On the eastern slope of the Sierras, just three hours north of Los Angeles, lies the deceptively-named “Alabama Hills” — a wonder of geology and Earth science. Sitting around 5,300 feet in elevation, this rolling vista of rock formations, classic Western landscapes, and spectacular natural weathered arches is a treat for anyone who visits (not…
Wildfires have a significant impact on the properties of the soil. The heat of the fire burns away all of the vegetation and organic matter on the surface of the soil, which makes some nutrients more readily available to the soil while turning others into gases that are lost (chiefly nitrogen). In addition, the heat…
Without a solid foundation, your property is in danger of collapsing or moving in place. No one likes losing an investment, which is why it’s important to use foundation investigations to determine the overall health of your property. In most cases, foundation engineering reports come along with soil engineering reports, and most geotechnical engineers can…
Builders everywhere rely on environmental engineers to make sure their building sites are safe and up to code. Learn all about these skilled professionals and what makes environmental engineers so special. Examples of Environmental Engineering Duties Environmental engineers take years to learn the ins and outs of the trade, and these professionals end up…
Also known as soils reports and geotechnical investigations, soil engineering reports are investigations undertaken by geotechnical engineers to discover the properties of soil and earthworks at a proposed or existing building site. These geotechnical soils reports help developers understand the status of the ground where they plan to build structures, and they also help contractors…
The name speaks for itself: a sinkhole is a hole that has formed from the originally normal ground that has sunk in, but how and why do they form? Sinkholes are just one example of the potential instability you might face when considering an area for new construction – and they’re a reminder of the…
In recent years, discussions surrounding climate change have focused on agriculture, and animal agriculture in particular. The amount of methane emitted from livestock accounts for a significant percentage of the overall carbon emission volume. Since the advent of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), this problem has intensified — beef raising operations alone count for half…
Is California still in a drought? That’s what many Californians are wondering after a winter of storms, snow and heavy rain. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor–a partnership that consolidates drought data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Drought Mitigation Center and dozens of weather agencies–no area in California is currently experiencing…
Have you ever heard of “cover crops?” If not, get used to hearing about them. Cover crops are special and specific types of crops which build soil fertility, reduce fertilizer run-off, and help reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. Think of them as a way to maximize agricultural efficiency while simultaneously looking out for this planet of…
As witnessed by the recent weather events of scorching wildfires and damaging rain, mudslides are a very real and present danger to California residents. Heavy winter storms that produced record rain and snowfall have triggered massive amounts of debris flows. Rain saturated soil eroded in northern and southern California areas hardest hit by recent wildfires.…
