Systematic monitoring approaches for evaluating peat response to incremental loading

¹ Sarawak Public Works Department, Kuching, Malaysia
² Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This paper presents the challenges, problems, and key lessons learned from a two-year in-peat geomechanical instrumentation program carried out beneath a road embankment in Sarawak, Malaysia. The monitoring system designed to measure vertical and horizontal stresses, pore water pressure, and settlement within a highly compressible peat layer has provided valuable long-term insights but also revealed significant practical and technical issues during installation and operation. These experiences highlight the complexities of deploying instrumentation in peat and emphasize the importance of robust installation methods, redundancy in sensor layout, and proactive maintenance. The lessons learned from this project provide practical guidance for future full-scale monitoring programs in similar soft-soil environments and contribute to improving the reliability of in-peat geomechanical monitoring techniques.