Major risk from rapid, large-volume landslides in Europe (EU Project RUNOUT).

Project RUNOUT has investigated methods for reducing the risk from large-volume landslides in Europe, especially those involving rapid rates of emplacement. Using field data from five test sites (Bad Goisern and Köfels in Austria, Tessina and Vajont in Italy, and the Barranco de Tirajana in Gran Canaria, Spain), the studies have developed (1) techniques for applying geomorohological investigations and optical remote sensing to map landslides and their evolution, (2) analytical, numerical and cellular-automata models for the emplacement of sturzstroms and debris flows, (3) a brittle-failure model for forecasting catastrophic slope failure, (4) new strategies for integrating large-area GPS arrays with local geodetic monitoring networks, (5) methods for raising public awareness of landslide hazards, and (6) GIS-based databases for the test areas. The results highlight the importance of multidisciplinary studies of landslide hazards, combining subjects as diverse as geology and geomorphology, remote sensing, geodesy, fluid dynamics, social profiling. They have also identified key goals for improved understanding of the physical processes that govern landslide collapse and runout, as well as for designing strategies for raising public awareness of landslide hazards and for implementing appropriate land-management policies for reducing landslide risk.