Risk assessment of highways affected by debris flows in Wenchuan earthquake area

Since the Wenchuan earthquake in China on May 12^th, 2008, highways in earthquake-affected areas have been frequently interrupted by debris flows. We analyzed the hazard effect modes and damage processes along highways and developed three key indexes, scale of debris flows, deposits on highways and river blockage, to describe quantitatively the highway disasters. By combining the empirical methods and the actual terrain conditions, we proposed new methods to determine the value of hazard indexes. In addition, we used the economic value and resistance of highway as vulnerability assessment indexes, then determined the specific subindexes for the subgrade, bridges and culverts, and developed a way for the quantified vulnerability zoning. Moreover, we proposed the assessment and mapping methods for highway risk. The risk is described into 5 grades: extremely low risk, low risk, middle risk, high risk and extremely high risk. We applied these methods in a case study carried out on provincial highway S303 from Yingxiu Town to Wolong Town, in Wenchuan County. Analysis of debris flow risk for the whole highway, showed that the total length of highway in extremely low risk area was 28.26 km, 4.83 km in low risk area, 8.0 km in middle risk area, 3.65 km in high risk area, and 3.06 km in extremely high risk area. The assessment results are consistent with the field survey data which reflected the disaster situation. This risk method can be used objectively to evaluate the debris-flow risk along highways, and is useful for highway reconstruction in mountainous areas suffering from active debris flows.     

Distribution and Susceptibility Assessment of Collapses and Landslides in the Riparian Zone of the Xiaowan Reservoir

The southwest alpine gorge region is the major state base of hydropower energy development in China and hence planned many cascading hydropower stations. After the reservoir impoundment, the intense water level fluctuations under the interaction of cascade dams operating and the mountainous flooding, usually cause bank collapse, landslide and debris flow hazards. The Xiaowan reservoir(XWR), for example, as the ‘dragon head' meg reservoir located in the middle mainstream of Lancang River, have resulted in a series of geohazards during its building and operating. In this study, we investigated the number and surface area of collapses and landslides(CLs) occurred in the water level fluctuations zone(WLFZ) of XWR using remote sensing images of Gaofen-1 and Google Earth; evaluated the CLs susceptibility using information value method. The results presented that the total WLFZ area of 87.03 km2 and 804 CLs masses with a total area of 1.98 km2 were identified in the riparian zone of XWR. CLs mainly occurred at an elevation of 1190–1240 m, and the CLs density increased with an increase in altitude. The WLFZ with a slope gradient of 25°– 45° is the main CLs distribution area that accounts for more than half of the total CLs area. The susceptibility assessment revealed that high and very high susceptibility zones are generally distributed along zones with an elevation of 1210–1240 m, a slope degree of 25°–45° and a slope aspect perpendicular to the direction of Lancang River. Furthermore, these susceptible zones are close in distance to the dam site and tend to be in the riparian zones with the formation lithology of Silurian strata. These results provide a valuable contribution to prevent and control geohazards in the XWR area. Moreover, this study offers a constructive sample of geohazards assessment in the riparian zone of large reservoirs throughout the mountains of southwest China.     

Numerical simulation of a high-speed landslide in Chenjiaba,Beichuan, China

High-speed landslide is a catastrophic geological disaster in the mountainous area of southwest China. To predict the movement process of landslide reactivation in Chenjiaba town, Beichuan county, Sichuan province, China, we simulated the movement process of two landslide failures in Chenjiaba via rapid mass movement simulation and unmanned aerial vehicle images(UAV), and obtained the movement characteristic parameters of the landslides. According to a back analysis, the most remarkable fitting rheological parameters were friction coefficient(μ=0.18) and turbulence(). The parameter of landslide pressure was applied as the zoning index of landslide hazard to obtain the influence zone and hazard zoning map of the Chenjiaba landslide. Results show that the Duba River was blocked quickly with a landslide accumulation at the maximum height of 44.14 mwhen the Chenjiaba deposits lost stability. The hazard zoning map indicated that the landslide hazard degree is positively correlated with the slope.This landslide assessment is a quantitative hazard assessment method based on a landslide movement process and is suitable for high-speed landslide. Such method can provide a scientific basis for urban construction and planning in the landslide hazard area to avoid hazards effectively.     

The characteristics and vertical zone spectrum of natural disasters in the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

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陇东黄土区地质灾害气象预警方法与应用——以泾川县为例

在地质灾害详细调查的基础上,基于GIS平台以地质灾害点密度为依据生成初步地质灾害易发性区划图.从诱发地质灾害的内部因素出发将地层岩性、地形坡度、地貌类型、植被覆盖率、多年降雨量分级后,叠加到初步易发性区划图中,生成了地质灾害气象预警区划基图.以降雨作为诱发地质灾害的主导外在因素,重新对泾川县进行了地质灾害气象预警区划,...     

伊宁至阿克苏铁路那拉提山越岭段关键性工程地质问题遥感解译与分析

伊宁至阿克苏铁路由北至南需2次翻越天山, 北侧那拉提山越岭段自然气候恶劣、地质环境复杂, 线路方案的设计、选择明显受地质条件的约束, 前期选线勘测需要彻底摸清区内各类地质问题。在分析区域地质构造背景的基础上, 采用高分二号、Landsat8卫星影像和航空高分辨率影像等多源数据, 对区内存在的恰普河中游及巩乃斯镇东滑坡群、近EW-NEE向地震活动断裂带、巩乃斯河上游危岩落石区等关键地质问题开展了详细的解译分析, 结合现场调查, 对其发育位置、规模、形态、稳定性等进行了评价, 为外业工程地质勘察、线路方案比选提供了可靠的基础资料, 充分发挥了遥感技术在复杂山区铁路勘察中的指导作用。      

基于信息量模型的涪陵区地质灾害易发性评价

本文以重庆涪陵区为研究区域,选取坡度、坡向、累计汇水面积、地层岩性、水域、降雨量、植被和土地利用分类8个影响因子,提取高分一号遥感数据（2013.12.24）动态影响因子,引入信息量模型,分别计算上述影响因子对应的信息量,对该时期示范区的地质灾害危险性进行评价,并引入ROC曲线和AUC评价指标,对得到的区域地质灾害易发性评价结果进行精度评估。结果显示,2013年12月研究区内高易发区面积占总面积的9.73%,该易发区内含有104个地质灾害点,占所有灾害点的52.7%,灾积比为5.42,明显大于其他易发等级类别。利用ROC评价方法,计算成功率曲线AUC为0.796,预测率曲线AUC为0.748（74.8%）,具有较高的可靠性,证明本文方法在该区域地质灾害易发性评价的适应性良好。     

Long-term activity of earthquake-induced landslides: A case study from Qionghai Lake Basin,Southwest of China

Earthquake-triggered landslides are a major geological hazard in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, and have prolonged impact on earth surface processes and fluvial system. To determine how long co-seismic landslides affect basins, a massive number of landslides existing in Qionghai Lake Basin were investigated for landslide distribution characteristics and geomorphological evidences, with further comparison and analysis using historic seismic analog method. The landslides found in Qionghai Lake Basin showed clear features of seismic triggering with strongly controlled by Zemuhe fault. These landslides are still active at present. Some new slides generally occur in ancient slope failure zones causing serious secondary hazards in recent years. In this study we strengthen the idea that the landslides triggered by the 185o Xichang earthquake （Ms7.5） have long term activity and prolonged impact on the mountain disasters with a period of more than 16o years. Our results support growing evidence that coseismic landslides have a prolonged effect on secondary disasters in a basin, and invite more careful consideration of the relationship between current basin condition and landslide history for a longer period.     

Reservoir-landslide hazard assessment based on GIS: A case study in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Reservoir-landslide is mainly caused by changes in hydrodynamic conditions of slope interior at the time of water storage or discharge. The current study mainly focuses on the typical reservoir landslide, but the sudden occurrence of some unknown landslides brought a lot of difficulties for hazards prevention. Therefore, we proposed a method to evaluate the regional scale reservoir-landslide hazard. We took Wanzhou section of Three Gorges Reservoir （China） as the study area and systemically and synthetically carried out the reservoir-landslide hazard evaluation under the condition of water level regulation. Firstly, we made reservoir-landslide susceptibility assessment by using the methods of spatial analysis and statistics based on geological and geomorphological materials and field survey data, and then, analyzed the regional-scale slope stability based on the infinite slope model used to analyze the bank slope stability change under the condition of water fluctuation, finally, developed a reservoir-landslide hazard evaluation model based on the results of susceptibility and stability. The hazard evaluation model was used to predict and evaluate the hazard change under the role of water level regulation. The results showed that the landslide hazard of the whole region decreased during water storage, landslide hazards increased during water discharge. The faster the regulation speed, the greater the slope hazard. The results can provide the basis for hazard management and regional land-use planning.     

GIS-based earthquake-triggered landslide hazard zoning using contributing weight model

Earthquake-triggered landslides have aroused widespread attention because of their tremendous ability to harm people's lives and properties.The best way to avoid and mitigate their damage is to develop landslide hazard maps and make them available to the public in advance of an earthquake.Future construction can then be built according to the level of hazard and existing structures can be retrofit as necessary.During recent years various approaches have been made to develop landslide hazard maps using statistical analysis or physical models.However,these methods have limitations.This study introduces a new GIS-based approach,using the contributing weight model,to evaluate the hazard of seismically-induced landslides.In this study,the city and surrounding area of Dujiangyan was selected as the research area because of its moderate-high seismic activity.The parameters incorporated into the model that related to the probability of landslide occurrence were:slope gradient,slope aspect,geomorphology,lithology,base level,surface roughness,earthquake intensity,fault proximity,drainage proximity,and road proximity.The parameters were converted into raster data format with a resolution of 25×25m2 pixels.Analysis of the GIS correlations shows that the highest earthquake-induced landslide hazard areas are mainly in the hills and in some of the moderately steep mountainous areas of central Dujiangyan.The highest hazard zone covers an area of 11.1% of the study area,and the density distribution of seismically-induced landslides was 3.025/km2 from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.The moderately hazardous areas are mainly distributed within the moderately steep mountainous regions of the northern and southeastern parts of the study area and the hills of the northeastern part;covering 32.0% of the study area and with a density distribution of 2.123/km2 resulting from the Wenchuan earthquake.The lowest hazard areas are mainly distributed in the topographically flat plain in the northeastern part and some of the relatively gently slopes in the moderately steep mountainous areas of the northern part of Dujiangyan and the surrounding area.The lowest hazard areas cover 56.9% of the study area and exhibited landslide densities of 0.941/km2 and less from the Wenchuan earthquake.The quality of the hazard map was validated using a comparison with the distribution of landslides that were cataloged as occurring from the Wenchuan earthquake.43.1% of the study area consists of high and moderate hazardous zones,and these regions include 83.5% of landslides caused by the Wenchuan earthquake.The successful analysis shows that the contributing weight model can be effective for earthquake-triggered landslide hazard appraisal.The model's results can provide the basis for risk management and regional planning is.     

GIS-based spatial prediction of landslide using road factors and random forest for Sichuan-Tibet Highway

Accurate evaluation of landslide susceptibility is very important to ensure the safe operation of mountain highways.The Sichuan-Tibet Highway,which traverses th...     

GiT-based structural geologic feature analysis of the southern segment of Longmenshan fault zone for earthquake evidence

The Longmenshan fault is a thrust fault which runs along the base of the Longmen Mountains in Sichuan province,southwestern China.The southern segment of the fault had two distinct responses to the Ms 8 Wenchuan and Ms 7 Lushan earthquakes.This study determines characteristics of the structural geology of the Longmenshan fault to evaluate how it influenced the two aforementioned earthquakes.This research was done within a Geoinformation Technologies(Gi T) environment based on multi-source remote sensing and crustal movement data extracted from the Global Positioning System(GPS).The spatial distribution of the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone was comprehensively analyzed to study both earthquakes.The study revealed that the Wenchuanand Lushan earthquakes occurred on two relatively independent faults.In addition,there was a nearly constant-velocity crustal movement zone between the two epicenters that probably had a compressive stress with slow motion.Furthermore,the central fault and a mountain back fault gradually merged from north to south.The Lushan earthquake was not an aftershock of the Wenchuan earthquake.The research showed that fault zones within 30–50 km of State Highway 318 are intensive and complex.In addition,crustal movement velocity decreased rapidly,with a strong multi-directional shear zone.Thus,activity in that zone was likely stronger than in the northern part over the medium to long term.     

基于信息量模型的地质灾害易发性评价:以川东南古蔺县为例

地质灾害威胁着山区人民生命财产安全, 进行地质灾害易发性评价有助于山区城镇进行规划与建设时规避灾害风险。以川东南古蔺县为例, 基于ArcGIS空间分析获取了研究区高程、坡度、岩性、斜坡结构、植被指数、距断层距离和距道路距离7个评价因子, 采用信息量模型分别对滑坡和崩塌灾害进行易发性评价后, 进一步利用ArcGIS单元统计功能对比了滑坡和崩塌易发性的信息量值, 选取相对更大的信息量值作为该栅格的最终信息量值, 绘制了研究区综合地质灾害易发性图, 利用自然断点法将古蔺县按信息量值的大小划分为极低、低、中、高和极高易发区。结果表明: 地质灾害主要分布在断层和道路附近, 断层和人类工程活动是造成研究区地质灾害频发的主要原因; 高易发区与极高易发区面积之和为1 315.62 km2, 占全区总面积的41.32%;预测模型性能经ROC曲线检验, AUC值为0.812 5, 说明栅格最大值法预测的古蔺县综合地灾易发性效果良好。      

An Assessment and Identification of Avalanche Hazard Sites in Uri Sector and its Surroundings on Himalayan Mountain

Avalanches are one of the most natural hazard in the mountain areas and therefore, identification of avalanche hazard is necessary for planning future development activities. The study area falls under the international boundary region which generally covered by the snow(38%) on high altitude regions of the western part of Himalayas. Avalanches are triggered in study area during snowfall resulting in loss of human life, property and moreover the transportation and communication affected by the debris which ultimately delays the relief measures. Therefore in this study three major causative parameters i.e terrain, ground cover and meteorological have been incorporated for the identification of avalanche hazard zones(AHZ) by integrating Analytical Hierarchical Process(AHP) method in Geographical Information System(GIS). In the first part of study, avalanche sites have been identified by the criteria related to terrain(slope, aspect and curvature) and ground cover. Weights and ratings to these causative factors and their cumulative effects have been assigned on the basis of experience and knowledge of field. In the second part of the study, single point interpolation and Inverse Distance Weighted(IDW) method has been employed as only one weather station falls in study area. Accordingly, it has been performed to generate the meteorological parameter maps(viz. air temperature and relative humidity) from the field observatories and Automatic Weather Stations(AWS) located at Baaj OP in Uri sector. Finally, the meteorological parameter maps were superimposed on the terrain-based avalanche hazard thematic layers to identify the dynamic avalanche hazard sites. Conventional weighted approach and Analytical Hierarchical Process(AHP) method have been implemented for the identification of AHZ that shows approximately 55% area under maximum hazard zone. Further, the results were validated by overlapping the existing registered avalanche sites. The sites were identified through field survey and avalanche data card followed by its delineation from the toposheet(1:50,000 scale). Interestingly study found that 28% area under moderate and maximum AHZ correlated well with registered avalanche sites when they were overlapped. The accuracy for such works can be increased by field survey under favorable weather condition and by adding data from more number of AWS for predicting avalanche hazards in mountainous regions.     

Risk-based evaluation on geological environment carrying capacity of mountain city - A case study in Suide County,Shaanxi Province,China

With the rapid development and expansion of the cities in China, the carrying capacity of resource and environment has become a huge concern for local governments. From the perspective of geological environment, geological disasters are the main restraining factor of the development in mountain cities. This study was conducted in Suide County of Shaanxi Province with a risk-based approach as followed: a hazard analysis on geological disasters based on a slope geological survey at a scale of 1:10,000; a consequence analysis based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial survey data; integrating the results of hazard analysis and consequence analysis, a risk zonation and analysis of geological disasters in urban areas were completed considering urban planning, land use planning and the safety of infrastructure and major engineering. Subsequently, taking the acceptable levels of human life and property risks incurred by landslides as the criteria of the evaluation of geological environment carrying capacity, a comprehensive assessment of current and future urban carrying capacity was conducted based on the results of the risk analyses. Accordingly, the prior development zone, the restricted development zone and the prohibited zone were delineated, with corresponding suggestions for future urban development. The technological and methodological system used in the study can be applied to geological environment carrying capacity evaluation of other important mountain cities, which can provide scientific basis for the optimization of land and space.     

Landslide susceptibility analysis of Karakoram highway using analytical hierarchy process and scoops 3D

Landslides are prevalent, regular, and expensive hazards in the Karakoram Highway(KKH) region. The KKH connects Pakistan with China in the present China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) context. This region has not only immense economic importance but also ecological significance. The purpose of the study was to map the landslide-prone areas along KKH using two different techniquesAnalytical Hierarchy Process(AHP) and Scoops 3 D model. The causative parameters for running AHP include the lithology, presence of thrust, land use land cover, precipitation, and Digital Elevation Model(DEM) derived variables(slope, curvature, aspect, and elevation). The AHP derived final landslide susceptibility map was classified into four zones, i.e., low, moderate, high, and extremely high. Over 80% of the study area falls under the moderate(43%) and high(40%) landslide susceptible zones. To assess the slope stability of the study area, the Scoops 3 D model was used by integrating with the earthquake loading data. The results of the limit equilibrium analysis categorized the area into four groups(low, moderate, high, and extremely high mass) of slope failure. The areas around Main Mantle Thrust(MMT) including Dubair, Jijal, and Kohistan regions, had high volumes of potential slope failures. The results from AHP and Scoops 3 D techniques were validated with the landslides inventory record of the Geological Survey of Pakistan and Google Earth. The results from both the techniques showed similar output that coincides with the known landslides areas. However, Scoops 3 D provides not only susceptible zones but also the range of volume of the potential slope failures. Further, these techniques could be used in other mountainous areas, which could help in the landslide mitigation measures.     

Thinning and shrinkage of Laohugou No. 12 glacier in the Western Qilian Mountains, China, from 1957 to 2007

Landsat images, real-time kinematic GPS measurements, and topographic maps were used to determine changes in ice elevation, volume, and areal extent of the Laohugou No. 12 glacier (Qilian Mountains, China) between 1957 and 2007. The glacier experienced significant thinning and areal shrinkage in the ablation zone, but slight thickening in part of the accumulation zone. Elevation decreased by 18.6±5.4 m between 1957 and 2007 in the regions covered by the GPS measurements. The total volume loss for the entire glacier was estimated to be 0.218 km3 using a third-order polynomial fit method. The area diminished by 0.28 km2 between 1957 and 1994, 0.26 km2 between 1994 and 2000, and 0.28 km2 between 2000 and 2007, suggesting that the rate of loss in glacial coverage has increased since the mid-1990s. Significant increases in annual mean air temperature may have contributed to shrinkage and thinning of the glacier.     

湖南省山丘区小流域山洪灾害危险性评价

本文采用信息量模型法研究湖南省山丘区小流域山洪灾害的危险性程度。信息量模型的最大意义是能从影响山洪灾害发生的众多因素中找到“最佳因素组合”。基于湖南省1955-2015年近60年的历史山洪灾害数据,结合地形、下垫面以及降雨条件,利用信息量模型按危险性程度高低划分出湖南省山丘区山洪灾害危险性的分布情况。研究结果表明,湖南省山丘区山洪灾害容易发生在坡度小于10°,高程小于100 m,起伏度小于30 m,土地覆被为人工表面,土壤类型为粘土以及降雨量在1584.3~1662.0 mm之间的区域。湖南省山丘区危险等级较高的地级市有永州市、郴州市、株洲市、岳阳市、娄底市以及长沙东部山区,经过混淆矩阵验证后,通过信息量方法建立的山洪灾害危险性评价模型准确率为75.36%,基本可信。     

Impacts of future climate change (2030-2059) on debris flow hazard: A case study in the Upper Minjiang River basin,China

An increase in extreme precipitation events due to future climate change will have a decisive influence on the formation of debris flows in earthquake-stricken areas. This paper aimed to describe the possible impacts of future climate change on debris flow hazards in the Upper Minjiang River basin in Northwest Sichuan of China, which was severely affected by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The study area was divided into 1285 catchments, which were used as the basic assessment units for debris flow hazards. Based on the current understanding of the causes of debris flows, a binary logistic regression model was used to screen key factors based on local geologic, geomorphologic, soil, vegetation, and meteorological and climatic conditions. We used the weighted summation method to obtain a composite index for debris flow hazards, based on two weight allocation methods: Relative Degree Analysis and rough set theory. Our results showed that the assessment model using the rough set theory resulted in better accuracy. According to the bias corrected and downscaled daily climate model data, future annual precipitation (2030-2059) in the study area are expected to decrease, with an increasing number of heavy rainfall events. Under future climate change, areas with a high-level of debris flow hazard will be even more dangerous, and 5.9% more of the study area was categorized as having a high-level hazard. Future climate change will cause an increase in debris flow hazard levels for 128 catchments, accounting for 10.5% of the total area. In the coming few decades, attention should be paid not only to traditional areas with high-level of debris flow hazards, but also to those areas with an increased hazard level to improve their resilience to debris flow disasters.     

Landslide distribution and sliding mode control along the Anninghe fault zone at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau

Tibetan Plateau is known as the roof of the world. Due to the continuous uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, many active fault zones are present. These active fault zones such as the Anninghe fault zone have a significant influence on the formation of special geomorphology and the distribution of geological hazards at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The Anninghe fault zone is a key part of the Y-shaped fault pattern in the Sichuan-Yunnan block of China. In this paper, high-resolution topographic data, multitemporal remote sensing images, numerical calculations, seismic records, and comprehensive field investigations were employed to study the landslide distribution along the active part of the Anninghe. The influence of active faults on the lithology, rock mass structures and slope stress fields were also studied. The results show that the faults within the Anninghe fault zone have damaged the structure and integrity of the slope rock mass, reduced the mechanical strength of the rock mass and controlled the slope failure modes. The faults have also controlled the stress field, the distribution of the plastic strain zone and the maximum shear strain zone of the slope, thus have promoted the formation and evolution of landslides. We find that the studied landslides are linearly distributed along the Anninghe fault zone, and more than 80% of these landslides are within 2-3 km of the fault rupture zone. Moreover, the Anninghe fault zone provides abundant substance for landslides or debris flows. This paper presents four types of sliding mode control of the Anninghe fault zone, e.g., constituting the whole landslide body, controlling the lateral boundary of the landslide, controlling the crown of the landslide, and constituting the toe of the landslide. The results presented merit close attention as a valuable reference source for local infrastructure planning and engineering projects.