

In recent years, the implementation of geohazard warning systems based on precipitation has gained increasing attention from government officials, decision-makers, and the general public to improve decision-making for resilience planning and response for storm events. The active publication of several precipitation-based datasets presents an opportunity for integration with spatial LiDAR terrain data, and subsurface soil mapping. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) maintains thousands of cut slopes, embankments, rock slopes and bridge approach embankments; and often respond to repair resulting highway slope instability after significant storm events. It is important that unacceptable slope distresses are recognized in a timely manner for appropriate maintenance and repair. Early identification of slope instability can be crucial for improving resilience by reducing and mitigating the risk of infrastructure damage, along with economic and social damages caused by storm events. Notifications of elevated risk would allow MDOT SHA engineers to assess slopes along the transportation network in a targeted manner based on the amount of precipitation recorded daily. This research will help identify relevant precipitation-based data sources, recommend appropriate thresholds for integration with condition assessment data, and for notifications which to assist MDOT SHA with prioritizing geotechnical field slope conditions inspections.