Service Areas
Representative Experience - Seismic Hazard Assessment
Assessing the potential for liquefaction in West Africa
LGS is currently investigating the seismic hazard in West Africa to support infrastructure development related to an iron ore mine. James Humphrey, Principal Engineering Seismologist for LGS, conducted reconnaissance mapping along the Melacoree River in Guinea looking for evidence of soil liquefaction due to earthquakes. During earthquakes strong ground shaking can cause saturated sandy soil to behave like quicksand, resulting in bearing failure of foundations. Identification of these deposits in the field can provide clues as to the magnitude and frequency of occurrence of large historic earthquakes. .