Research and everyday municipal practice after a quick clay landslide came together at the SAFERCLAY seminar
“Translate new knowledge so that we in the municipalities can use it in practice.” That was one of the key messages from the administration of Levanger municipality when they met SAFERCLAY participants at a working seminar in Trondheim in December 2025.
SAFERCLAY (2025–2029) focuses on safer coexistence in areas with quick clay. The project manager is Jean-Sebastien L’Heureux at NGI.
The four-year research project SAFERCLAY (2025–2029) focuses on safer coexistence in areas with quick clay. The themes SAFERCLAY works on include:
- the significance of climate change, urbanisation, and land-use planning for erosion and quick clay landslides;
Fieldwork is being carried out in Lillestrøm municipality along the Leira River, and in Melhus municipality along the Bortna and Jeksla rivers. One of the main aims is to quantify the different elements that undermine slope stability and trigger landslides, and to explore how the effects of future climate conditions on landslide risk in quick clay areas can be simulated. - how advanced sensor technology can improve mapping;
This work package focuses, among other things, on how sensor technology and machine learning can be used to develop models that identify erosion processes that may worsen ground stability. - how adaptation measures for people and nature can be optimised in areas at risk of quick clay landslides;
Adaptation measures can be costly and may have negative impacts on nature and the environment. Authorities therefore often face a dilemma: should adaptation measures be implemented or not?
The goal of this part of SAFERCLAY is to develop an adaptation framework that authorities can use when deciding whether to implement possible adaptation measures. - what influences society’s acceptance of quick clay risk.
In this part of the project, a survey will be conducted to gain a better understanding of how we perceive risk and what levels of risk we are willing to accept.
At the seminar, plans, methods, and progress for the four work packages were presented and discussed jointly, before the individual work packages continued their work in groups. Several researchers emphasised the importance of meeting in person in order to exchange information, see connections across work packages, and ensure good, practical use of the results.
Municipal director of Levanger, Peter Ardon, shared experiences following the quick clay landslide at Nesvatnet in August 2025.
Sharing experiences on emergency preparedness for quick clay
The need for results to be applicable resonated with the municipal director of Levanger, Peter Ardon, and the municipality’s emergency preparedness coordinator, Anette Tiller Skjervø. Both played central roles in managing the quick clay landslide at Nesvatnet on 30 August 2025. They pointed to major challenges related to emergency coordination and called for better overarching coordination.
“It is good that SAFERCLAY focuses on quick clay issues. Preparedness for quick clay cannot be the responsibility of each individual municipality; it must be lifted to a higher level,” Ardon said at the seminar.
Ardon and Tiller Skjervø also described how an incident such as the one in Levanger places heavy strain on municipal finances and day-to-day operations.
“As a municipality, it became challenging to maintain normal daily operations because we ended up being responsible for everything. That responsibility should have been elevated,” said Tiller Skjervø, who normally holds a 50 per cent position as emergency preparedness coordinator.
Research must be applicable
Ardon highlighted that Levanger does not have employees with geotechnical expertise, despite being a municipality of a certain size.
“For a municipality, it is demanding to keep up to date with new knowledge. We are not always able to implement the ‘right answer’. Here, you need to help us translate new knowledge so that we can use it in practice,” Ardon said.
Three municipalities are involved in the SAFERCLAY project: Lillestrøm, Sarpsborg, and Melhus. The representative from Lillestrøm municipality, Ketil Matvik Foldal, said that the challenges Levanger experienced in connection with the Nesvatnet landslide are recognisable.
“This message is extremely important. Our research must be applicable,” said SAFERCLAY project manager Jean-Sebastien L’Heureux, supported by fellow researchers in the project, who emphasised the importance of simplification and improvement.
Several participants highlighted the importance of meeting in person to exchange information, identify connections, and ensure good, practical use of the results.
Many student projects on quick clay
The seminar also reviewed student activities related to quick clay research and SAFERCLAY. In 2025, three master’s theses are linked to the research project, and for 2026 as many as nine master’s theses are planned. In addition, there are currently two PhD projects linked either directly to SAFERCLAY or to related quick clay projects at partner institutions.
“It is encouraging to see that several new R&D initiatives related to quick clay are now being established in Norway. This is an area where we have long called for more research, and it is very positive that there is now a high level of activity and collaboration underway,” says L’Heureux.
Participants at the annual SAFERCLAY meeting 2025
Jean-Sébastien L'Heureux
Head of Section Natural Hazards - Trondheim Natural Hazards - Trondheim jean-sebastien.lheureux@ngi.no+47 971 20 860