The principle of enhancing slope stability by draining the ground-water has been applied for decades. However traditional solutions, such as small diameter drains and dewatering wells, are not generally practical or economic where unstable masses are deep and cover large areas, or where sensitive urban developments and underground services preclude their use. In the past few years, a new technique has been applied with great success to stabilize urban areas catastrophically threatened by deep active slide zones in Italy. Large diameter (up to 2 m) shafts are drilled vertically, at centers of 5 to 20 m. Each shaft is connected to its neighbour by a horizontal drill hole, drilled just above the shaft base. Thus, all water attracted and intercepted by these large drainage columns is transmitted by gravity to a convenient draw off point. This system has major operational, environmental, technical and cost advantages, and has been used to depths of over 50 m. A key feature is that the array geometry can be readily modified and adapted to the geology, structure and permeability of the unstable mass revealed during construction.

  • 1. INTRODUCTION

  • 2. GENERAL FEATURES OF THE RODREN TECHNIQUE

  • 3. CONSTRUCTION ASPECTS

  • 4. LANDSLIDE STABILIZATION CASE HISTORY 1: PERUGIA

  • 5. LANDSLIDE STABILIZATION CASE HISTORY 2: ANCONA PALOMBELLA

  • 6. FINAL REMARKS

  • REFERENCES

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