During the Spring of 2006, the research partners developed a plan for integrating existing protocols and developing new protocols to provide a comprehensive plan for characterizing offshore sediments and their role in geohazards, as well as the mitigation of geohazards. This plan is focused on selecting a group of reasonably well-documented offshore geohazard case studies.
For each case study, the group will conduct a thorough site characterization program using existing information and data from newer technologies such multibeam imaging, advanced coring techniques, and seismic reflection. In addition, new sampling and penetrometer techniques will be implemented at these sites. This will allow mapping of sediment properties which can be linked to triggering mechanisms.
Government and other societal responses to these events can also be studied to assess our capability to deal with the often catastrophic human and infrastructure costs associated with offshore geohazards. The case studies sections contain background information and resources associated with each event.
