LANDSLIDE
1. INTRODUCTION
A landslide, also known as a landslip, is a geological phenomenon that includes a
wide range of ground movements, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow
debris flows. Landslides can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments. Although
the action of gravity is the primary driving force for a landslide to occur, there are other
contributing factors affecting the original slope stability.
2. TYPES OF LANDSLIDE:
Earthflows: These are down slope, viscous flows of saturated, fine-grained materials, which
move at any speed from slow to fast.
Creep: It is a slow movement of soil in the range of a few cm a year. This phenomenon
occurs either seasonally or continuously. As shown in the picture, it can be identified by tilted
fence, or trees with curved trunks. Creep can buckle walls, but not life threatening. The
process can be slowed down by planting trees.
Rapid flows: Rapid flow is similar to the creep, but differs in terms of speed and depth. It is
faster. Creep is involved up to shallow depth (app. 1-2 m), whereas the rapid flow is involved
to greater depth (app. upto 5 m or more). If a mass of earth moves along a definite plane or
surface, the failure is termed as Landslide.
Slump or debris slide: Soil mass moving at a speed of few tens of meters to a few hundred
meters per hour is known as slump. It is identified by rotational arc scars. Generally, it is not
hazardous to life, but is threat to natural property.
Rockfall & Rock slide: It represents the downward movement of the surface. It may occur
due to plastic outflow of the underlying strata or due to the compaction of the underlying
material.
Plastic outflow: It may occur when a plastic layer like clay bed is squeezed outward due to
overlying heavy load.
Collapse: It occurs due to extensive pull out of large volume of underground water or due to
subsurface solution activity in limestone terrain.
3. CAUSES:
Natural causes:
Gravity
Heavy and prolonged rainfall
Earthquakes
Volcano eruptions
Floods/ Waves
Rapid snow melt
Anthropogenic causes:
Inappropriate drainage
Cutting deep excavations on slopes for building, roads, canals, mining
Ground water changes
Change in the slope pattern, land use pattern, afforestation
Quarrying
4. EFFECTS:
Direct Effects:
i. Physical Damage-Debris may block roads, supply lines (telecommunication,
electricity, water, etc.) and waterways
ii. Causalities- deaths and injuries to people and animals.
Indirect Effects:
i. Influence of landslides in dam safety- failure of the slopes bordering the reservoir,
Flooding caused by movements of large masses of soil into the reservoir
ii. Landslides and flooding- Debris flow can cause flooding by blocking valleys and
stream channels, forcing large amounts of water to backup causing backup/ flash
flood.
Direct losses: Loss of life, property, infrastructure and lifeline facilities, Resources,
farmland and places of cultural importance.
Indirect losses: Loss in productivity of agricultural or forest lands, Reduced property
values, Loss of revenue, Increased cost, Adverse effect on water quality and Loss of
human productivity
5. HOW TO MINIMIZE LANDSLIDE HAZARDS:
Passive Intervention:
Choose a safe location to build your home, away from steep slopes and places where
landslides have occurred in the past.
Prevent deforestation and vegetation removal.
Avoid weakening the slope.
Non- Structural measures:
Awareness generation: Educate the public about signs that a landslide is imminent so
that personal safety measures may be taken.
Financial Mechanisms: Support the establishment of landslide insurance.
Legal and Policy: legislation to direct a governmental or private program to reduce
landslide losses should be strengthened.
Landslide Hazard Mapping and Use of GIS:
Use of remote sensing and ground truth data for making landslide hazard zone map.
Here, such maps are used to develop mitigation plans 20 in consultation with experts.
Engineering considerations:
Hazard mapping will locate areas prone to slope failures. This will permit to identify
avoidance of areas for building settlements. These maps will serve as a tool for
mitigation planning.
Land use practices such as: Areas covered by degraded natural vegetation in upper
slopes are to be afforested with suitable species. Existing patches of natural vegetation
(forest and natural grass land) in good condition should be preserved. Any
developmental activity initiated in the area should be taken up only after a detailed
study of the region and slope protection should be carried out if necessary. In
construction of roads, irrigation canals etc. proper care is to be taken to avoid
blockage of natural drainage• Total avoidance of settlement in the risk zone should be
made mandatory. Relocate settlements and infrastructure that fall in the possible path
of the landslide. No construction of buildings in areas beyond a certain degree of
slope.
Retaining Walls can be built to stop landfrom slipping (these walls are commonly
seen along roads in hill stations). It’s constructed to prevent smaller sized and
secondary landslides that often occur along the toe portion of the larger landslides.
Surface Drainage Control Works: The surface drainage control works are
implemented to control the movement of landslides accompanied by infiltration of
rain water and spring flows.
Engineered structures with strong foundations can withstand or take the ground
movement forces. Underground installations (pipes, cables, etc.) should be made
flexible to move in order to withstand forces caused by the landslide.
Increasing vegetation cover is the cheapest and most effective way of arresting
landslides. This helps to bind the top layer of the soil with layers below, while
preventing excessive run-off and soil erosion.
Insurance will assist individuals whose homes are likely to be damaged by landslides
or by any other natural hazards. For new constructions it should include standards for
selection of the site as well as construction technique.
Flattening of the slope: Slope at the point of failure may be established by grading the
slope to a flatter angle on the basis of proper geotechnical investigation done either by
regarding the slope from bottom to the top with benching, where ever necessary or cut
in upper hills.
