SafeLand project midterm

The EC FP7 project SafeLand coordinated by ICG is passing it's midterm, 18 of the total planned 36 months are over. The progress is as planned. More than 25 reports are prepared, either in a draft or final status.

In addition to the project management, ICG has been responsible for a number of activities during this period, including the preparation of the following reports:

• Statistical and empirical models for prediction of precipitation-induced landslides
• Analysis of landslides triggered by anthropogenic factors in Europe
• Identification of landslide hazard and risk "hotspots" in Europe
• Methodology for evaluation of the socio-economic impact of landslides (social vulnerability)

Go to SafeLand homepage to read more about the project.

ICG has also been involved in almost all other activities taking place in SafeLand. SafeLand's research programme is organised in 21 Work Packages, and several work tasks under each of the Work Packages.

The scientific development comprises 18 Work Packages, and to facilitate management of the work packages, these are grouped under five Research Areas. Each of the five Research Areas prioritises scientific advancement on the technological or the societal arena, or even both arenas. Maintaining the database of case studies, dissemination of the project results, and project management and coordination are done in Work Packages 6, 7 and 8.

Area 1 focuses on improving the knowledge on triggering mechanisms, processes and thresholds, including climate-related and anthropogenic triggers, and improving run-out models in landslide hazard assessment. Core activities in the first 18 months have been related to this topic.

Area 2 aims at harmonising quantitative risk assessment methodologies for different spatial scales, looking into uncertainties, vulnerability, landslide susceptibility and landslide frequency.

Area 3 integrates future climate change scenarios and changes in demography and infrastructure into this harmonised quantitative risk assessment, resulting in the evolution of hazard and risk in Europe and the evaluation of their impact on selected "hotspots". Main activities in 2010 have been on performing climate change simulations for Europe and interpreting data of human activity and demography on landslide activity.

Area 4 addresses the technical and practical issues related to monitoring and early warning for landslides, and in 2010 activities related to identifying the best technologies available in the context of both hazard assessment and design of early warning systems have been initiated.

Area 5 addresses the risk management issues. Integrating the developments from Area 4, as well as other methods, into a toolbox of risk mitigation measures and guidelines for choosing the most appropriate risk management strategy to reduce the risk to specific targets have been a central issue for Area 5 in 2010.