David Boon

Bio: David Boon is an academic researcher from British Geological Survey. The author has contributed to research in topics: Landslide & Geothermal gradient. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 24 publications receiving 262 citations.

Observations and implications of damage from the magnitude Mw 6.3 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake of 22 February 2011

Abstract: This paper describes the observations made by a reconnaissance team following the 22nd February 2011, Mw 6.3, Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake (GNS Science, 2011). The team comprised of members of the UK based Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team who spent 5 days collecting observations on damage resulting from the earthquake. Although the magnitude of this earthquake was not particularly high (Mw 6.3), the shallow focus and close proximity resulted in locally very high ground motions, widespread damage and 182 fatalities. The earthquake is also particularly notable for the widespread liquefaction it caused, landslides and rockfalls in the hills south of Christchurch, and the significant damage suffered by unreinforced masonry and historic structures. Over wide areas of central Christchurch, recorded accelerations were in excess of those required by the current New Zealand seismic loadings standard (NZS1170.5:2004: Standards New Zealand 2004) and therefore the earthquake presented a valuable opportunity to assess performance of modern buildings under code-level ground acceleration.

The 3D characterisation of the zone of human interaction and the sustainable use of underground space in urban and peri-urban environments : case studies from the UK

Abstract: Meeting the challenges of sustainable development and regeneration to support city growth requires the provision of attributed 3D geological and geotechnical data, information and process understanding in the urban subsurface. This provides a 3D framework for the characterisation of the spatial variability of the properties and processes within the shallow subsurface to aid sustainable land use planning and regeneration. The subsurface has to provide the resources and ecosystem services to sustain and create economic growth and meet societal needs, now and in the future while minimising the environmental impact of development. The 3D variability of the ground results from anthropogenic (man-made) processes as well as geological. Human exploitation of the subsurface and rapid land use change in response to population growth and urbanisation, result in temporal and spatial modification of the ground. The integration of 3D geological and anthropogenic deposits models is therefore essential for the characterisation of urban "zone of human interaction" and its response to anthropogenic environmental change. Model integration to aid land use planning has been applied in the formerly heavily industrialised cities of NW England and Northern Ireland to provide a basis for linear transport assessment, urban planning and the assessment of aquifer vulnerability.

Mapping shallow urban groundwater temperatures, a case study from Cardiff, UK

Abstract: Low-enthalpy ground source heating systems can help to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, in turn reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy security. To de-risk and support the sustainable development, regulation and management of ground source heating systems in urban areas, detailed baseline mapping of groundwater temperatures is required. Groundwater temperatures were measured in 168 monitoring boreholes primarily within a Quaternary sand and gravel aquifer in the city of Cardiff, UK. The data have been used to create the first city-wide map of shallow groundwater temperatures in the UK. This map can be used both to support development of ground source heating and to act as a detailed baseline from which to measure change. Shallow groundwater temperatures under the city were found to be 2°C warmer than the UK average groundwater temperature and this additional heat is attributed to the urban heat island. The zone of seasonal fluctuation varies from 7.1 and 15.5 m below ground level (mbgl) within the shallow Quaternary aquifer, averaging 9.5 mbgl. Deeper groundwater temperature profiles incorporating both the Quaternary and bedrock aquifers suggest that a ‘zone of anthropogenic influence’ exists down to about 70 mbgl.

Humans as major geological and geomorphological agents in the Anthropocene: the significance of artificial ground in Great Britain.

Abstract: Since the first prehistoric people started to dig for stone to make implements, rather than pick up loose material, humans have modified the landscape through excavation of rock and soil, generation of waste and creation of artificial ground. In Great Britain over the past 200 years, people have excavated, moved and built up the equivalent of at least six times the volume of Ben Nevis. It is estimated that the worldwide deliberate annual shift of sediment by human activity is 57 000 Mt (million tonnes) and exceeds that of transport by rivers to the oceans (22 000 Mt) almost by a factor of three. Humans sculpt and transform the landscape through the physical modification of the shape and properties of the ground. As such, humans are geological and geomorphological agents and the dominant factor in landscape evolution through settlement and widespread industrialization and urbanization. The most significant impact of this has been since the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century, coincident with increased release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. The anthropogenic sedimentological record, therefore, provides a marker on which to characterize the Anthropocene.

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for engineering geology applications

Abstract: This paper represents the result of the IAEG C35 Commission “Monitoring methods and approaches in engineering geology applications” workgroup aimed to describe a general overview of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their potentiality in several engineering geology applications. The use of UAV has progressively increased in the last decade and nowadays started to be considered a standard research instrument for the acquisition of images and other information on demand over an area of interest. UAV represents a cheap and fast solution for the on-demand acquisition of detailed images of an area of interest and the creation of detailed 3D models and orthophoto. The use of these systems required a good background of data processing and a good drone pilot ability for the management of the flight mission in particular in a complex environment.

The revised code of practice for site investigations

Abstract: A brief account is presented of a discussion on the revised code of practice for site investigation, BS 5930. Significant differences between the new code and the previous code, cp 2001, are detailed. Contributors to the discussion covered such aspects of the new code of practice as underwater site investigations and construction site borehole sampling techniques. It was emphasised that the code should be regarded as notes for guidance and not as mandatory instructions. (Author/TRRL)