Slope Stability Engineering

Proceedings of the International Symposium, IS-Shikoku '99

J.C. Jiang, Yagi Norio, T. Yamagami

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9789058090799
• eBook ISBN: 9781351416320
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Civil Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

This collection of papers covers a wide range of relevant issues and aspects of slope stability engineering from both practical and scientific points of view from the Proceedings of the International Symposium on Slope Stability Engineering : Is--Shikoku'99 : Matsuyama, Shikoku, Japan, 8-11 November, 1999.

12 Landslide inventory, landslide hazard zonation and rockfall

Disaster prevention and sustainable development in Central America

S.Mora

Interamerican Development Bank, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

ABSTRACT: High and chronic losses to natural disasters hinder development in Central America, yet preventive efforts remain insufficient. Hydrometeorological and geodynamic hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, land-slides and floods combine with human vulnerability factors: environmental deterioration, demographic growth, poverty and random urban expansion and industry on lands of ever-worsening quality. Much of the problem lies in the lack of interest of decision-makers in prevention. Efforts beyond the immediate post-disaster period fade as soon as mass media attention diminishes. A large share of this deficiency belongs to the scientific community due to the poor quality of its information and advocacy. A change in strategy is urgently needed. The incoming millenium affords unusual opportunities to devise more convincing ways to attract and commit decision-makers to disaster prevention. The principles and mechanisms for sustainable development and sound land use plans will reduce future consequences. Inaction and insufficient investment in prevention must be regarded as a short-term loan given to us by Nature, which will be charged later at a high rate of interest.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 General background

Less than a century has past between the first airplane flight and the present advanced study of planets and cosmos with spacecraft. At the same time the world economy expanded 20 times and industrial production increased 50 times. However, the price is high for these assets: fossil fuels consumption increased more than 30 times, that of water over 10 times and the world’s population trebled, a large proportion concentrating in megacities of “developing” countries. This dynamism weighs heavily on non-renewable resources, conducting towards their early depletion and endangering the basic means by which life is sustained: extensive deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pollution of water, soil and air. To these, humankind reacted, searching for solutions and increasing public awareness to the hazards of current unsustainable ways of living. The discourse on sustainability among mass media, decision-makers and political lobbying, has left out the extent and significance of disasters. The purpose of this paper is to explore their impact in a particular vulnerable region -Central America- and to recommend policies to address this important but neglected issue.

2. DISASTERS AND OUR WAY OF LIFE

2.1 Incompatibility

Our self-destructive lifestyle, added to the effects of natural phenomena, result in a deteriorating quality of life. The situation is complex, given the number of variables involved. Disasters are not exclusively caused by the force of Nature but also by human activities entering into its contradiction and becoming liable to severe damage. The issue is to mitigate the ever-increasing losses and deterioration. On the one hand, politicians and decision-makers pay insufficient attention and feel not committed and on the other hand, the scientific community hasn’t been able to convey a message with convincing arguments and feasible solutions. A new strategy must be devised.

2.2 Efforts carried up to the present

Efforts to date have concentrated on the analysis of hazards. Most of the meager financial support is applied in understanding the mechanisms involved in the occurrence of earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and landslides. A small beginning has been made correlating environmental degradation, socio-economic variables and vulnerability through holistic views.

Traditionally, the disaster itself attracts most of the support from national governments and international organizations (emergency management, rescue, shelter, and reconstruction). No efforts are spared for the immediate relief of suffering, replacement of losses, repair of damage. Unfortunately, the momentum lasts for only a short time, awareness dissipates and fades away. Few lessons are drawn from the experience and little or no preventive action is taken afterwards, circumstances remain unchanged and little awareness remains of the fact that a postdisaster period is the time to prepare for the next. Individual and collective memory is too short, regardless of efforts by the United Nations (International Decade for the Reduction of Natural Disasters), the Yokohama Summit (1994) and others. Unfortunately, most purposes remain in inkpots and files and do not advance beyond rhetoric. A vicious cycle is established, backfed by poverty as both cause and consequence of disasters. Every day new marginal urban settlements nourish from demographic growth and migr...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• 6 Design strength parameters
• 7 Slope stability of landfills and waste materials
• 8 Stabilization and remedial works
• 9 Stability of reinforced slopes
• 10 Probabilistic slope stability
• 11 Landslide investigations
• 12 Landslide inventory, landslide hazard zonation and rockfall
• 13 Simulation and analysis of debris flow
• Author index