Claudio Margottini

Landslide Science and Practice

A proposal to supplement existing landslide classifications with a more detailed description of the geomechanical characteristics of the materials to include the effects of “structure”, stress history and initial state has been developed as part of the EC sponsored SafeLand project. This approach provides a valuable insight into and a rational basis for the modelling of the physical mechanisms that govern landslide triggering and subsequent development. The classification, behaviour and modelling of saturated clays and sands is summarized here. The use of advanced strain hardening plasticity models which, where necessary, include progressive damage to the “structure” of the material helps to replicate mechanical weathering, delayed failure and the triggering of flows or slides, depending on the type of material. A numerical example is presented, illustrating the different response of sensitive clays and mechanically overconsolidated clays to rapid erosion or excavation. More details of the proposed geotechnical classification and other numerical examples may be found in Deliverable 1.1 of the SafeLand project.

Cultural Heritage and Landslides: Research for Risk Prevention and Conservation

The impact of natural hazards on our cultural heritage represents an important theme, involving a multi-disciplinary approach. In case of landsliding, engineering geologists can play a key role, through the identification of relationships between soil and structures. This chapter starts from the large perspective of UNESCO Convention (1972), as a bird’s-eye view of the general problem of heritage conservation, arriving at the presentation of a series of case histories from different countries. This varied approaches to the problem of landslides and cultural heritage reflects the multitudes of interests associated with this topics.

The Second World Landslide Forum, Rome, 2011 and the Third World Landslide Forum, Beijing, 2014

The Second World Landslide Forum was held at the headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 3–9 October 2011 in Rome, Italy. The Third World Landslide Forum (WLF3) is to be held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China from 2 to 6 June 2014. This article first outlines the aims and background of the World Landslide Forums, reports on the Second World Landslide Forum in Rome, and then announces the plans for the Third World Landslide Forum in Beijing. Finally, it calls for contributions for the organization of WLF3 and participation in the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL) and the International Programme on Landslides.

The ICL Network on “Landslides and Cultural & Natural Heritage (LACUNHEN)”

In recent decades, the concept of cultural heritage has evolved into one that encompasses an understanding of the history of humanity, together with scientific knowledge and intellectual attitudes. This changing concept has prompted a subsequent re-evaluation of what constitutes the outstanding universal values of World Heritage sites and the operational methods for implementing the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The scope has broadened from studying a single monument in isolation to one that values a multidimensional, multiregional, and inter-disciplinary approach and encapsulates vast spans of human history. Within this broader view, landslides and more generally slope instabilities are an important factor endangering cultural heritage sites, especially prehistoric sites, earth/rock monuments, and archaeological sites affected by environmental processes and degradation. Natural and cultural heritage sites, as well as cultural landscapes, are then tied into a common framework that the Geological Society of America has defined “Men’s legacy to Earth and Earth’s legacy to Man”. On the other hand, not too much effort has been expended in the past to develop conservation policies systematically integrating geological, geomorphological, and engineering geological aspects into daily practices. The purpose of the “LAndslides and CUltural & Natural HEritage” thematic Network (LACUNHEN) is to create a platform for scientists and practitioners who are ready to jointly contribute to safeguarding relevant endangered Natural and Cultural Heritage sites (e.g., Machu Picchu). They will share and disseminate their respective experience, demonstrating how these special “objects” require approaches, techniques, and solutions that go far beyond traditional civil engineering perspectives.

International Programme on Landslides (IPL): Objectives, History and List of World Centres of Excellence and IPL ProjectsOpen image in new window

The initial stage of IPL project which was managed by ICL started in 2002 at the same time of ICL foundation. The first IPL project was publication of International Journal of Landslides at this stage. The current second stage of IPL was defined by 2006 Tokyo Action Programme on Landslides as an international programme managed by IPL Global Promotion Committee consisting of ICL and ICL supporting organizations (UNESCO, UNISDR and others). IPL includes IPL Projects conducted by ICL member organizations, the triannual World Landslide Forum and the World Centres of Excellence on Landslide Risk Reduction (WCoE). This paper describes those activities and the list of WCoE since 2008 and the list of IPL projects both in the initial stage of IPL projects (2002–2008) and the second stage of IPL projects (2008–present).

The Geological and Landslides Museum of Civita di Bagnoregio (Central Italy)

The present paper reports on the activities conducted since 2008, within the International Programme on Landslides (IPL), for the realisation of the Geological and Landslides Museum of Civita di Bagnoregio (Central Italy) (IPL project 106-1). The town of Civita di Bagnoregio (Latium Region, Central Italy), located at the border of the ancient Volsini volcano and placed on a high tuff peak that rests on fragile clay, is a stunning case where the human presence has tried for centuries to hinder the natural degradation of the cliff. It is a paradigm of the men who tries to survive in a hostile environment with an incomparable beauty and nature that wants to take its course dismantling and eroding all reliefs. The Geological and Landslides Museum is a scientific institution introducing visitors to the fundamentals of landslide science, describing the site evolution through the relationship between human being and geomorphological processes in the last millennium and, finally, introducing to the “real museum” that are the ongoing landslides on the cliff and valleys. The visitors will find in the museum many scenic spots that are describing the evolution of territory but, in the meantime, they are encouraged to visit the site and to touch by hand the various geomorphological features of the site. The museum also seeks to develop a culture of resilience to landslide disasters, promoting the site as a “geomorphological park” to study and test innovative monitoring tools, for the benefit of scientific community.