7. Can the consequences of landslides be influenced by human behaviour?

The consequences of landslides can be influenced by human behaviour in relation to the possibility to answer to the questions “where?”, “why?” and “when?” a landslide phenomenon will occur and to realize an appropriate territorial planning.

From a practical point of view it means to implement a reliable landslide hazard and risk zoning. In particular, hazard zoning should be devoted to prevent further increase of risk, which could produce both an unacceptable number of casualties and economic hardship.

In many countries the development of urban areas takes place in landslide prone areas with a fair or without control by a local planning.

Landslide hazard and risk zoning anyhow is not, however, a simple topic because landslides are associated with a displacement of masses due to several conditioning factors (morphological features, geological factors, landcover) and under the effect of different triggering factors (physical processes, geomorphologic processes, man-made processes).

A necessary step in landslide hazard studies is often to implement maps. Maps may consist either of basic documents such as geomorphological maps and landslide maps or of landslide susceptibility maps and hazard zonation maps.

Go to 7.1. More information on the consequences of Landslides influenced by human behaviour

Aerial view of the May 1998 mudflows in the town of Episcopio, Campania Region, Southern Italy (photo by http://www.commissario2994.it/)

The consequences of landslides can be influenced by human behaviour in relation to the possibility to answer to the questions “where?”, “why?” and “when?” a landslide phenomenon will occur and to realize an appropriate territorial planning.

From a practical point of vieuw it means to implement a reliable landslide hazard and risk zoning.

In particular, hazard zoning should be devoted to prevent further increase of risk, which could produce both an unacceptable number of casualties and economic hardship.

For example, in many countries the development of urban areas takes place in landslide prone areas with a fair or without control by a local planning.

Landslide hazard and risk zoning anyhow is not, however a simple topic because the landslides are associated with a displacement of masses due to several conditioning factors and under the effect of different triggering factors.

Go to 3.1. More informations on Factors and Causes

Go to 12.1 More information on Landslides Mapping

Several case histories teach that if the man is able to read the preliminary signs of a disaster many casualties can be avoid.

References
Cascini L,. Bonnard C., Corominas J., Jibson R. and Montero-Olarte J. 2005. Landslide hazard and Risk zoning for urban planning and development. Proc. of the Int. Conf. on Landslide Risk Management, Vancouver 31 may-3 june 2005, pp. 199-235, Ed. Balkema,

Go to 7. Can the consequences of landslides be influenced by human behaviour?