Ouadif Latifa

• Ecole Mohammadia d'Ingénieurs

The construction industry is increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives to natural sand due to its rapid depletion and environmental impact. Marine dredged sediments have emerged as a promising solution, offering both ecological and economic benefits. This study investigates the potential of dredged sediments from Jebha Port, northern Morocco, a...

Accurately predicting the load-bearing capacity of cable bolts in underground excavations remains a critical challenge due to the complex interplay of geometric, material, and geological parameters. This study proposes a novel artificial neural network (ANN) model to optimize a cable bolt design by leveraging data from 437 in situ pull-out tests co...

Diaphragm walls play an important role in the majority of structures built on non-rocky ground. In the particular case of dams, one way of dealing with tightness issues in alluvial valleys lies in the installation of a diaphragm wall, making it possible to connect the watertight components of the main structure to the rock foundation. This article...

The present paper examines the contribution of geophysical methods to the detection of underground cavities, with a particular focus on a case study in the Sahel region between El Jadida and Safi. This coastal area, marked by urban development and critical infrastructure, faces significant risks due to cavity formation and potential subsidence, whi...

This study investigates the use of clay shale from the Settat-Khouribga region in Morocco as a sustainable substitute for sand in mortar, targeting improvements in thermal insulation, mechanical strength, and environmental impact. Mortar samples were prepared with varying clay shale contents (5%, 15%, and 25%), combined with CPJ45 cement and a 0.5...

This study focuses on the geotechnical and geophysical characterization of traditional construction materials in the Tafilalet region, Morocco. The objective is to assess the physical properties of soils used in traditional construction to optimize their use in sustainable building projects. The materials, primarily composed of raw earth, were anal...

This study examines the potential of using locally sourced clay shale as an eco-friendly addition to concrete formulations, aimed at boosting both structural strength and seismic resilience in earthquake-prone regions. Optimized using the Dreux-Gorisse method, the clay shale-based concrete achieved a compressive strength of 12 MPa after seven days...

This study analyzes how key factors impact friction rock bolt capacity using standard pull-out tests, fo-cusing on 39 mm diameter, 180 cm long split-tube bolts. We investigate bolt performance dependence on rock mass rating (RMR), time after installation, schistosity orientation, surface roughness, and installation quality. The aim is optimizing bo...

Friction anchor bolts are commonly used to provide support in underground structures by relying on frictional forces between the bolt and the surrounding rock. This study proposes a method to enhance the efficiency of these bolts by injecting a cement-based mixture comprising cement, sand, and additives. The injection of this mixture into the bolt...

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of clay shale from the Settat-Khouribga region, assessing its suitability for civil engineering applications through various tests. Grain size distribution, hardness (MDE, LA), and plasticity (ES 0/5, IP, VB) tests, along with consistency index evaluations following the "CSTCN" catalog, were conducted. X...

Among surface mining methods, strip mining is a widely used technique for extracting mineral resources. This method is suitable for most near-surface stratiform sedimentary deposits and has historically been linked to surface mining of deposits such as coal, phosphates, and other natural substances. Given the significant economic interest that stri...

The aim of this study is to thoroughly analyze the relaxation zone developing around sublevel stopes in underground mines and identify the main parameters controlling its extent. A numerical approach based on the finite element method, combined with the Hoek-Brown failure criterion, was implemented to simulate various geometric configurations, geol...

This study delves into the optimization of urban underground space by applying the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, focusing on the Ghandi underpass in Casablanca as a case study. Addressing the pressing need for efficient traffic management and urban planning in densely populated areas, this resear...

Liquefaction is a dangerous and temporary phenomenon whereby water-saturated soil loses all or part of its strength. Undrained conditions associated with cyclic loading increase water pressure in soil pores, thereby reducing effective stress. The aim of this study is, on the one hand, to report on the phenomenon of liquefaction of sand, clay and si...

Ensuring the safety of a high frequented mountain road is one of the priorities to be achieved, especially since it is exposed to many external conditions. For this, it is very important to study any factor that could compromise the safety of the adjacent embankments for whom we will make a stability analysis. A large number of researchers have bee...

Purpose. This paper focuses on the case of a rock slope in the Ouarzazate region in order to conduct a sensitive analysis to study the influence of seismic action orientations on wedge stability. Methods. To examine the wedge stability, a probabilistic approach related to the Monte Carlo method has been used. Firstly , the characteristics of joint...

The incorporation of indigenous materials in the production of reinforced concrete offers a twofold prospect: the potential reduction of construction costs and environmental impact, along with the stimulation of economic growth in the source regions. To maximize the utility of shale derived from the Settat-Khouribga area and assess its influence on...

The preservation and restoration of historical monuments are essential for cultural heritage and identity. In Morocco, traditional construction materials have been used for centuries in the construction of historical monuments. This article explores the traditional construction materials used in the historic ksour of Rissani, located in the southea...

Land use practices and environmental factors such as climate change, erosion and other global changes. Have a negative effect on vegetation cover and well on agricultural land and forests. Using both a geographical and temporal examination of cells, the Ca-Markov model was employed. This study simulates and forecasts future patterns in land use and...

Mapping and hydrological modeling work together to prevent climate hazards, namely floods. The mapping of the hydrological network is generally based on aerial or satellite photos. Admittedly, this method does not reflect the reality on the surface. Unlike the lidar as an active sensor it is able to pass through the gaps and reach the surface and t...

Deep urban excavations are crucial for the development of modern cities, but they pose complex challenges due to the specific geological conditions of urban environments. Shale formations, commonly encountered in these contexts, require specific excavation approaches due to their varied geomechanical behavior and propensity for fracturing. To bette...

Natural fracturing is known in the deposit based on geological observations of the area. This one comprises a stratification of the layers sheared by joints of rough discontinuities and families of diaclases whose orientations are widely dispersed. The orientation of the fracturing on the bench front affects its stability state by changing the dip...

The reinforcement by active anchoring rods technique has been widely used for various cases of studies with approved performances and many researches analyzed this technique of stabilization generally in case of granular soils. The purpose of this study is to analyze the response of a rock formation towards the tensioning of the anchor rods by anal...

Friction anchor bolts are commonly used for providing support in underground structures by relying on frictional forces between the bolt and the surrounding rock. This study proposes a method to enhance the efficiency of these bolts by injecting a cement-based mixture comprising cement, sand, and additives. The injection of this mixture into the bo...

The industrial acceleration intensifies the negative environmental impacts, mainly in some very sensitive geographical areas. Environmental problems like water stress, deadly floods, scarcity of building materials, and prolonged periods of drought affect southern countries, including African nations. This book comprises the peer-reviewed proceeding...

Morocco, which is in a seismically active zone, is currently experiencing a significant development in terms of the realization of development and infrastructure projects. Therefore, reflection on soil liquefaction problems during project design is essential. The densification of soils by vibro compaction is a recent process of soil treatment, its...

The increasing urbanization of cities requires the implementation of various subterranean infrastructures, such as tunnels, metro stations, and deep excavations. The construction of retaining structures to support these works can potentially cause structural disturbances to adjacent buildings and structures. Therefore, predicting and controlling gr...

Vibro-compaction is a recent technique for treating soils in the mass, thus improving its mediocre geo mechanical properties. In addition, this treatment makes it possible to minimize the risk of liquefaction, it is closely linked to the grain size of the soil to be treated. The soil underlying the construction project of the port of Nador in Moroc...

Purpose. The Bou Azzer Mine encounters difficulties during cobalt mining. In order to select the optimal mining sequence with the least geotechnical stability problems, one possible variant is the cut and backfill mining method used in the Bou Azzer East area at a depth of 540 m. Methods. This paper presents a methodology for selecting a sequence o...

Several processes allow the improvement of soils such as vibrocompaction, stony columns, static horizontal compaction etc. These processes reduce the risk of liquefaction potential and making it possible to build on this type of soil when the space restriction require it. Stone columns are a recognized method of soil improvement, which consists of...

In recent years, several factors have influenced the evolution of land use, and this rapid evolution presents major challenges to decision makers and researchers in terms of sustainable land management and planning. Modeling and projecting future trends in land use change has become a must as a tool for decision making. This study aims to use data...

In order to improve conveying and crusher throughput performance, major open pit mines are increasingly using high energy blasting. Strict and effective controlled blasting methods are required to protect the integrity of the pit walls from the increasing energy concentration. The M’haoudatt mine lacks pre-split procedures, which has led to unstabl...

During earthquakes, the shear strength and bearing capacity of saturated sandy soils decreases; this is related to an increase in pore pressure. In the ultimate state, the pore pressure becomes equal to the initial effective stress, at which time the material loses all its resistance and liquefaction occurs. Thus, the prediction of the post-liquefa...

Understanding the project environment is essential in managing the works and controlling the risks associated with deep excavations in urban areas. The study was carried out on 33 risks related to the project site (SR) and the company (CR). The projects concerned are located in the Casablanca region. A structured survey questionnaire was sent to 10...

Dam foundations are generally affected by water leakage and seepage, posing a significant threat to the structure's safety. Such an artificial water reservoir unconditionally assumes a watertight foundation, as perfect as possible, to ensure its stability. This brings us back to thinking about an adequate treatment of the foundation through the inj...

Purpose: This paper deals with the determination of the regional stress field direction of the Bou Azzer inlier using the remote sensing tool. Methods: CIn this study, we use an approach to digital mapping by remote sensing, including the steps of pre-processing and processing of Landsat-8 OLI images. Then, an automatic extraction of lineaments ba...

The proposed experiment allows an exhaustive analysis of the risk of liquefaction of the ground underlying the largest tower being built in Africa in the city of Rabat on a liquefiable soil. The seismicity maps of Morocco show that the Rabat region is in a seismically active zone, pointing out that Morocco is in a collision zone, near the boundary...

The medinas (Old cities) represent a fundamental component of Morocco's history. They characterize their cultural identity and symbolize its authenticity and integrity. They are a group of historic monuments that still exist today and need to be preserved and developed. The enclosures are the most remarkable monuments of the medinas. They contain s...

For many years, underground workings in the Bou Azzer mine have been challenged by geotechnical problems related to the serpentinite instability. The stage of evaluation of the compression potential is crucial to develop an appropriate drilling method and the choice of non-standard support. This research work presents a retro-analysis of serpentini...

The requirements of the empirical design and numerical modeling of the 350 m deep underground excavations at the BouAzzer mine, requires the recognition and estimation of the geomechanical properties of the serpentine rock mass, through the development of a statistical correlation between Q-system and Rock Mass Rating, without significant budgetary...

One of the challenges of 3D geological modelling is the spatial representation of heterogeneous sedimentary basins. The R’Mel coastal basin located in northwest Morocco, is a practical application of 3D geological modelling of sedimentary rocks deposits and to understand the hydrogeological behaviour of this aquifer. This basin is integrated into t...

This paper presents the Biosolutions proposed to combat salinity and agricultural pollution in Coastal Chaouia. The integration of methods (Markov, CA Markov, AHP, MCDA, IDW) to GIS and remote sensing allowed to detect economic and socio-environmental problems in the study area. The results proved that the Coastal Chaouia is facing major salinity p...

In recent decades, Morocco has experienced an expansion of agriculture, industrialization and urbanization, the quality of several natural resources has deteriorated by the inconveniences of this expansion. Groundwater is among the natural resources affected by this development. This study aims to prevent groundwater pollution in one of largest deg...

This manuscript aims to describe the different elements involved in the phenomenon of concrete cracking, and to discover the impact of the addition of plastic grains of type (PVC) coming from industrial waste and polypropylene fibers (PP) on the kinetics, final differential shrinkage magnitude of cementitious materials and the cracks developed, Bas...

This manuscript aims to describe the different elements involved in the phenomenon of concrete cracking, and to discover the impact of the addition of plastic grains of type (PVC) coming from industrial waste and polypropylene fibers (PP) on the kinetics and final differential shrinkage magnitude of cementitious materials, the experimental results...

Determination of proper landfill site involves multiple disciplines. The landfills contain a large quantity of solid waste. The management of solid waste (MSW) necessitates the involvement of different stakeholders. In this paper, we aim to determine the appropriate landfill site at the level of the municipality of Ajdir in the province of Al Hocei...

The enclosures of medinas are defensive structures and important constituents of this heritage. They are characterized by their architecture, their history and their socio-cultural integration into the community. Unfortunately, walls of these medinas remain subject to several degradations that threaten their existence to the benefit of urbanization...

Historical Portals of medinas are an integral part of the history of the civilizations that have passed through them. These monuments are a link with the past and the history of these medinas. The value of these monuments is important historically, architecturally, culturally and socially. Unfortunately, urban development has involved the destructi...

In the last decades, the world population rate has been gradually increasing, this population growth has faced intense urban expansion and the rapid development of the agricultural and industrial sectors. This change had an impact on the mode of land use. In the face of this problem, several strategies have been created for monitoring and predictin...

In the last decades, the world population rate has been gradually increasing, this population growth has faced intense urban expansion and the rapid development of the agricultural and industrial sectors. This change had an impact on the mode of land use. In the face of this problem, several strategies have been created for monitoring and predictin...

Agricultural expansion in developing countries requires a strategy to develop the agricultural sector in a sustainable and rational manner, despite its complexity to be achieved. The objective of this work is to develop an agricultural Suitability map, based on a flexible and interactive model between several methods, which are the analytical hiera...

Natural underground cavities represent a major risk that compromises the durability of infrastructures and buildings and requires an urgent evaluation in order to be integrated in urban planning and decision-making. Nevertheless, the assessment of the hazard related to them requires a better understanding of the complexity of karst phenomena that m...

The collapse of the subsoil creates a risk for the population whether it is urban or rural. Each year, the damage caused by these collapses has considerable socio-economic consequences, and the damage costs are very high. Thus, the detection of these areas of collapse in urban and rural areas is important to prevent and avoid socio-economic consequ...

Historical monuments in Morocco represent a heritage, of great value in terms of its history, culture, civilization and identity. This heritage is a non-renewable resource considered as one of the essential aspects of modern communities and contributes to the sustainable development of the country. Unfortunately, these monuments are subject to path...

The road construction sector draws large quantities of materials every day to meet the needs of infrastructure networks. The main aim of the link between different regions is to facilitate the transport and connection of these agglomerations. With such a pace, a shortage of these materials is worsening by the day, causing an imbalance in our “ecosy...

Historic buildings are more closely tied to the ground than modern buildings. They are more porous, take water from the ground, transport it through their structure and evacuate it, generating side effects such as oxidation and crumbling. Walls and floors are the point of exchange for these reactions. An increase in the soil moisture could lead to...

The Eastern High Atlas (Morocco) contains a variety of rocks with different magnetic susceptibility, among these rocks are those which constitute the Proterozoic and Paleozoic basement of the plain of Tamlelt which is the study area. This work is devoted to the analysis and interpretation of the main magnetic anomalies using the Oisis Montaj progra...

The watershed Ouergha River located in the north of Morocco suffer from vegetation cover degradation, this geographic entity is experiencing intense water erosion linked to the combination of several natural factors, such as the roughness and abundance of rainfall and the predominance of soft geological formations. Human intervention in this vulner...

Starting each geotechnical work site needs a preparatory study and a pre-design. Both of them requisite an observation intervention before, in particular, those in urban sites. The purpose of this paper is to explain how observation combined with modeling makes it possible to manage the difficulty and complexity of this type of project, based on th...

An experimental company was carried out to better understand the influence of curing temperature on the mechanical behaviour of cementitious materials, particularly compressive strength, the study focused on two types of mortars, the first containing polypropylene fibers while the second contains a proportion of PVC-type plastic grains from industr...

Climate change is reflected in changes in average weather conditions and the more frequent occurrence of extreme conditions. It also affects the field of road transport and shows impacts both on traffic and road users as well as on the road infrastructure itself. The main objective of this work is therefore to evaluate the impact of climate change...

By its dual function of consolidation and sealing, injection treatment is the most appropriate process to solve the majority of problems in the most diverse soils. Concerning a foundation, the use of this treatment makes it possible to reduce or eliminate karst risks by taking into account the geological implications of each region. However, its ef...

The Kenitra city belongs to the Rharb-Mamora domain, which is affected by a continuous subsidence from the Middle Vindobonien to the present day. The sedimentary cycle of the tertiary era ends at the Pliocene, characterized by regressive character deposits identified in outcrop at the margins of the basin: They are conglomerates in the North, yello...

The Amount Of Household Waste Produced By The Mainly Urban Population In Morocco Continues To Increase Year After Year. Morocco Is Thus Confronted With The Problems Of Storage And Disposal Of This Waste, Which Are Composed Largely Of Organic Matter, Bio-Waste. In The Recent Past, These Wastes Have Been Buried In Wild Dumps Or In Old Quarries Locate...

The Mediterranean Bypass road in the North of Morocco is frequently subject to landslides. In this paper, the case of Jebha is studied to deduce trigger factors and then to suggest reinforcement solutions. Between the PK5+300 and PK6+000, a slip of the slope is occurred even if it was stabilized during project work. To analyse soil consistency, geo...

Land instabilities are frequent in vulnerable areas because of the conjunction of several triggers. Therefore, it is necessary to identify areas at risk and to propose preventive comfort solutions. The risk is getting worse if landslide affects road network. As a result, it reduces the security of users, the opening of areas and the access of the p...

Clay soils are generally linked to the shrink-swell phenomenon. This phenomenon causes many disorders in the infrastructure and in particular railway infrastructures, which are extremely sensitive to soil deformations. This is mainly reflected through the deterioration of the geometry and performance of the railway, and it has a notable impact on m...

The enclosures of the historic cities are important constituents of the heritage built in Morocco. These historical monuments enrich the history, architecture and culture of the country. The development of this patrimony and its preservation requires serious and tireless efforts on the part of all. The Salé enclosure is considered among the oldest...

Landslide is a natural phenomenon that poses a threat and danger to humans due to the amount of damage it can cause and the different factors that can trigger it. The watershed of Oued Laou, Morocco, a part of the central Rifaine mountain chain, is a basin that is highly threatened by landslides as it is characterized by rugged terrain with steep s...

Slope instability is one of the problems that often affects the stability of civil engineering infrastructure. These unstable slopes have often led to excessive damage resulting in high budgets to maintain these infrastructures.

The major problem of unsaturated slope is the variation of their volumetric water content which is an important factor in the variation of mechanical parameters of soils into the subsurface. It can also influence the soil shear strength; consequently several methods were proposed to improve the unsaturated slope stability including the concrete loz...

Rif Chain (North of Morocco) is subject of ground instabilities. Several studies analyzed landslides’ triggering factors and confirmed that water is a predominant factor. Once a landslide occurs, it damages the roadway paralyzing traffic especially Mediterranean Bypass Road which links the North of Morocco from East to West. To open up population,...

The assumptions of the application of the characteristic lines method, a homogeneous ground in particular, with an isotropic state of stress, made it a powerful and fast tool of pre-dimensioning the deep tunnels. For which the at-rest earth pressure coefficient is approaching 1 and subsequently the state of stress could be likened to an isotropic s...

The lack of values in a climatological series is a severe problem that can mislead and mistake scientific studies. The purpose of this study is to compare three methods of filling in the missing data; the simple arithmetic averaging (AA), Inverse distance interpolation (ID) and the multiple imputation (MI). The comparison of these methods was carri...

Les problèmes de la gestion des ressources en eau, de l’environnement, de glissement de terrain, de l’aménagement du territoire ressentis au niveau national ont un impact direct sur tous les secteurs de l’infrastructure et du bâtiment, de l’économie et de la société. L’environnement naturel est affecté au niveau de toutes ses composantes comme les...

The risks associated with excavation work are a major problem in urban site projects. With the rapid increase in the number of construction projects in major cities, many accidents have been reported each year due to lack of stakeholder knowledge and neglect of excavation risk. These accidents have affected delays and increased costs of project imp...

Geotechnical and engineering geology practitioners are always looking out for tools which can help understand and reduce the large uncertainty and variations in rock masses after complex geological processes. Relying on traditional interpolation techniques for geotechnical variables may lead to large uncertainty and major stability risk in the mini...

Feedback from the various research studies conducted on high-performance concretes "BHP" shows that drying shrinkage is at the origin of the various cracks that develop over time in this type of concrete, given the large volume of the paste, which is greater than that of the control concretes. The objective of this research work is to optimize the...

Today, the study of tsunami risk has become a recurring concern for highlyfrequented coastal areas, even for the regions, which are in theory the least exposed to the phenomenon. In this article, we present a generic methodology developed to produce a 3D modeling of the tsunami risk in video format presenting the impact of this event. We apply this...

Considering the success of the multivariate statistical study that addresses many processes and controls large amounts of non-structural and non-ordered data, the application of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) method has proven its efficiency processing grouting’s data used for the watertightness of every dam’s project. Grouting works designed...

The exponential rise in the urban population of the developing countries in the past few decades and the resulting accelerated urbanization phenomenon has brought to the fore the necessity to develop environmentally sustainable and efficient waste management systems. Planners are thus forced to consider alternate and available means of disposal, es...