10-year Post-Construction Monitoring for 70m Soil Retaining Wall with InSAR
Dubai - Fujairah Freeway UAE
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Highlights
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Four-year historical displacement measurement of reinforced soil wall using InSAR.
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A fraction of the cost of in-situ surveys.
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We confirmed the excellent performance of this record-breaking reinforced soil wall.
The Dubai-Fujairah Freeway is a 45 km highway in the UAE, crossing the rugged Hajar Mountains. The freeway features impressive engineering, including 70 m high reinforced soil retaining walls.
As these walls reached 10 years old, our client, Tensar, wanted to check their long-term performance. Tensar is a geotechnical solutions company that installed the walls. They aimed to ensure the walls' stability and functionality.
No Installed Monitoring Equipment
The construction team did not install any monitoring equipment during or after the project. This means there was no performance data available for that time. This made it impossible to collect real-time data later.
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Conducting in-situ surveys of large and complex structures was expensive and logistically challenging. It would require many site visits to identify performance trends. Moreover, the hazardous terrain of the open highway and steep mountain slopes presented additional risks for surveyors.
Geofem utilised Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to perform a four-year retrospective analysis of the soil retaining walls. The satellite data offered exceptionally precise measurements. This allowed the team to check the walls' performance without visiting the site.
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This monitoring included data collected during and right after construction. It offers a complete view of the wall’s performance over the 10 years since completion.
InSAR Analysis for Retrospective Performance Monitoring
Thanks to the use of InSAR technology, Tensar was able to demonstrate the ongoing excellent performance of their flagship soil retaining walls without any costly or disruptive on-site monitoring. The performance trends were readily available, enabling immediate insights without the need to wait for months of data collection. Furthermore, the data was gathered safely from a distance, minimising risks and ensuring no disruption to the busy freeway.
The Benefits: Safe, Efficient, and Non-Disruptive Monitoring
Advanced Monitoring for Infrastructure Longevity
The success of this case highlights the value of satellite remote sensing for infrastructure monitoring in difficult or hazardous environments. InSAR analysis proved to be a reliable, cost-effective solution for assessing long-term structural performance, ensuring the continued safety and functionality of vital infrastructure like the Dubai-Fujairah Freeway.
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For more information on how Geofem’s satellite-based solutions can assist with infrastructure monitoring, contact us today.
