Predicting Landslides

At a time when we seem increasingly powerless before the ravages of nature, a team of researchers at Durham University, in the north of England, has made great strides in understanding and predicting landslides.

Large scale landslides, often prevalent in countries with heavy rainfall, can inflict huge damage on communities. By measuring initial movements within a slope, and studying soil samples, Durham's researchers have developed a method of accurately predicting at what point a hillside will reach catastrophic failure and even how far and how fast a landslide will move.

Their methods enable advanced warning of a potentially disastrous landfall, so that communities at risk can be moved to safety. They are currently sharing this expertise by collaborating with governments and organisations in a number of projects in the developing world.