Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe across the country and pose a significant threat to geotechnical assets, including unstable slopes, slope reinforcement, and slope protection systems. Wildfires can be extreme events that increase the risk of slope instability while simultaneously degrading the integrity of slope reinforcement and slope protection. Though many state departments of transportation (DOTs) have established protocols for routine inspections of geotechnical assets, non-routine inspections of these assets are warranted in the aftermath of wildfires.

Research is needed to identify data and develop guidelines for evaluating the impacts of wildfire and excessive heat on the steel and corrosion-protection components of slope reinforcement and slope protection systems and the soil and rock properties of unstable slopes. This work will ensure state DOTs have the tools to evaluate and maintain the safety and stability of these assets along highways following wildfires.

To generate these guidelines, the key testing objectives will include: (1) testing and analyzing the degradation of installed slope reinforcement and protection systems under wildfire-induced thermal stress and (2) investigating post-wildfire changes in soil and rock properties that influence slope stability. These efforts will produce practical guidelines for visual inspections, structural integrity assessments, and documentation procedures. By providing state DOTs with detailed guidance on post-wildfire inspections, this research will support proactive maintenance and rehabilitation practices, enhance infrastructure resilience in fire-prone areas, and ensure the safety of transportation networks.

The objective of this research is to establish comprehensive post-wildfire guidelines for assessing and addressing wildfire-related damage to these specific critical assets.