Temporary Shoring Design for Agua Dulce Landslide in Carlsbad, CA.
Shoring Design: Earth Support Systems, Inc.
Engineer: Testing Engineers San Diego
Case Study
Heavy rainfall during the winter and spring of 2004-2005 precipitated a landslide in the Aqua Dulce area of Carlsbad, California where a new roadway curved sharply to the right. Testing Engineers San Diego, Inc., a firm that provides geotechnical engineering services to the city of Carlsbad and Southern California in general, had tried to stabilize the slope by grading it, but grading wasn’t enough. Progressive failure was taking place on the slope that was going directly toward two residences at the toe of the landslip. The homes were in imminent danger. The downward slope as well as the upward slope leading to more houses above the roadway both needed shoring. When the city of Carlsbad asked Van Olin of Testing Engineers to recommend companies to implement the shoring design, he recommended Earth Support Systems.
Olin explained:
“I had worked with Will Fischetti of Earth Support Systems previously and found him to be technically sound. He possesses a very straightforward approach to complex situations. When you need something done,” Olin continued, “instead of analyzing and losing sight of things, Will gives you a straight-up answer. He has the resources to give you a very common-sense solution to technical issues and then implement those solutions in the form of design plans with his technical staff. He defines the term, ‘team player’ and has excellent people skills.”
The Carlsbad Landslide in Aqua Dulce was a massive and prominent project that took nearly two years to fully correct and stabilize. Earth Support Systems’ in-the-field problem solving, along with our practical and effective shoring designs, played a critical role in the project’s success.
“Earth Support Systems possesses a very straightforward approach to complex situations. We brought them in to do shoring after a landslide in the Aqua Dulce area of Carlsbad. The landslide affected several homes. It was a very large, high-profile project, and it took nearly two years to correct the situation. When you need something done, instead of analyzing and losing sight of things, ESSI will give you an answer straight-up. ESSI has the resources to implement those solutions in the form of design plans with its technical staff.”
Van Olin
V.O. Engineering
(Formerly with Testing Engineers San Diego, Inc.)
San Diego, CA
The City of Carlsbad