In early September 2013, Colorado experienced historic rainfall and flooding, resulting in extensive property damage totaling USD 2 billion and significant infrastructure damage, including roads and bridges. Among the affected highways was US Highway 36, a crucial route for tourists, trucks, and locals. Although the highway was eventually repaired and reopened, the rainfall and flooding severely destabilized surface material along its corridor, particularly on steep, hard rock slopes prone to rockfall hazards.

To mitigate this risk, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) decided to upgrade the existing monitoring system to provide remote, real-time access to the rock slope's performance at critical locations identified through risk analysis. Engineering consulting firm Shannon & Wilson, renowned for its expertise in geotechnical engineering and environmental services, was tasked with designing and installing a state-of-the-art monitoring system to alert CDOT's team to slope movement.