First- and second-year geology students worked with In Situ Site Investigation to carry out cone penetration testing to assess ground lithology and stability as part of a project addressing a landslide in St Leonards. Students will then analyse the data and report their findings to engineers to find the most suitable cliff stabilisation solution.
Whilst on site, students also met a variety of people, all with different roles to help stablilise the ground. They saw the ropes specialist, whose physically climbs the landslide to install the stabilising mechanism.
They also met the Project Manager overseeing the whole project, who will be presenting the work and aims of the group to Parliament to try and secure funding.
A borehole specialist showed the students sediment logs, which are used to slow runoff, filter sediment, and stabilise soil, and the students also met the engineer carrying out the cone penetration test, and the Managing Director of In Situ, who happens to be a Bexhill College Alumnus.
It was a unique and brilliant experience for our geologists to see geology at work, especially in a local context, to meet people with such a variety of roles within the field, and to have the opportunity to use the knowledge they have gained through studying geology at Bexhill College to be a part of the project to support the local community.
This project was featured on South East today, and on the local news, which can be viewed here: Landslides Action Plan – Hastings Independent Press
The photos detail the rig, which conducts the cone penetration testing, the sediment logs extracted by borehole drilling, and the team working together with our students to resolve this
