Slope Instability and Landslides
Landslides are among the Earth's most destructive natural hazards.
Homes and infrastructure located on the path of a landslide can be
seriously damaged or destroyed. Slope instability is a complex
phenomenon that can occur at many scales and for many reasons.
Exponent has expertise in the identification, analysis, and remediation
of landslides.
Landslides can be fast or slow, wet or dry, small or large, shallow or deep, old or recent.
They can be triggered by earthquakes, grading, erosion, rainstorms, or broken water
lines, and water is often a critical factor. Landslides do not need to be large to be
destructive—even small, incipient movements can cause substantial structural damage
to critical facilities such as dams, resulting in major economic losses.
Exponent scientists and engineers have many tools at their disposal to study landslides,
tools that are often crafted to the particular event. Remote sensing data, including aerial
photos and radar images, provide historical data sets to study the limits and timing of
moderate- to large-scale landslides. Test pits, borings, rock cores, and downhole logging
of bucket auger borings provide data and samples for subsurface characterization.
Well data, rainfall records, and records of irrigation and water use provide data on
groundwater depth and availability in areas of slope instability.
Exponent scientists and engineers are also experienced in the analysis and modeling of
slope instabilities. Cross sections developed from the field data representing subsurface
conditions are combined with laboratory-derived soil and rock properties to provide input for computer-aided slope stability analysis tailored to the needed application. Once a slope
is characterized, Exponent scientists and engineers are able to develop realistic recommendations
for repairs and remediation of failed and failing slopes.
Related Link: Geotechnical Engineering
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