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Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches
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Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Hazards and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 64724

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Stefano Morelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze 50121, Italy
Interests: geohydrological hazards; landslides, floods; geographic information system; spatial analysis; mapping; monitoring and early warning; physical geography; geotechnics; engineering geology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Veronica Pazzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Firenze, 50121 Firenze, Italy
Interests: exploration geophysics; landslides; engineering geology; resilience; natural hazards; remote sensing; seismics; earth sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Ping Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Interests: remote sensing; landslide; satellite analysis; engineering geology; geo-hazards
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The impact degree of geological events induced by intense endogenous and exogenous forces is unevenly distributed among communities living in hazardous areas. A geological hazard is a potential disaster when natural geological processes impact on anthropic activities, either through loss of life or injury, or through economic loss. Recent investigations also suggest that climate change tends to exacerbate most of the geodisasters. Sometimes unpredictable and sudden, sometimes slow and lingering, various types of disasters continually affect daily lives. The human safety level is the result of differential exposures to these events and of diversified levels of preparation to them. In recent decades, social and economic development and spatial growth of human activities by consuming soil and natural resources have further contributed to creating vulnerability, increasing the challenges of aware societies to cope with extreme geohydrological processes and their effects, encouraging them to react. Such events are to different degrees avoidable or preventable if these hazards are identified and can regardless be mitigated with knowledge and planning, physical and environmental protection measures, and response preparedness.

This Special Issue comprises selected original papers inherent to the analysis of different types of geological hazards, vulnerability domains, exposure to disaster risk, and risk reduction strategies, including structural and nonstructural methodologies such as plans, behavioral procedures, early warning systems, and more. Traditional approaches are accepted, but innovative and sustainable techniques are also encouraged in the field of spaceborne, aerial, and ground-based activities, even in combination with the objective effects of climate change. Numerical and experimental investigations and case-studies addressing the above key topics are welcome. Such a Special Issue is expected to contribute to progress in the field of responsible geological disaster risk mitigation for human beings and their artifacts.

Dr. Stefano Morelli
Dr. Veronica Pazzi
Prof. Ping Lu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Geological hazards
  • Hydraulic hazards
  • Climate change
  • Disaster risk reduction strategies
  • Structural and nonstructural methodologies
  • Plans and behavioral procedures
  • Early warning systems
  • Responsible and sustainable mitigation

Published Papers (21 papers)

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22 pages, 2146 KiB  
Article
Integrated Evaluation Model of Construction Vulnerability in Anthropic Fill Areas (IALV). Case Study: District of Villaverde in the City of Madrid, Spain
by Félix Escolano Sánchez, Francisco Parra Idreos and Manuel Bueno Aguado
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8575; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13158575 - 31 Jul 2021
Viewed by 1771
Abstract
Over the coming years, developments of large urban areas are expected, many of them on plots where soil conditions may not be the most suitable for building. This is the case of plots that previously have been used for dumping anthropic fill deposits. [...] Read more.
Over the coming years, developments of large urban areas are expected, many of them on plots where soil conditions may not be the most suitable for building. This is the case of plots that previously have been used for dumping anthropic fill deposits. The term anthropic fill included a large variety of materials, all of them related with human activity; but this paper is mainly focused on natural materials extracted from nearby excavations or construction debris that form non-contaminated lands. In a review of literature related to risks, it is observed that in the last 10 years there have been abundant investigations to determine vulnerability in urban areas. However, the risks derived from the presence of anthropic landfills have generally been overlooked. For this reason, there is a real need to quantify construction vulnerability in areas settled on anthropic landfills. A methodology, up to now unknown, must be created to estimate and extrapolate it to any part of the world. The aim is to avoid the likelihood of pathologies appearing in urban areas. Hence, and to address this lack of knowledge, an Integrated Evaluation Model has been developed. Its purpose is to quantify, simply but effectively, the construction vulnerability index in already consolidated areas of historic landfills. The proposed model has been validated in a very popular district of the city of Madrid. Its surface, the number of buildings affected and population involved make it truly representative. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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23 pages, 18288 KiB  
Article
Susceptibility Analysis of Glacier Debris Flow by Investigating the Changes in Glaciers Based on Remote Sensing: A Case Study
by Ruoshen Lin, Gang Mei, Ziyang Liu, Ning Xi and Xiaona Zhang
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7196; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137196 - 26 Jun 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2092
Abstract
Glacier debris flow is one of the most critical categories of geological hazards in high-mountain regions. To reduce its potential negative effects, it needs to investigate the susceptibility of glacier debris flow. However, when evaluating the susceptibility of glacier debris flow, most research [...] Read more.
Glacier debris flow is one of the most critical categories of geological hazards in high-mountain regions. To reduce its potential negative effects, it needs to investigate the susceptibility of glacier debris flow. However, when evaluating the susceptibility of glacier debris flow, most research work considered the impact of existing glacier area, while ignoring the impact of changes in glacier ablation volume. In this paper, we considered the impact of the changes in the glacier ablation volume to investigate the susceptibility of glacier debris flow. We proposed to evaluate the susceptibility analysis in G217 gullies with frequent glacial debris flow on the Duku highway, Xinjiang Province. Specifically, by using the simple band ratio method with the manual correction to identify glacier outlines, we identified the ablation zone by comparing the glacier boundary in 2000 with that in 2015. We then calculated ablation volume by changes in glacier elevation and ablation area from 2000 to 2015. Finally, we used the volume of glacier melting in different watersheds as the main factor to evaluate the susceptibility based on the improved geomorphic information entropy (GIE) method. We found that, overall, the improved GIE method with a correction coefficient based on the glacier ablation volume is better than the previous method. Deglaciation can be adapted to analyze glacier debris flow susceptibility based on glaciology and geomorphology. Our presented work can be applied to other similar glacial debris flow events in high-mountain regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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20 pages, 7707 KiB  
Article
Performance Evaluation of Five GIS-Based Models for Landslide Susceptibility Prediction and Mapping: A Case Study of Kaiyang County, China
by Yigen Qin, Genlan Yang, Kunpeng Lu, Qianzheng Sun, Jin Xie and Yunwu Wu
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6441; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13116441 - 05 Jun 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2438
Abstract
This study evaluated causative factors in landslide susceptibility assessments and compared the performance of five landslide susceptibility models based on the certainty factor (CF), logistic regression (LR), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), coupled CF–analytic hierarchy process (CF-AHP), and CF–logistic regression (CF-LR). Kaiyang County, China, [...] Read more.
This study evaluated causative factors in landslide susceptibility assessments and compared the performance of five landslide susceptibility models based on the certainty factor (CF), logistic regression (LR), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), coupled CF–analytic hierarchy process (CF-AHP), and CF–logistic regression (CF-LR). Kaiyang County, China, has complex geological conditions and frequent landslide disasters. Based on field observations, nine influencing factors, namely, altitude, slope, topographic relief, aspect, engineering geological rock group, slope structure, distance to faults, distance to rivers, and normalized difference vegetation index, were extracted using the raster data model. The precision of the five models was tested using the distribution of disaster points for each grade and receiver operating characteristic curve. The results showed that the landslide frequency ratios accounted for more than 75% within the high and very high susceptibility zones according to the model prediction, and the AUC evaluating precision was 0.853, 0.712, 0.871, 0.873, and 0.895, respectively. The accuracy sequencing of the five models was CF-LR > CF-AHP > LR > CF > AHP, indicating that the CF-AHP and CF-LR models are better than the others. This study provides a reliable method for landslide susceptibility mapping at the county-level resolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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19 pages, 48093 KiB  
Article
Landslide Geo-Hazard Risk Mapping Using Logistic Regression Modeling in Guixi, Jiangxi, China
by Wenchao Huangfu, Weicheng Wu, Xiaoting Zhou, Ziyu Lin, Guiliang Zhang, Renxiang Chen, Yong Song, Tao Lang, Yaozu Qin, Penghui Ou, Yang Zhang, Lifeng Xie, Xiaolan Huang, Xiao Fu, Jie Li, Jingheng Jiang, Ming Zhang, Yixuan Liu, Shanling Peng, Chongjian Shao, Yonghui Bai, Xiaofeng Zhang, Xiangtong Liu and Wenheng Liuadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4830; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13094830 - 25 Apr 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6883
Abstract
Reliable prediction of landslide occurrence is important for hazard risk reduction and prevention. Taking Guixi in northeast Jiangxi as an example, this research aimed to conduct such a landslide risk assessment using a multiple logistic regression (MLR) algorithm. Field-investigated landslides and non-landslide sites [...] Read more.
Reliable prediction of landslide occurrence is important for hazard risk reduction and prevention. Taking Guixi in northeast Jiangxi as an example, this research aimed to conduct such a landslide risk assessment using a multiple logistic regression (MLR) algorithm. Field-investigated landslides and non-landslide sites were converted into polygons. We randomly generated 50,000 sampling points to intersect these polygons and the intersected points were divided into two parts, a training set (TS) and a validation set (VT) in a ratio of 7 to 3. Thirteen geo-environmental factors, including elevation, slope, and distance from roads were employed as hazard-causative factors, which were intersected by the TS to create the random point (RP)-based dataset. The next step was to compute the certainty factor (CF) of each factor to constitute a CF-based dataset. MLR was applied to the two datasets for landslide risk modeling. The probability of landslides was then calculated in each pixel, and risk maps were produced. The overall accuracy of these two models versus VS was 91.5% and 90.4% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.814 and 0.782, respectively. The RP-based MLR modeling achieved more reliable predictions and its risk map seems more plausible for providing technical support for implementing disaster prevention measures in Guixi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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18 pages, 8000 KiB  
Article
Surface and Underground Geomechanical Characterization of an Area Affected by Instability Phenomena in Zaruma Mining Zone (Ecuador)
by Paúl Carrión-Mero, Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar, Fernando Morante-Carballo, María José Domínguez-Cuesta, Cristhian Sánchez-Padilla, Andrés Sánchez-Zambrano, Josué Briones-Bitar, Roberto Blanco-Torrens, Javier Córdova-Rizo and Edgar Berrezueta
Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3272; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13063272 - 16 Mar 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3249
Abstract
In the last decade, in the mining district of Zaruma-Portovelo, there has been significant land subsidence related to uncontrolled mining activity. The purpose of this work was to carry out a surface and underground geomechanical characterization of a mining sector north of the [...] Read more.
In the last decade, in the mining district of Zaruma-Portovelo, there has been significant land subsidence related to uncontrolled mining activity. The purpose of this work was to carry out a surface and underground geomechanical characterization of a mining sector north of the city of Zaruma that allows the definition of potentially unstable areas susceptible to the mass movement. The methodology used consists of the following stages: (i) compilation of previous studies; (ii) surface and underground characterization of rocky material to establish its susceptibility to mass movement; (iii) interpretation of results; and (iv) proposal of action measures. Among the most relevant results, it stands out that 26.1% of the 23 stations characterized on the surface present conditions that vary from potentially unstable to unstable. In underground galleries, the studied mean values of the 17 stations indicate that the rock has a medium to good quality, representing a medium susceptibility to gallery destabilization. The results obtained for the surface areas (depths up to 50 m, where altered materials predominate) and the underground areas (depths > 50 m, where the alterations are specific) can be used to identify the areas with a more significant potential for instability. For both cases, it has been possible to define specific monitoring, control, and planning actions for sensitive areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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18 pages, 7687 KiB  
Article
Sharing the Pain: Apportioning Natural Hazards Exposure in Early Modern Japan
by Philip C. Brown
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1053; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031053 - 20 Jan 2021
Viewed by 1714
Abstract
In the search for ideas that promote sustainability, a number of scholars examine past practices of cooperative resource management. Seventeenth to nineteenth century Japanese cultivators developed mechanisms to spread equitably among themselves exposure to certain natural hazards associated with arable lands (warichi [...] Read more.
In the search for ideas that promote sustainability, a number of scholars examine past practices of cooperative resource management. Seventeenth to nineteenth century Japanese cultivators developed mechanisms to spread equitably among themselves exposure to certain natural hazards associated with arable lands (warichi) and is the subject of this essay. Data was collected from handwritten manuscripts and maps as well as published primary and secondary sources. Data focus heavily on the region of modern-day Niigata Prefecture. Limited numerical data was imported into digital elevation models for visual comparisons. Joint ownership practices were sufficiently robust to persist for more than two centuries and, although declining in number, continued to be employed in some communities into the 1970s. The concluding sections attempt to separate the distinctive historical circumstances from more generalizable and widely adaptable characteristics of this arrangement that might serve as inspiration for reconsideration of modern efforts to ameliorate the impact of natural hazards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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14 pages, 11020 KiB  
Article
Mechanistic Investigation of Typical Loess Landslide Disasters in Ili Basin, Xinjiang, China
by Maoguo Zhuang, Wenwei Gao, Tianjie Zhao, Ruilin Hu, Yunjie Wei, Hai Shao and Sainan Zhu
Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 635; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13020635 - 11 Jan 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2018
Abstract
In the period from 2010 to 2018, a total of 302 geological disasters occurred in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, of which 136 occurred in the Ili Basin. Compared with those in other regions, the loess landslides in the Ili Basin are strongly [...] Read more.
In the period from 2010 to 2018, a total of 302 geological disasters occurred in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, of which 136 occurred in the Ili Basin. Compared with those in other regions, the loess landslides in the Ili Basin are strongly influenced by the seasonal freeze–thaw effect. Taking the No. 2 Piliqinghe landslide as an example and based on the field geological investigation, it was found in the present study that the main triggering factors of this landslide were the snowmelt erosion of the slope toe and meltwater infiltration into the trailing edge of the slope. The mechanism of loess landslide instability was studied using numerical simulation. The results showed that (1) the Piliqinghe landslide disaster was formed through a process composed of the local sliding of the leading edge → the creep sliding and tension cracking of the slope surface → the overall sliding stage; (2) the infiltration of snowmelt was the direct cause of the landslide formation; (3) the fluvial erosion and softening caused the soil of the slope toe to slide. The results can be used as a reference for the analysis of the disaster mechanism and movement characteristics of similar loess landslides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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13 pages, 10731 KiB  
Article
Risk Analysis for Earthquake-Damaged Buildings Using Point Cloud and BIM Data: A Case Study of the Daeseong Apartment Complex in Pohang, South Korea
by Eun Soo Park and Hee Chang Seo
Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 456; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13020456 - 06 Jan 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2735
Abstract
Since 2016, the frequency and scale of earthquakes have been rapidly increasing in South Korea. In particular, the damage caused by the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes has attracted considerable attention since 2017, leading to changes in social insensitivity to safety and the perception [...] Read more.
Since 2016, the frequency and scale of earthquakes have been rapidly increasing in South Korea. In particular, the damage caused by the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes has attracted considerable attention since 2017, leading to changes in social insensitivity to safety and the perception of seismic damage to facilities. However, the current risk assessment technology for earthquake-damaged buildings is subjective and inaccurate, as it is based on visual inspection for a limited time. Accordingly, this study focuses on improving the method of analysis of disaster-damaged buildings. To this end, the study analyzes the risk factors of earthquake-damaged buildings by comparing point cloud data using 3D scanning technology with Building Information Modeling (BIM) spatial information, which is based on the existing design information. To apply this technology, existing design information was acquired through BIM modeling of the existing 2D design drawings of Building E in the Daeseong Apartment Complex (located in Heunghae-eup, Pohang City). This study is expected to contribute to improving the efficiency of measurement technology for earthquake-damaged buildings by analyzing old buildings’ BIM-based 3D modeling visualization information without drawing information, and thus improving the accuracy of seismic damage risk measurement by scanning point cloud data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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19 pages, 5587 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Economic Risk of Building Damage due to the Tunneling-Induced Settlement Using Monte Carlo Simulations and BIM
by Stylianos Providakis, Chris D. F. Rogers and David N. Chapman
Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 10034; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su122310034 - 01 Dec 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2249
Abstract
Due to the increasing use of underground space to align with sustainability needs, geohazard risk assessments have become a valuable tool for decision-making. One common issue in relation to urban geohazard assessments relates to ground movements due to tunneling affecting adjacent buildings. A [...] Read more.
Due to the increasing use of underground space to align with sustainability needs, geohazard risk assessments have become a valuable tool for decision-making. One common issue in relation to urban geohazard assessments relates to ground movements due to tunneling affecting adjacent buildings. A framework for assessing costs related to subsequent building damage, using integrated data, statistics and considering the uncertainties involved, is presented in this paper. The proposed methodology provides an integration of Monte Carlo simulations to support uncertainty estimations with an analysis for building-damage cost risk due to tunneling-induced settlements. The analysis involves analytical models using green-field conditions and a typically used building damage assessment method. BIM is capable of collating, combining and visualizing information with advanced analysis techniques into a risk-based tool. The resulting tool provides a clear way of assessing building-damage costs risk due to tunneling-induced settlements. This uses a BIM-based environment and incorporates 3D visualizations and an integrated analysis via MATLAB to reveal and highlight hazardous areas and the severity of economic risk along the tunneling route. This informs the need for additional ground investigations or secondary analyses to ensure engineering processes reduce or remove the risk of economic damage and advance sustainable decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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26 pages, 8268 KiB  
Article
A Method for the Definition of Local Vulnerability Domains to Climate Change and Relate Mapping. Two Case Studies in Southern Italy
by Mauro Francini, Lucia Chieffallo, Annunziata Palermo and Maria Francesca Viapiana
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9454; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229454 - 13 Nov 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3134
Abstract
Climate change is contributing to raising disaster risk, with variable impacts depending on the local level of vulnerability. This paper describes a method for the definition of local vulnerability domains to climate change. The application of the methodology is aimed at building local [...] Read more.
Climate change is contributing to raising disaster risk, with variable impacts depending on the local level of vulnerability. This paper describes a method for the definition of local vulnerability domains to climate change. The application of the methodology is aimed at building local vulnerability maps. The set of indicators of climate exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, theoretically identified and practically tested on two case studies in southern Italy, contributes to support the territories in identifying the main local vulnerabilities, as well as define, subsequently, a systematic framework for identifying the most suitable mitigation and adaptation measures to climate change according to the specificities of the contexts of interest. In this regard, we consider the framework of risks and related impacts due to climate change on urban infrastructure proposed by the European Commission in order to face common challenges in the EU territories. Specifically, reference is made to three thematic focuses, which are “transport infrastructures”, “energy infrastructures” and “buildings and construction sector”. Although still at an early stage, the results of the research contribute to identifying useful elements of interrelation with the urban context for guiding resilient planning choices and reducing risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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33 pages, 80108 KiB  
Article
Application of Limit Equilibrium Analysis and Numerical Modeling in a Case of Slope Instability
by Fhatuwani Sengani and François Mulenga
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8870; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12218870 - 26 Oct 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3648
Abstract
The application of limit equilibrium analysis and numerical simulation in case of slope instability is described. The purpose of the study was to use both limit equilibrium methods (LEMs) and numerical simulations (finite element method (FEM)) to understanding the common factor imposing the [...] Read more.
The application of limit equilibrium analysis and numerical simulation in case of slope instability is described. The purpose of the study was to use both limit equilibrium methods (LEMs) and numerical simulations (finite element method (FEM)) to understanding the common factor imposing the selected slope into slope instabilities. Field observations, toppling analysis, rotational analysis, and numerical simulations were performed. The results of the study showed that the selected unstable slopes were associated with the sliding types of toppling; it was observed that the slopes were governed by tension cracks and layered soil mass and dominated with approximately two joints sets throughout. The simulated factor of safety (FoS) of the slopes composed of clay soil was denoted to be prone to slope instability while others were categorized as moderately stable. The simulated FoS of the slopes correlated very well with the visual observations; however, it is anticipated that properties of soil mass and other characteristics of the slopes contributed largely to the simulated FoS. The sensitivity of the model was further tested by looking into the effect of the slope angle on the stability of the slope. The results of the simulations showed that the steeper the slope, the more they become prone to instability. Lastly, Phase 2 numerical simulation (FEM) showed that volumetric strain, shear stress, shear strain, total displacement, and σ1 and σ3 components of the slope increase with the stages of the road construction. It was concluded improper road construction, steepness of the slope, slope properties (soil types), and multiple geological features cutting across are the common mechanisms behind the slope instability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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21 pages, 6012 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties and Damage in Lignite under Combined Cyclic Compression and Shear Loading
by Haoshuai Wu, Haibo Bai, Yanlong Chen, Hai Pu and Kai Zhang
Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8393; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12208393 - 12 Oct 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1665
Abstract
In this paper, uniaxial cyclic compression and shear test was carried out for lignite samples. The effects of inclination angle (θ) and upper limit of cyclic stress (σmax) on mechanical properties of coal samples were analyzed, and the [...] Read more.
In this paper, uniaxial cyclic compression and shear test was carried out for lignite samples. The effects of inclination angle (θ) and upper limit of cyclic stress (σmax) on mechanical properties of coal samples were analyzed, and the damage variables of coal samples were studied based on energy dissipation theory. The results show that the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of coal samples after uniaxial cyclic compression and shear tests decreases with the increase of the upper limit of cyclic stress and inclination angle. The shear stress component generated by the increase of inclination angle can effectively reduce the UCS and increase the damage degree of coal samples. With the increase of inclination angle, the failure mode of coal samples is changed from tensile failure (θ = 0°), the combined tensile failure and shear failure (θ = 5°) to shear failure (θ = 10°). The peak axial and radial strain of coal samples first increases rapidly and then stagnates. The peak volume strain rapid increases and then stagnates (θ = 0° and θ = 5°). When the inclination angle is 10°, the peak volume strain first decreases rapidly and then stagnates. Even if the upper limit of cyclic stress is lower than its UCS, it will still promote the propagation of micro cracks and the generation of new cracks and increase the internal damage of coal samples. With the increase of the cycle number, damage variables of coal samples after uniaxial cyclic compression and shear tests nonlinearly increase, and the growth rate decreases gradually. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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18 pages, 13693 KiB  
Article
Study on Evolutionary Characteristics of Toppling Deformation of Anti-Dip Bank Slope Based on Energy Field
by Liangfu Xie, Qingyang Zhu, Yongjun Qin, Jianhu Wang and Jiangu Qian
Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7544; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12187544 - 13 Sep 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2235
Abstract
The evolution of toppling deformation of anti-dip slope is essentially a process of energy dissipation and transformation. Aiming to study the characteristics of energy evolution in different stages, the DEM (discrete element method) software PFC (Particle Flow Code) was utilized to establish a [...] Read more.
The evolution of toppling deformation of anti-dip slope is essentially a process of energy dissipation and transformation. Aiming to study the characteristics of energy evolution in different stages, the DEM (discrete element method) software PFC (Particle Flow Code) was utilized to establish a two-dimensional numerical model for a bank slope in Chongqing based on geological background data and field investigation. The DEM model was proven to be reliable not only because the deformation discrepancy between the numerical model and actual bank slope was not large but also because some obvious fractures in the actual bank slope can readily be found in the numerical model as well. In this article, content about displacement in the shallow layer was analyzed briefly. Special effort was made to analyze the energy field and divide the toppling deformation process into three stages. (1) Shear deformation stage: this is an energy accumulating stage in which the strain energy, friction energy, and kinetic energy are all small and the deformation is mainly shear deformation in the slope toe. (2) Stage of main toppling fracture surface hole-through: all three kinds of energy present the increasing trend. The shear deformation in the slope toe expands further, and the toppling deformation also appears in the middle and rear parts of the bank slope. (3) Stage of secondary toppling and fracture surface development: strain energy and friction energy increase steadily but kinetic energy remains constant. Deformation consists mainly of secondary shearing and a fracture surface in the shallow layer. Secondary toppling and fracture surface develop densely. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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17 pages, 11083 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Potential Ground Subsidence Geo-Hazard of Xiamen Xiang’an New Airport on Reclaimed Land by SAR Interferometry
by Guanchen Zhuo, Keren Dai, Huina Huang, Shengpeng Li, Xianlin Shi, Ye Feng, Tao Li, Xiujun Dong and Jin Deng
Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 6991; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12176991 - 27 Aug 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3007
Abstract
The land reclaimed from the seaside may have a long-term subsidence trend, which poses a potential geohazard in the future land use. Xiamen Xiang’an New Airport (XXNA) is built on reclaimed land since 2016. Based on the spaceborne Sentinel-1 data between January 2018 [...] Read more.
The land reclaimed from the seaside may have a long-term subsidence trend, which poses a potential geohazard in the future land use. Xiamen Xiang’an New Airport (XXNA) is built on reclaimed land since 2016. Based on the spaceborne Sentinel-1 data between January 2018 to April 2019 and the time series interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique, this paper analyzed the reclaimed land subsidence evolution at XXNA in this period. InSAR measurements show that XXNA is suffering from severe subsidence, mainly in three regions because of the earth and sand compacting. By analyzing the spatial subsidence characterizations of the main subsiding areas combined with historical land reclamation and future land use planning, we find the potential threat of subsidence to future land use. Correlation between subsidence and the period of reclamation was found, indicating that the consolidation and compression in dredger fill is the main cause of subsidence. By combining subsidence monitoring results with different land use types and adopting the Expectation (Ex) and Entropy (En) methods, we analyzed the key area with potential subsidence geo-hazard. This work shows that with SAR interferometry, it is possible to find the large area ground subsidence in the airport reclaimed area. The areas with potential subsidence geo-hazards are consistent with the deep reclaimed earth, which means high subsidence risk in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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18 pages, 6355 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Behavior and Deposit Features of Debris Avalanche in Model Tests Using High Speed Photogrammetry
by Yong Wei, Qiang Xu, He Yang, Huajin Li and Pinglang Kou
Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6578; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12166578 - 14 Aug 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1865
Abstract
Model tests of debris avalanche can not only illuminate formation mechanisms but also represent deformation and motion processes. At present, the static terrain data of model tests are measured before and after experiments using terrestrial laser scanning. To study the motion and deformation [...] Read more.
Model tests of debris avalanche can not only illuminate formation mechanisms but also represent deformation and motion processes. At present, the static terrain data of model tests are measured before and after experiments using terrestrial laser scanning. To study the motion and deformation of research objects, it is necessary to explore new techniques to obtain dynamic terrain data in the course of experimentation. In this paper, taking specified experimental tests of debris avalanche as an example, the method of 4D reconstruction using high-speed close-range photogrammetry is described in detail. The dynamic terrain data of model tests were obtained after the data were processed. Then, the dynamic behavior and deposit features of debris avalanche were analyzed in detail. Results show that dynamic terrain data of model tests can be obtained rapidly and accurately with this method. The propagation and deposit processes of the debris avalanche have evident stage characteristics, which can be divided into the starting, acceleration, constant, and deceleration stages. The granular size, slope angle, and barrier effect have a great influence on the travel distance and duration of the debris avalanche. The depth of the intermediate and leading area of the debris avalanche increased gradually and the depth of the trailing area first increased then decreased. We believe that this approach can also be applied to other domains involving the acquisition of dynamic terrain data and, thus, deserves to be applied widely. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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14 pages, 2140 KiB  
Article
Hazard-Consistent Earthquake Scenario Selection for Seismic Slope Stability Assessment
by Alexey Konovalov, Yuriy Gensiorovskiy and Andrey Stepnov
Sustainability 2020, 12(12), 4977; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12124977 - 18 Jun 2020
Viewed by 2436
Abstract
Design ground shaking intensity, based on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) maps, is most commonly used as a triggering condition to analyze slope stability under seismic loading. Uncertainties that are associated with expected ground motion levels are often ignored. This study considers an [...] Read more.
Design ground shaking intensity, based on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) maps, is most commonly used as a triggering condition to analyze slope stability under seismic loading. Uncertainties that are associated with expected ground motion levels are often ignored. This study considers an improved, fully probabilistic approach for earthquake scenario selection. The given method suggests the determination of the occurrence probability of various ground motion levels and the probability of landsliding for these ground motion parameters, giving the total probability of slope failure under seismic loading in a certain time interval. The occurrence hazard deaggregation technique is proposed for the selection of the ground shaking level, as well as the magnitude and source-to-site distance of a design earthquake, as these factors most probably trigger slope failure within the time interval of interest. An example application of the approach is provided for a slope near the highway in the south of Sakhalin Island (Russia). The total probability of earthquake-induced slope failure in the next 50 years was computed to be in the order of 16%. The scenario peak ground acceleration value estimated from the disaggregated earthquake-induced landslide hazard is 0.15g, while the 475-year seismic hazard curve predicts 0.3g. The case study highlights the significant difference between ground shaking scenario levels in terms of the 475-year seismic hazard map and the considered fully probabilistic approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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16 pages, 8421 KiB  
Article
Diagnosing Subsidence Geohazard at Beijing Capital International Airport, from High-Resolution SAR Interferometry
by Keren Dai, Xianlin Shi, Jisong Gou, Leyin Hu, Mi Chen, Liang Zhao, Xiujun Dong and Zhenhong Li
Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2269; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12062269 - 13 Mar 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3669
Abstract
Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) has suffered from uneven land subsidence since 1935, which affects the smoothness of airport runways and seriously threatens the safety of aircrafts. In this paper, a spaceborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) with high-resolution Cosmo-SkyMed SAR data was [...] Read more.
Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) has suffered from uneven land subsidence since 1935, which affects the smoothness of airport runways and seriously threatens the safety of aircrafts. In this paper, a spaceborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) with high-resolution Cosmo-SkyMed SAR data was utilized at BCIA for the first time to diagnose the subsidence hazard. The results show that subsidence is progressing at BCIA at a maximum rate of 50 mm/year, which is mainly distributed in the northwest side of the airport. It was found that the Shunyi-Liangxiang fault directly traverses Runway2 and Runway3 and causes uneven subsidence, controlling the spatial subsidence pattern to some degree. Four driving factors of subsidence were investigated, namely: the over-exploitation of groundwater, active faults, compressible soil thickness, and aquifer types. For the future sustainable development of BCIA, the influence of Beijing new airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport (BDIA), was analyzed and predicted. It is necessary to take relevant measures to control the uneven subsidence during the initial operation of BDIA and conduct long-term monitoring to ensure the regular safe operation of BCIA. This case demonstrates a remote sensing method of diagnosing the subsidence hazard with high accuracy and non-contact, providing a reliable alternative for the geohazard diagnosis of key infrastructures in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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17 pages, 4954 KiB  
Article
Seismic Fragility Analysis of Tunnels with Different Buried Depths in a Soft Soil
by Xiaorong Hu, Zhiguang Zhou, Hao Chen and Yongqiang Ren
Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 892; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12030892 - 24 Jan 2020
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 3178
Abstract
Seismic fragility of an engineering structure is the conditional probability that damage of a structure equals or exceeds a limit state under a specified intensity motion. It represents the seismic performance of structures and the correlation between ground motion and structural damage, playing [...] Read more.
Seismic fragility of an engineering structure is the conditional probability that damage of a structure equals or exceeds a limit state under a specified intensity motion. It represents the seismic performance of structures and the correlation between ground motion and structural damage, playing an indispensable role in structural security assessment. A practical evaluation procedure of acquiring the fragility curves of tunnels in a soft soil has been proposed in this paper. Taking a typical metro tunnel in Shanghai as an example, two-dimensional finite element models of soil-tunnel cross-section were established. The nonlinear characteristics of soil layers were considered by the one-dimensional equivalent linear analysis in the equivalent-linear earthquake site response analyses (EERA) program. The ground motions were selected based on seismic station records. Comparing the analytical fragility curves with the empirical curves derived from American Lifelines Alliance (ALA) and HAZUS shows that the proposed method is reliable and feasible. Further study about the influence of buried depths on the fragility of the tunnel was performed. The results indicate that the failure probability of the tunnel is not monotonically decreasing with the increase of the buried depth for a given peak ground acceleration (PGA.) Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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18 pages, 9559 KiB  
Article
Multiple Geophysical Techniques for Investigation and Monitoring of Sobradinho Landslide, Brazil
by Yawar Hussain, Martin Cardenas-Soto, Salvatore Martino, Cesar Moreira, Welitom Borges, Omar Hamza, Renato Prado, Rogerio Uagoda, Juan Rodríguez-Rebolledo, Rafael Cerqueira Silva and Hernan Martinez-Carvajal
Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6672; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11236672 - 26 Nov 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4241
Abstract
Geophysical methods have a varying degree of potential for detailed characterization of landslides and their dynamics. In this study, the application of four well-established seismic-based geophysical techniques, namely Ambient Noise Interferometry (ANI), Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR), Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves [...] Read more.
Geophysical methods have a varying degree of potential for detailed characterization of landslides and their dynamics. In this study, the application of four well-established seismic-based geophysical techniques, namely Ambient Noise Interferometry (ANI), Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR), Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) and Nanoseismic Monitoring (NM), were considered to examine their suitability for landslide characterization and monitoring the effect of seasonal variation on slope mass. Furthermore, other methods such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and DC Resistivity through Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) were also used for comparison purpose. The advantages and limitations of these multiple techniques were exemplified by a case study conducted on Sobradinho landslide in Brazil. The study revealed that the geophysical characterization of the landslide using traditional techniques (i.e., GPR, ERT and MASW) were successful in (i) the differentiation between landslide debris and other Quaternary deposits, and (ii) the delineation of the landslide sliding surface. However, the innovative seismic based techniques, particularly ambient noise based (HVSR and ANI) and emitted seismic based (NM), were not very effective for the dynamic monitoring of landslide, which might be attributed to the short-time duration of the data acquisition campaigns. The HVSR was also unsuccessful in landslide site characterization i.e., identification of geometry and sliding surface. In particular, there was no clear evidence of the light seasonal variations, which could have been potentially detected from the physical parameters during the (short-time) ambient noise and microseismic acquisition campaigns. Nevertheless, the experienced integration of these geophysical techniques may provide a promising tool for future applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

28 pages, 2772 KiB  
Review
Framing Disaster Risk Perception and Vulnerability in Social Media Communication: A Literature Review
by Stefano Morelli, Veronica Pazzi, Olga Nardini and Sara Bonati
Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9148; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159148 - 26 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3550
Abstract
The paper presents the results of a literature review on how social media can impact on disaster risk perception and vulnerability and how these two aspects are interconnected, trying to understand what factors have consequences especially on informational vulnerability. The paper answers to [...] Read more.
The paper presents the results of a literature review on how social media can impact on disaster risk perception and vulnerability and how these two aspects are interconnected, trying to understand what factors have consequences especially on informational vulnerability. The paper answers to the increasing requests at an international level to move from a technocratic approach to disaster risk management and reduction to a holistic one, where social perspective is integrated. The paper states that this change of paradigm is relevant, especially considering the role that new technologies in communication and information systems are acquiring in disaster risk management and reduction. What emerges from the literature review is that there is a limited scientific production on the topic and further works are desired, to improve knowledge on how new communication and information technologies can impact on vulnerability and risk perception. Furthermore, the two topics are usually discussed separately. However, the role that risk perception can have in increasing or reducing vulnerability deserves to be better discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

21 pages, 4603 KiB  
Technical Note
Land Damage Mapping and Liquefaction Potential Analysis of Soils from the Epicentral Region of 2017 Pohang Mw 5.4 Earthquake, South Korea
by Sambit Prasanajit Naik, Ohsang Gwon, Kiwoong Park and Young-Seog Kim
Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1234; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12031234 - 08 Feb 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4328
Abstract
Studies on earthquake-induced liquefaction and identification of source unit for causing liquefaction have been a major concern in sustainable land use development especially in low to moderate seismic areas. During the 2017 Mw 5.4 Pohang earthquake, widespread liquefaction was reported around the [...] Read more.
Studies on earthquake-induced liquefaction and identification of source unit for causing liquefaction have been a major concern in sustainable land use development especially in low to moderate seismic areas. During the 2017 Mw 5.4 Pohang earthquake, widespread liquefaction was reported around the Heunghae basin, which was the first ever reported case of liquefaction in the modern seismic history of Korea. The epicentral area is one of the major industrial hubs along the SE Korean Peninsula with no detailed liquefaction hazard map. The purpose of this study was to determine the land damage classification on the basis of surface manifestation of liquefaction features and carry out detailed liquefaction potential analysis to delineate the depth of liquefiable soil. This will eventually support developing a liquefaction hazard zonation map and sustainable development of infrastructure to minimize earthquake damages. In this present study, the southern part of the Heunghae basin, which has more field evidences of liquefaction than the northern part, was taken for detailed liquefaction analysis. From the detailed analysis, it was observed that the soils from 1.5 to 15 m depth with the probability of liquefaction varying from 2 to 20 are prone to liquefaction. On the basis of land damage pattern, the epicentral area falls in orange to red zone, which means the necessity of further detailed liquefaction analysis. This study urges more detailed liquefaction zonation should be carried out for the epicentral area and liquefaction hazard should be included in the multi-hazard map in the future for the sustainable land use planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Hazards and Risk Reduction Approaches)
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