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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 2 February 2023

Chiara Bertolin and Elena Sesana

The overall objective of this study is envisaged to provide decision makers with actionable insights and access to multi-risk maps for the most in-danger stave churches (SCs…

1128

Abstract

Purpose

The overall objective of this study is envisaged to provide decision makers with actionable insights and access to multi-risk maps for the most in-danger stave churches (SCs) among the existing 28 churches at high spatial resolution to better understand, reduce and mitigate single- and multi-risk. In addition, the present contribution aims to provide decision makers with some information to face the exacerbation of the risk caused by the expected climate change.

Design/methodology/approach

Material and data collection started with the consultation of the available literature related to: (1) SCs' conservation status, (2) available methodologies suitable in multi-hazard approach and (3) vulnerability leading indicators to consider when dealing with the impact of natural hazards specifically on immovable cultural heritage.

Findings

The paper contributes to a better understanding of place-based vulnerability with local mapping dimension also considering future threats posed by climate change. The results highlight the danger at which the SCs of Røldal, in case of floods, and of Ringebu, Torpo and Øye, in case of landslide, may face and stress the urgency of increasing awareness and preparedness on these potential hazards.

Originality/value

The contribution for the first time aims to homogeneously collect and report all together existing spread information on architectural features, conservation status and geographical attributes for the whole group of SCs by accompanying this information with as much as possible complete 2D sections collection from existing drawings and novel 3D drawn sketches created for this contribution. Then the paper contributes to a better understanding of place-based vulnerability with local mapping dimension also considering future threats posed by climate change. Then it highlights the danger of floods and landslides at which the 28 SCs are subjected. Finally it reports how these risks will change under the ongoing impact of climate change.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. 42 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2020

Xiaomin Zhou and Zheng Sun

The purpose of this paper is to provide an effective way to assess landslide risk quantitatively. Quantitative assessment plays an important role in mitigating the landslide risk

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an effective way to assess landslide risk quantitatively. Quantitative assessment plays an important role in mitigating the landslide risk and developing a landslide risk-based warning system. However, efficient risk assessment on the large deformation failure process of slope with spatially variable soils is a challenging problem.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and the higher-order material point method – the B-spline Material Point Method (BSMPM) – the concept of MC-BSMPM to assess the landslide risk quantitatively is proposed in this paper. The overall dynamic evolution of soil slope failure has been simulated by the BSMPM, and the probability density function of the sliding duration, the sliding kinematic energy, the sliding mass and the sliding distance of the landslide are obtained based on the MCS. Through the four risk assessment parameters of the sliding duration, the sliding kinematic energy, the sliding mass and the sliding distance, the landslide risk could be assessed quantitatively.

Findings

It is found that the post-failure behavior of the landslide conforms well to a normal distribution as the soil physical parameter is in a normal distribution. The variation of soil’s shear strength affects the dynamic motion of the landslide greatly.

Originality/value

The result shows that the landslide hazard cannot be estimated comprehensively by the deterministic BSMPM, while the landslide risk could be more clearly understood and quantitatively assessed with more details by the proposed method, which demonstrates that the MC-BSMPM method is an effective way to assess the landslide risk quantitatively.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 37 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 December 2019

Liang Li, Xuesong Chu and Guangming Yu

The paper aims to construct a method to simulate the relationship between the parameters of soil properties and the area of sliding mass of the true slip surface of a landslide.

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to construct a method to simulate the relationship between the parameters of soil properties and the area of sliding mass of the true slip surface of a landslide.

Design/methodology/approach

The smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) algorithm is used to calibrate a response surface function which is adopted to quantify the area of sliding mass of the true slip surface for each failure sample in Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed method is illustrated through a homogeneous and a heterogeneous cohesive soil slope.

Findings

The comparison of the results between the proposed method and the traditional method using the slip surface with minimum factor of safety (FSmin) to quantify the failure consequence has shown that the landslide risk tends to be attributed to a variety of risk sources, and that the use of a slip surface with FSmin to quantify the consequence of a landslide underestimates the landslide risk value. The difference of the risk value between the proposed method and the traditional method increases dramatically as the uncertainty of soil properties becomes significant.

Practical implications

A geotechnical engineer could use the proposed method to perform slope failure analysis.

Originality/value

The failure consequence of a landslide can be rationally predicted using the proposed method.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2004

Sharifah N. Syed Omar, Faisal kh. M. Jeber and Shattri Mansor

Remote sensing data and GIS techniques have been used to create thematic maps for assessment and estimation of landslide hazards, in Pos Slim‐Cameron Highlands area, Peninsula…

2587

Abstract

Remote sensing data and GIS techniques have been used to create thematic maps for assessment and estimation of landslide hazards, in Pos Slim‐Cameron Highlands area, Peninsula Malaysia. The Landsat TM5 scene was used to extract land use parameter of the study area. The digital elevation model (DEM) was generated from digitised topographic maps to produce slope risk map, aspect risk map and height risk map. From these data, a simple algorithm is created to classify the area into different risk zones. By overlaying all hazard maps, a final hazard map is produced. The integration of GIS with remotely sensed data might greatly facilitate classifying landslide areas to three categories; low risk, medium risk and high risk.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 April 2011

Hossein Moayedi, Bujang B.K. Huat, Thamer Ahmad Mohammad Ali, Afshin Asadi, Fatemeh Moayedi and Mehdi Mokhberi

The purpose of the paper is to present a new method of controlling through susceptible slopes in order to reduce the risk of landslides.

1109

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to present a new method of controlling through susceptible slopes in order to reduce the risk of landslides.

Design/methodology/approach

Geotechnical and geological characteristics were collected and different FEM analyses were carried out in a case study of the Alasht valley in Northern Iran in order to determine susceptibility to landslides and consider appropriate countermeasures. Gravel drain piles have a real feel of reducing the pore water pressure in times of seismic loading, so they are used as a remediation method. The results clearly show their effects and an increase in safety as a result.

Findings

Since the water table situation has a significant effect on stability, the present study focused on an example of using a seepage controlling system and its effect on the safety factor for different slopes in the area of Alasht, Northern Iran. Several FEM analyses were carried out on a landslide susceptible case. The results from FEM analysis of different slopes in the study area show a high susceptibility to landslides for six sites. Installing a gravel drain pile surrounded by a non‐woven geotextile layer leads to an increase in the safety factor against landslides. As a result, after installing gravel drain piles in the upper parts of slopes in order to control run out and ground water rising up in times of heavy rainfall, the safety factor against landslides in both static and seismic loading improved significantly.

Originality/value

The literature regarding controlling seepage in order to reduce the risk of landslides is limited. This paper collects and analyses geotechnical and geological data from the Alasht valley as an example to show the high risk of susceptibility to landslides.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 20 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 September 2021

Lochan Gurung and Peter McGowran

This paper is joint reflection on the role of research assistants (RAs) in fieldwork for disaster risk research, particularly at the doctoral level. The paper has been co-authored…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper is joint reflection on the role of research assistants (RAs) in fieldwork for disaster risk research, particularly at the doctoral level. The paper has been co-authored by Gurung, who worked as a RA with the other author McGowran during his doctoral field research in Kalimpong from May 2019 to January 2020. The piece allows Gurung to voice his ideas on the research in a published research output and allows both authors to reflect on how the collaborative approach taken helped to make the research more responsive to, and reflective of, the problems people affected by landslides in Kalimpong face. The paper aims to highlight the benefits of working with RAs on landslide prevention and management in areas that may be unfamiliar and to provide a space for the RAs to voice their opinion on the research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is split into sections written by and in the voice of the authors. This reflects a compromise between wanting Gurung's voice to be clearly heard in the piece and the challenges of non-academically trained RAs contributing to academic outputs that require specific training. Brief outlines of Kalimpong district disaster research in the region are set out by McGowran initially. Gurung then outlines how he became involved in the research and how this affected the research methodology. He reflects on how the research played out and presents some brief reflections on the findings. McGowran then concludes the piece.

Findings

The authors discuss how landslides in Kalimpong are related to locally specific political, economic, cultural and physical processes. It is only through discussing these processes with the people who live with and are affected by these landslides that this more holistic understanding can be gained, even though complete explanations are never usually found. Ideas for further research into landslides in Kalimpong and elsewhere are presented, centering on the involvement of people affected by disasters in this research.

Originality/value

The authors hope the publication of the paper might set more of a precedent for the voice of RAs – and those who are affected by disasters – to be more clearly heard in disaster risk research and practice in future. More of this type of research could help to address some of the issues this special issue raises.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 31 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2004

Shattri Mansor, Mohammed Abu Shariah, Lawal Billa, Iwan Setiawan and Faisal Jabar

This study integrates high spatial resolution remote sensor data with geographic information system (GIS) data and multi‐criteria analysis to develop a methodology to model…

4273

Abstract

This study integrates high spatial resolution remote sensor data with geographic information system (GIS) data and multi‐criteria analysis to develop a methodology to model disaster risk for flood risk management and in peat swamp forest fires in order to assist in providing decision support systems for emergency operations and disaster prevention. Landslides are the result of a wide variety of processes, including geological, geomorphological and meteorological factors. Spatial technology has the ability to assess and estimate regions of landslide hazard by creating thematic maps and overlapping them to produce a final hazard map which classifies regions according to three categories of risk.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 13 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 November 2008

Aniruddh Uniyal

The aim of this paper is to present a discussion on prognosis and mitigation of major landslide zones in an attempt to minimize the impact of such disasters in future. A case…

1076

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present a discussion on prognosis and mitigation of major landslide zones in an attempt to minimize the impact of such disasters in future. A case study on the sequence of sliding events of Varunavat Parvat, Uttarkashi (India), response of masses and administration and causative factors of sliding events has been presented in detail for prognosis and mitigation of large slide zones.

Design/methodology/approach

The prognosis and mitigation strategy discussed is based on the monitoring of mass wasting zones through field investigations and satellite image analysis (of pre‐ and post‐landslide period images) and experiential learning and interaction with village elders in landslide hazard‐prone Himalayan terrain.

Findings

The paper finds that Himalayan habitations such as Uttarkashi (which is situated in an area of fragile rocks, complex tectonics, seismic activity and cloud burst‐prone unstable hill slopes with colluvium and old slide zones) should have minimum anthropogenic activity in the form of slope cutting for road or building construction.

Research limitations/implications

The paper reflects the author's individual understanding of causative factors and indications of landslides in Varunavat Parvat area in Uttarkashi township of Uttarakhand (India).

Originality/value

The paper calls for amalgamation of experience‐based local knowledge of villagers of landslide‐prone areas and modern scientific and technical know‐how and above all the coordinated efforts of community and authorities for prognosis and mitigation of large‐scale landslides in the inhabited areas. It has been further emphasized that sensitization and awareness programs and strict implementation of land‐use regulations are vital components of effective mitigation strategy.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 17 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 23 September 2014

Central America is exposed to a variety of natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods. The region, located on four connected tectonic plates…

Abstract

Central America is exposed to a variety of natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods. The region, located on four connected tectonic plates with 24 active volcanoes and in the path of hurricanes, has experienced 348 major disasters from 1981 to 2010, resulting in 29,007 deaths and US$16.5 billion in direct economic losses. Therefore, all six Central American countries rank among the top 35 countries in the world at high mortality risk from multiple hazards. The countries in this region, including Costa Rica, began paying attention to the disaster risk management (DRM) initiative recently, after Tropical Storm and Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which was the region’s worst catastrophe of the century. After the devastation by Mitch, several local DRM capacity development projects were implemented in the region. By reviewing these project profiles of local DRM implemented in the region, this chapter identifies outcomes, lessons, and challenges of DRM at the local scale, from Mitch to the present, as a baseline for incorporating climate disaster risk reduction into local development planning.

Details

Local Disaster Risk Management in a Changing Climate: Perspective from Central America
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78350-935-5

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 July 2020

Morten Rolsted and Emmanuel Raju

The field study aimed at exploring how capacities are influenced by external factors in the context of community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR).

Abstract

Purpose

The field study aimed at exploring how capacities are influenced by external factors in the context of community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR).

Design/methodology/approach

The field study was conducted in a small rural area called Lapsibot in Lamjung district in Nepal. The article is based on a fieldwork conducted in April 2018. The different tools of data collection were inspired by the vulnerability and capacity assessment approach with a focus on various aspects of vulnerabilities and capacities with regard to disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Lapsibot.

Findings

The paper highlights that communities, in fact, need enhanced and extended capacities, not only existing inherent capacities, which are usually the main subject of capacity development in rural communities.

Originality/value

While there is absolutely no question of strong capacities at the community level, this paper appeals for a more in-depth investigation of an extended notion of capacities, where the effects of the rapid changes and increasing impact of the outside world are taken into consideration.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 29 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

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