Sustainability Nexus Analytics, Informatics, and Data (AID) Programme
LANDSLIDES AND LAND SUBSIDENCE
WHY DOES LANDSLIDES AND LAND SUBSIDENCE
MATTER?
Landslides and land subsidence are among ground movement hazards that can have devastating effects on infrastructure, human lives, environment and sustainability of resources. Landslides are a natural hazard that include the movement of rock, soil, or debris down a slope. They can occur in various forms, such as rockfall, debris flows, mudslides, or avalanches, resulting in thousands of fatalities worldwide each year. Land subsidence, referring to the gradual sinking of the Earth's surface, occurs when the support beneath the surface decreases or is removed, leading to the collapse of overlying layers and soil compaction. It can be caused by varied reasons including withdrawal of groundwater, oil, gas and geothermal fluids, mining activities, tunneling, consolidation of certain types of soil, development of sinkholes in karstic environment or certain tectonic processes.
WHY A NEXUS APPROACH?
Landslides and subsidence are complex processes influenced by multiple interrelated factors including geological, geomorphological, hydrological, and climatic factors, as well as anthropogenic activities and land use practices. For example, heavy rainfall or snowmelt particularly when certain types of geological materials are present , can increase the likelihood of landslides. Human activities such urbanization and unregulated groundwater overexploitation can exacerbate risk of land subsidence. The nexus approach examines the relationship and dependencies between these interrelated factors in order to derive a comprehensive understanding of susceptibility to ground movement hazards. This is crucial for mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts of landslides and ground subsidence on communities and the environment, developing a proper early warning systems and optimized resource management.
AID TOOLS
The links provided below offer access to crucial parameters and datasets that influence Landslides and land subsidence. Although this list is not exhaustive, it provides valuable tools and resources for conducting Landslides and land subsidence studies and analysis. Depending on data availability and resources, additional parameters can be incorporated. Here are some of the tools and resources:
The European Ground Motion Service (EGMS)
The European Ground Motion Service (EGMS) is a service provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with several European institutions and organizations.
It plays a crucial role in supporting decision-making processes related to geohazard mitigation and land-use planning by providing accurate and up-to-date information on ground motion across Europe. By continuously monitoring and analyzing these ground movements, the service aims to improve the understanding of geohazards and contribute to risk assessment and management.
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
The main areas of focus for BGR include geological mapping, monitoring of groundwater resources, assessment of mineral and energy resources, geotechnical investigations, and the study of natural hazards like earthquakes and landslides. The institute carries out comprehensive research and monitoring activities to assess the geological and geophysical conditions in Germany and beyond. It also provides data, information, and expertise to policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the general public.
Earth Observation Center Geoservice (EOC)
The EOC Geoservice, operated by the Earth Observation Center (EOC), is a service that provides access to various geospatial data and products derived from Earth observation satellites. It aims to support a wide range of applications in fields such as environmental monitoring, disaster management, urban planning, agriculture, and scientific research. It provides users with the ability to access, analyze, and visualize geospatial data through an online platform or through direct download.
The UNESCO Land Subsidence International Initiative (LaSII)
The UNESCO Land Subsidence International Initiative (LaSII) is a program aimed at addressing the issue of land subsidence, which refers to the sinking or settling of the Earth's surface due to various factors. The primary objective of LaSII is to increase awareness and understanding of land subsidence, its causes, and its impacts on society and the environment. Through scientific research and data sharing, LaSII aims to improve our knowledge of the processes leading to land subsidence and develop effective strategies to mitigate its effects.
NASA landslide Viewer
Landslide Viewer is the portal to visualize the data from the Cooperative Open Online Landslide Repository (COOLR). Data visualized includes citizen science landslide reports, Global Landslide Catalog data, and other landslide catalog data. You can customize the map view by selecting different layers with landslide and environmental information. You can also download all landslide data or get the ArcGIS REST API for in-depth analysis from the portal.
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You can consult with the AID group leader or any members for your regional, national, and global datasets, tools, and analytics projects and questions.
