2 research outputs found
Development and validation of the terrain stability model for assessing landslide instability during heavy rain infiltration
Slope stability is a key topic, not only for engineers but also for
politicians, due to the considerable monetary and human losses that
landslides can cause every year. In fact, it is estimated that landslides
have caused thousands of deaths and economic losses amounting to tens of
billions of euros per year around the world. The geological stability of
slopes is affected by several factors, such as climate, earthquakes,
lithology and rock structures, among others. Climate is one of the main
factors, especially when large amounts of rainwater are absorbed in short
periods of time. Taking this issue into account, we developed an innovative
analytical model using the limit equilibrium method supported by a
geographic information system (GIS). This model is especially useful for
predicting the risk of landslides in scenarios of heavy unpredictable
rainfall. The model, hereafter named terrain stability (or TS) is a 2-D
model, is programed in MATLAB and includes a steady-state hydrological term.
Many variables measured in the field – topography, precipitation and type of
soil – can be added, changed or updated using simple input parameters. To
validate the model, we applied it to a real example – that of a landslide
which resulted in human and material losses (collapse of a building) at
Hundidero, La Viñuela (Málaga), Spain, in February 2010.</p