CM ROCK ENGINEERING - Key Persons

Chris W. Mah, P.Eng is a graduate of University of British Columbia in Geological Engineering and worked in the field of rock engineering since 1995. During this time he has been involved in a broad range of civil rock mechanics projects in the fields of transportation, energy, and urban development in sites across North America with some work in Asia. He has carried out rock mass characterizations for the design and stabilization of excavated slopes and tunnels, foundations on rock, rock fall hazard assessments and design of protection measures, design and evaluation of controlled blasting procedures and construction field inspections. Some of this work has involved emergency response to landslide and rock fall events where he has made rapid assessment of safety and stability issues, and prepared cost effective remedial actions to allow timely reopening of facilities. He is very familiar with the stability of rock slopes on the west coast that is subject to high intensity rainfalls, freeze-thaw cycles, winds and earthquakes. Mr. Mah co-authored the textbook Rock Slope Engineering, 4th edition that comprehensively addresses the design and excavation of rock slopes.

Duncan C. Wyllie is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, the University of New South Wales, Australia and the University of London. He specializes in rock engineering and has worked in this field for 37 years. During this time, he has been involved in a wide variety of railway, highway and industrial development projects in North and South America, Asia and the Middle East. Typical assignments include the design and construction of slopes and tunnels, foundations of bridges and dams, and the study of landslides. On many of these projects, the design and evaluation of blasting procedures was an important part of the work. One of Duncan's specialties is the assessment of rock fall hazards, and the design and implementation of remedial measures; he carried out the initial development of a widely used hazard rating system for highways in mountainous terrain. He has also worked in the mining industry in the design of open pit slopes, underground support and tailings dams. Duncan has lectured widely, conducted training courses in rock slope engineering, and has written a number of textbooks on rock mechanics. He is the author of the books Foundations on Rock (1st and 2nd editions), Rock Slope Engineering (4th edition) with Chris Mah, and is a co-author of Landslides - Investigation and Mitigation (Transportation Research Board).