ABSTRACT

A typical condition survey of flood embankments consists of periodic, visual walk-along observations (Morris et al., 2007). Normally the surveys are carried out in the winter months, when vegetation is lower, allowing the soil surface to be observed (Perry et al., 2003, BS 7370-5:1998). However, vegetation can often remain sufficiently dense obscuring the soil surface and a general reduction in crack size during the wetter, winter months can make identification of fissures difficult, thus masking the severity of the problem.